The man who pounded on the statue

Four years ago today, a massive statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled by U.S. soldiers in Baghdad, creating a piece of visual spin worthy of U.S. political consultants at their best. Though U.S. complicity in creating the scene was rapidly exposed for those who wished to see it, there were Iraqis who happily took part in the demolition.

One of the most visible of those was Kadhim al-Jubouri, a champion weightlifter who had suffered nine years in Saddam Hussein's prisons.


British TV went back to talk with al-Jubouri four years later. He now thinks he'd be better off if the occupation had never come and Saddam Hussein were still in power.

View and listen to Kadhim al-Jubouri's story here.