Saddam Husseins - Speech or Presentation Example

Saddam Hussein's Speech The purpose of this speech is to convey Saddam Hussein's last thoughts about his life to his countrymen. He addresses the speech to all of them, though only two persons are actually present. They are Hassan and Faisal (imaginary characters) who are addressed by Hussein as 'brothers'-they are not actually his brothers. The speech is taped by them to be shown to his audience. So he is aware that he is actually addressing a lot of people. The venue is assumed to be the prison, where Saddam Hussein is incarcerated, and he is now permitted to meet these two people, after he hears of his sentence. These assumptions seem more real. The language is kept simple. It is assumed that he speaks in Arabic, as he speaks to his countrymen. For our understanding, we may assume that it has been translated into English subsequently. The scenario is imaginary, and Saddam is shown as repenting for many of the atrocities that he has committed. An attempt is made to keep things realistic. So although he asks forgiveness from his countrymen, he is critical of the US and Western leaders, though not of Western people. Faced by death, even hardened people are known to relent. So Hussein's volte face under the circumstances need not be considered unusual. Although the speech itself is 'imaginary', and highly unlikely, it retains an aura of probability by referring to actual events in his life. The Speech My brothers and sisters-my countrymen, I speak to you here, in the final hours of my life. I have been allowed to leave behind this message for you, which I believe that my brothers, Faisal and Hassan here, will safely deliver to you. I am not afraid. I am glad be able to leave now, as I know I leave because it is the will of Allah. I forgive all those who have harmed me; I know I have harmed many too. I hope you will forgive me for that. I have made several mistakes in my life, and if I had a chance to live it over again, I would not do the same. I now understand that violence does not lead anywhere. Just because the US believes in violence, it does not mean that we have to be violent too. The other mistake that I made was in allowing USA to take over our country. I tell this to all my Arab fellow men-if we could have remained united against the American initial insidious attempts, and later on, more blatant ones to exploit us, to siphon away our wealth in the form of oil, we would not be where we are today. I regret that the Ba'athist Party murdered King Feisal in the way it did. Or that I helped out the CIA in the plot to murder Abdul Karim, the Prime Minister. We could have settled our internal struggles in a cordial manner. This was like inviting a tiger to enter our home to settle disputes between brother and brother. I was too involved in public activities, and did not give enough attention to my family. I accept full responsibility for the way my sons, Uday and Qusay ran wild, and terrorized all of you. I am also sorry that my sons-in-law, Hussain and Saddam Kamel met their death at my hands. I destroyed them, and my daughters' lives. I should have settled differences with the Ayatollah in Iran firmly but tactfully. Our countries have spent years in warfare, wasting our resources, and killing our young men, and even civilians. I have wronged my fellow men by using chemical weapons against them. I beg of Allah to forgive me-these deeds of mine. Allah is merciful! So many of my Kurd brethren have been killed; so many of my Kurd sisters are widowed because of me; so many have been orphaned at my behest. Please forgive me for this. The long war with Kuwait could have been avoided. Yes, they did not help us when we asked for help. But our need for help itself arose only because Ayatollah Khomeini and I had spent fruitless years in warfare, destroying our countries economically. I believe today that people of different faiths can and must live peacefully together. For this, we need unity among Muslim brethren. To start this, first let us have peace between the Shias and us. You are surprised Why not For Allah is our saviour, whether we are Sunni or Shia! I would like to reveal to you something more, my countrymen. Yesterday I had a dream. I felt as if blessed by God, and felt that he was telling me that we should all live in peace. Even with the Christians. Throughout history, we have harmed one another-the Christians have harmed us, and we have harmed them-fighting war after war with them. We should stop such wars and live in peace. It is my love for my motherland, which started me out on this road, and ended up in my committing all these terrible deeds. Unfortunately my love for my country changed into personal ambition. And this is what ails the world. All-almost all world leaders are willing to sacrifice the interests of their fellow men for the sake of their own advancement. This is what we leaders all have in common-personal ambition-whether it is George Bush or Tony Blair or me. Now I realise the folly of this. I know I run the risk of being laughed at, after my death, for having said all that I have, for giving up all that I earlier espoused. But I see the light now. So, this is my advice to you, brothers and sisters. Peace-between Muslim and Muslim-and peace-with our neighbours. Our world has seen enough of strife. What you-what we-need are rulers who are unselfish, and rule for the sake of the country. What we need is a system of giving power to the people without the economic tyranny that the rich have over the poor in the Western world. What we need is a system to ensure that rulers do not usurp all powers from the people. I am not sure of the process by which this can be achieved. You have to think of a way to achieve what I have said. Only then will my soul find peace. I once again seek forgiveness for my deeds, for the injustices that I have committed. But God is merciful, and he will heal your wounds. And when my message of peace and brotherhood is spread by you to the peoples of the world, then I think I may have compensated for all the bad that I have done. I am not sure if the American government will allow this tape to reach you, though Hassan and Faisal are willing to bring it to you. I would like to remind the American people that they perpetrate an injustice on us by permitting their government to run our country. The institutions of democracy, which they have, can surely be used by them to ensure that their government does not act against their will. So I request you, my countrymen, convey my message to the American people too, for I am afraid that if their government gets to know of my speech they may try to hide it from them. May Allah be merciful to me, and surely we will all meet in jannat (Heaven). References Wikipedia (4th Dec 2007) Saddam Hussein , date accessed 5th Dec 2007 CBS News (26th Feb 2003) Transcript Saddam Hussein Interview, Parts 1& 2 , accessed 5th Dec 2007 Read More