Battleangel

You know who I’m talking about. Yes, indeed, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, currently Information Minister of Iraqi. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard such creative verbal assaults on public television. It’s quite refreshing.

He better watch out though, or he might just be promoted to oversee the Bush reelection campaign in 2004

I really like his attitude anyway. I like the way he deals with the world around him. Just look at his previous position as minister of foreign affairs. From what I gather, he was sacked and relocated from foreign affairs to information not mainly because he had criticized Uday Hussein (claiming he was unfit as a leader) but also because he wasn’t very good at it (the Iraqis claimed).
Everyone kept comparing him to Aziz and in the light of this Sahhaf seemed more like a security agent or a general. Speaking his mind and not being as diplomatic as you imagine a foreign minister to behave. I.e. more or less what he is doing right now.

And above else I like the way he has behaved toward the US. Especially during his time as foreign minister. At one occasion he addressed a US proposal in public and called it “rubbish”.
All in all he has shown a ferocious use of both Arab and English vocabulary not to mention a slew of soviet rhetoric that I never thought possible. It is also interesting how his new dress code has shaved at least 10 years off his age. His olive green uniform, the black beret, the smirk and the pistol at his side has made him the most effective media figure in the world more or less over night. He has become the much needed hero when the rest of the government is nowhere to be seen. And even if I am not involved in this conflict I still feel great sympathy for this man as he fights against the coming tide.

BBC has a nice profile on Sahhaf if you want more info.