Transcript of Saddam Hussein's speech to Iraqis
September 3, 1996
Web posted at: 9:00 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT)
(CNN)--In the name of God, the most gracious, the Most Merciful; oh,
great people; oh, honorable members of our armed forces; oh,
sons of our glorious Arab nation; oh, honorable people of the
world:
Once again, the hopeless cowardly Americans were back to
repeat their cowardly act hiding behind a technological
advance that God, most gracious, wanted it to be their curse
and cause for shame.
The aggressors came back launching their failed cowardly
raids to commit a damned third attack which has very
significant implications. The courageous resistance and
great steadfastness of the noble Iraqi people gave the
aggressors what they deserved. They will be taught a lesson
and their wanton attack will be resisted.
The missile attack on Iraq took place around 9 o'clock this
morning, 3rd of September 1996, corresponding to 20th Rabi'
Athani 1417 Hijri. This is going to be a glorious day. The
Iraqi people will, in the name of God, add to their honorable
record. It will be a day when the cowardly aggressors will
be condemned by both history and the whole world, having been
condemned by God Almighty.
Oh, Iraqi people and members of the brave Iraqi armed forces,
the apple of our eye, this is another day you can call your
own. So, resist them as you have done. God Almighty wishes
you to take your pride of place under the sun and on the
heights of your good land.
We have come to expect you -- and your people and the Arab
nation are calling upon you -- to resist them and teach them
a new lesson full of meanings their weak and empty souls do
not know.
Oh, men of our air defenses and our air hawks, from now on
consider as non-existent their damned imaginary no-fly zones
above 36 parallel and below 32 parallel. Strike with
efficiency and competence, in the name of God, any of the
aggressors' planes which violate the air space of your great
country and everywhere in Iraq, now and in the future.
The free peoples of the world and the sons of our glorious
Arab nation can rest assured that proud, glorious and defiant
Iraq is safe. Iraq is as powerful as high mountains. It
will not be shaken by the winds of evil; neither will it be
frightened, God willing, by the hiss of vipers.
The sons of the Land of Two Rivers were more than a match to
the enemy; they downed a large number of its missiles.
God foiled the aggression and the aggressors and, thanks be
to God, we only suffered light losses in the failed attack.
May God bless the souls of our honorable martyrs.
God is greater, God is greater.
May the cowards be defeated.
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