• GelatinGeorge@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    The craziest thing about that is there’s a video documenting the whole thing. It’s on YouTube and well worth watching; probably one of the first, if not the first televised coup.

    Saddam nonchalantly smoking a cigar while the auditorium’s mood goes from confused to hysterical is something to behold. Properly chilling.

    Found a clip narrated by the much missed Christopher Hitchens: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CR1X3zV6X5Y

    • jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      I forgot about that part! Saddam had the whole thing taped and distributed copies all over Iraq. We take the ease of media distribution today for granted. Much harder to do in 1979. That was truly some next level bragging. “I’m in charge now. Go fuck yourself.”

    • BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one
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      2 months ago

      That’s a great clip. So immensely chilling to hear the barbaric shit the Ba’ath were capable of. Thank you for sharing the link.