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The toppling of Saddam's statue: how the US military made a myth
萨达姆雕像的倒塌：美军如何制造神话
In 2003, the destruction of one particular statue in Baghdad made worldwide headlines and came to be a symbol of western victory in Iraq. But there was so much more to it – or rather, so much less
2003年，巴格达一座特殊的雕像被毁，上了全世界新闻的头条，成为了西方在伊拉克的胜利的象征。但是，事情远不止如此——或者更确切地说，远不及如此
by Alex von Tunzelmann
作者：亚历克斯·冯·藤泽尔曼
The abiding image of the Iraq war in 2003 was the toppling of a statue of the country's dictator, Saddam Hussein. It was an image relayed across the world as a symbol of victory for the American-led coalition, and liberation for the Iraqi people. But was that the truth? Putting up a statue is an attempt to create a story about history. During the invasion of Iraq, the pulling down of a statue was also an attempt to create a story about history. The story of Saddam's statue shows both the possibilities, and the limits, of making a myth.
2003年伊拉克战争最令人印象深刻的就是该国独裁者萨达姆·侯赛因的雕像的倒塌。这一幕被传递到世界各地，象征着美国领导的联军的胜利，以及伊拉克人民的解放。但这是事实吗？建造一座雕像的目的是试图创造一个关于历史的故事。在入侵伊拉克期间，推倒一座雕像也是试图创造一个关于历史的故事。萨达姆雕像的故事显示了创造神话的可能性和局限性。
Operation Iraqi Freedom, as it was called by those running it, began on 20 March 2003. It was led by the US at the head of a "coalition of the willing", including troops from Australia, Poland and the UK. President George W Bush claimed that the aims of the operation were clear: "to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people". He continued: "The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder … It is a fight for the security of our nation and the peace of the world, and we will accept no outcome but victory." This justification for war was hotly disputed at the time, and has been ever since.
伊拉克自由行动开始于2003年3月20日。它是由美国领导的一个“自愿联盟”，包括来自澳大利亚、波兰和英国的军队。美国总统乔治·W·布什声称，此次行动的目的很明确：“解除伊拉克的大规模杀伤性武器，结束萨达姆·侯赛因对恐怖主义的支持，解放伊拉克人民”。他继续说道：“美国人民以及我们的朋友和盟友不会听任一个用大规模杀伤性武器威胁和平的非法政权的摆布……这是一场为我们国家的安全与世界和平而战的战争，我们只接受胜利。这场战争的正当性在当时引起了激烈的争论，此后一直如此。
