Possible Geneva Violation

[Brian Stevens]

Saddam's cartoon capers
Monday August 28, 08:11 AM

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is being made to watch his appearance in cult cartoon South Park while he is behind bars.

The deposed leader on trial in Iraq was featured in the movie spin-off as the lover of the devil. South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut featured Hussein and Satan attempting to take over the world together.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said US Marines guarding the former dictator during his trial for genocide were making him watch the movie "repeatedly".

"I have it on pretty good information from the Marines on detail in Iraq that they showed him the movie last year. That's really adding insult to injury. I bet that made him really happy," Stone said.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/28082006/344/saddam-s-cartoon-capers.html

Funny or not, is that a violation, humiliating a prisoner?

[snappyturtle]

1. What's the point of showing Saddam South Park episode? nt

[Brian Stevens]

3. I find it kinda weird

It doesn't feel right. It is the US Marines that are forcing him to watch it.

[sui generis]

2. eh, the only reason Saddam would care

is if he were a practicing fundamentalist Muslim, which he is not.

Yeah, as funny as it seems to us in our culture to make someone watch something that would otherwise be mortally offensive, we are dreadfully disturbed when our boys and girls are tortured; which just goes to show that you really do have to be better than your "enemy" if you want to have any leverage in your moral outrage.

[Finder]

4. He is not our prisoner anymore. He is a prisoner of Iraq. n/t

[Brian Stevens]

5. I know

But it is our Marines that are guarding him.

[liberalmuse]

6. Nah.

Why would Sadam Hussein care how a lame American cartoon portrays him? I think some Americans are under the mistaken impression that whatever we think is "cool" is cool to the rest of the world, when really, it's just...lame. Even so, it's apparent the aim here is to humiliate a prisoner. It doesn't matter who that prisoner is, because the Geneva Conventions don't say to only treat nice prisoners humanely. I used to think America was above this type of crap, but nothing surprises me anymore. This nation has lost all honor.

[Ian David]

7. I don't know if Matt and Trey are the most reliable sources of info

""I have it on pretty good information from the Marines on detail in Iraq that they showed him the movie last year. "

Hey, for all we know, he WANTED to see it.

[Xithras]

8. That actually depends on Hussein.

If Hussein were a devout Muslim, being forced to watch the movie would be humiliating because of its religious implications...it depicts him as both homosexual and the boyfriend of satan. There are even sex scenes between the two. Watching it would be humiliating treatment and a violation of the Geneva protocols.

If Hussein isn't devout, then the movie is merely insulting. Insulting a prisoner isn't a violation.

[jmowreader]

9. That movie portrays Saddam as being more powerful than Satan

Think for a minute: Until the very end, when Satan impaled Saddam on a stalagmite, Saddam was the dominant member of that relationship. He pushed Satan around, manipulated him, even topped him once that we know of--and the implication was that Saddam nailed Satan almost every night. They managed to turn Satan into a sympathetic character, which is no mean feat.

When you consider what an evil fucker the real Saddam is, he might consider this depiction to be a compliment.

The one I'd be pissed off about is the regular episode where Satan decided to punish Saddam by sending him to Heaven where he'd spend eternity with the Mormons.