Iraq is about as close to Japan circa 1940 as is possible for a nation to be!

Iraq, unprovoked, invaded a neighboring state in occupation (Kuwait). Iraq went to war and was pushed back to their original borders.

The Iraqi leadership is a fascist dictatorship.

The Japan leadership was led by a fascist Emperor.

The Japanese were taught to worship the emperor.

The Iraqis are taught to worship Saddam.

Japan was violating treaties regarding weapons development (Including building Yamato class Battleships with 18" guns - 2" bigger than our Iowa class Battleships)

Japan held women in low regard.
Iraq holds women in low regard.

Japanese were led to believe their leadership were divine.

Iraqis are led to believe that Saddam is favored by God.

Japan had kamikazes.
Saddam funds suicide bombers.

Japan eyed China
Iraq eyes Saudi Arabia.

Japan shoveled all their money into modernizing their military for decades to catch up with the west - their shining moment the sinking of the Czar's fleet back in 1905 during the Russo-Japanese war.

Iraq shovels all its money into modernizing their military and developing biological, chemical and nuclear weapons for decades to catch up with the west - their shining moment their overnight occupation of Kuwait and their success in launching scud missiles against two neighboring nations.

Now here's where the similarities end...

The emperor allowed hideous treatment of prisoners in the occupied territories.

Saddam personally likes to view people tortured to death and replay their painful deaths again and again and again.

Japan successfully sneak attacked the US at Pearl Harbor.

Saddam wants to have nuclear weapons at his disposal to sneak attack Israel or the US.

The Emperor acted as a noble role model for his people who followed his example and became peaceful.

Saddam immediately attempted to assassinate the US president and continues to be unrepentant of his past actions and fires missiles and anti-aircraft guns upon allied no-fly zone planes daily - for the past ten years.

Yes, Mary Anne, Iraq is very much like Japan - except it is even more dangerous with weapons of mass destruction at their disposal.

Their leader is without a doubt as bad as Hitler, probably worse - he is closer to mentality of the ones who actually performed the tortures upon the jews.
With weapons of mass destruction at his disposal - his masterplan of dominating the whole middle east becomes a reality.

Those who wish to paint Saddam as the victim of Imperialist aggression - clearly need to spend some time looking at themselves and wonder if they are the sorts who would've defended Hitler or Mussolini - or Hirohito if the year were 1940 instead of 2002.

The Saddam is a victim routine just doesn't cut it, and - when that routine fails to pass the smell test - to claim the Iraqi people are victims, yet somehow deserve to be left with Saddam is almost so perverse as to be manifesting a form of insanity.

;-)

SDAI-Tech1