troops greeted as liberators

[rowrrbazzle]

Newsweek, April 7 (emphasis added):

Conventional Wisdom Watch - IRAQI QUICKSAND EDITION
…

Cheney ↓ Tells “Meet the Press” just before war, “We will be greeted as liberators.” An arrogant blunder for the ages.

The Telegraph, 4/8:

British troops walked into the historic centre of Basra yesterday to be greeted by thousands of Iraqi civilians flocking on to the streets to welcome them as liberators…

Among them was Saad Ahmed, a 54-year-old retired English teacher. “We have been waiting for you for a long time,” he said. "We are now happier than you.

“You are victorious as far as the war is concerned, but we are victorious in life. We have been living, not as human beings, for more than 30 years.”

One of those joining in the celebrations, Qusay Rawah, said the downfall of Saddam’s regime in Basra was a day “we had prayed for”.

Chicago Tribune, 4/7:

Many who assembled in the [Karbala] city square chanted “Saddam is no more!” and “Saddam is dead!” as they pulled on a rope, yanking the Hussein statue from its perch…

“We have been living in fear for so many years, and we have been taught in the schools that Saddam would never die,” said Hassan Muhammad, 20, as he helped pull on the rope. “This is a historic day, and we will celebrate this day always.”

I guess the arrogant blunder Newsweek was talking about was their own statement.

[MLS]

Here’s another group who were literally liberated:
Jailed Iraqui children run free