Saddam Hussein deputy Tariq Aziz calls for US forces to stay in Iraq

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

Saddam Hussein's most loyal deputy, Tariq Aziz, has accused Barack Obama of 'leaving Iraq to the wolves' by pressing ahead with a withdrawal of combat troops in the face of festering instability and a surge in violence.

In his first interview since he was captured shortly after the fall of Baghdad more than seven years ago, Iraq's former deputy prime minister and long-time face to the world said the United States would cause the death of Iraq if it continued to withdraw its combat forces.

"We are all victims of America and Britain," he told the Guardian from his prison cell in Baghdad. "They killed our country in many ways. When you make a mistake you need to correct a mistake, not leave Iraq to its death."

Speaking only days after Obama confirmed that the US would be ending its combat mission in Iraq this month with the withdrawal of thousands of troops, Aziz said the country was in a worse state than before the war.

"For 30 years Saddam built Iraq and now it is destroyed. There are more sick than before, more hungry. The people don't have services. People are being killed every day in the tens, if not hundreds. "I was encouraged when was elected president, because I thought he was going to correct some of the mistakes of Bush. But Obama is a hypocrite. He is leaving Iraq to the wolves."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/05/tariq-aziz-interview-iraq

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/05/tariq-aziz-interview-iraq">• Read Martin Chulov's full interview with Tariq Aziz here

[aquart]

1. I assume we leave, they shoot him?

[Critters2]

6. That may be part of it. He's a Christian (at least nominally)

so, not likely to fare well in the intra-Islamic mess we've created. That, and the anti-Baath feelings some hold, well, let's just say Tariq would be better off with us there.

But, as others have pointed out, we're not really leaving. So, breathe easy, Tariq!

[LaStrega]

2. Fret not Tariq ...

The US isn't leaving Iraq, it's rebranding the occupation.

[dipsydoodle]

3. The more frequently that link is posted the better

:thumbsup:

[LaStrega]

5. I was too late to give it a rec.

So referencing it is the least I can do.

:hi:

[aquart]

7. Somehow I knew that.

[Swagman]

4. what leave while there is oil? I think not