1.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 11:37:50
That story is as horrific as anything I've ever read. Stephen King couldn't write anything as scary as that. Thank you for that Ed. Very good read. It almost brings a tear to my eye.

{Ed001's Note - it was eye-opening doing the research, I had heard stories from Iraqi refugees but I always thought they had to be exaggerating. Now I realise they were probably downplaying how bad Uday was.}


2.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 14:06:45
I almost missed my smoke break at work, I was so engrossed in that!

Horrible to think such brutality exists, and for no other reason than the whims of a madman.

{Ed001's Note - you know you are beyond the bounds of normal human behaviour when a psychotic dictator like Saddam tells you to tone it down a bit and ends up banishing you for being too violent!}


3.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 14:09:32
A very interesting read. I have some Kurdish friends that have 1st hand experience of dealing with that regime.

{Ed001's Note - I used to work with a group of Kurds that escaped Iraq when I first began working. Was 12 hour shifts on a boring factory job, I used to listen to their stories with disbelief to be honest. Now I know they were not just trying to wind up a young, gullible kid who had just left school.}


4.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 14:19:10
Deeply disturbing but really interesting, and something well worth reporting on, if only to try and change things in the here and now. Excellent article Ed, and a damning indictment of the IOC and FIFA who seem to be morally bankrupt to say the least.

{Ed001's Note - they are just like most major multinational corporations - corrupt.}


5.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 14:47:00
class article fella. At least he got the punishment for spitting in someone's face about right! .

{Ed001's Note - thanks mate.}


6.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 16:50:14
I was born in Baghdad, Iraq. Saddam Hussein was our next door neighbour. His eldest daughter, Raghad, was my kindergarten classmate, and we used to go to each other's houses for lunch breaks. He was still not the kingpin but the No.2 in the Ba'athist Party. 1968.

My Father saw him shoot a man in the parking lot next to our building and reported it to the police, thinking it was the right thing to do. Two days later a group of uniformed soldiers knocked on our door and informed us that we were to leave the country within 5 days, or face public execution by hanging in the main city square. My father dropped everything, we packed our bags and left the country within 3 days. Started off from zero again in a neighbouring country.

True story.


7.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 17:02:43
I used to work in a center for refugees and the people there told me stories about the current regime or lack of. It’s not better now, people still get tortured or disappear.


8.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 18:21:06
Thanks for the article Ed. Terrible read, but terrific article.


9.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 18:22:37
Wow. Just wow. And I thought some of the characters in Game of Thrones were bad. Clearly the script writers hadn’t read Tris’ article. They would have found another level of evil to write about had they done so. How sad and horrific.

Fascinating article though Ed.


10.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 18:23:16
Absolutely shocking read that was. It's scary to think people like that exist. I'm extremely RAF and have seen my fair share of the destruction that war brings with it. It is scary to think what would've happened if Saddam had been removed and Udan had taken over the country. I think that would've been a tyrant the likes the world has never seen before.

On another note Ed, I always enjoy your articles, they're always very informative, I work as a content writer and I have to say, this particular article was so we'll written, in my opinion it's your best yet. Hope you have a good day mate.


11.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 18:24:51
excellent read ed, well done. it would be great to read more about different stories in the world of football (although hopefully there are not many more like this....).


12.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 20:29:32
Hey ed001 there is a really good film based on the life of Udays body double, I can’t remember the name of it but it’s a good watch if you can find it.

{Ed001's Note - Devil's Double.}


13.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 20:57:46
ArAy, thank goodness you got out. I can't imagine how you and your family felt.


14.) 29 Mar 2019
29 Mar 2019 21:04:25
I’d like to echo the “Wow, just wow” comment above, but not just at the article but at Ra’s post too!

Bloody hell mate!

My parents got chucked out of Uganda in 1972 at the hands of a dictator, but they never faced the prospect of a summary execution.

Huge kudos to your dad for pulling his family up again. It’s so tough to start over.


15.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 00:06:38
Jesus. Don't know how well I'll sleep after that.

Disgraceful behaviour from the relevant 'sporting authorities'. Pathetic 'investigations'.

Cheers Ed001.


16.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 00:37:20
People have special times for smoke breaks. Boy that's so old school 🏺.

{Ed0333's Note - You read a article/threat about the utter villainy of one of the most evil despots in history and all you can offer is a comment about cigarette breaks? Wow?!!!


17.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 00:11:52
Astonishing, and truly barbaric Ed, but for FIFA to turn a blind eye is shameful. Of course these corrupt organisations do not want murder and torture to interfere with their lucrative business model.

Such a compelling article, so grim yet I could not stop reading til the end.

Thanks Ed01.

{Ed001's Note - thank you very much.}


18.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 06:50:00
Wow, very interesting Ed mate. That made a great read. Thank you very much!

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, that one has taken months to research!}


19.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 07:50:25
Oh I can only imagine Ed. And this is a prime example of why I love your articles, top quality content! time after time, great work mate.

{Ed001's Note - thank you very much. I do enjoy doing the research though, so not sure it should be called work!}


20.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 08:17:17
That's the main isn't it mate :) . Thanks for the review of the day too, have a great Saturday mate.

{Ed001's Note - welcome mate you too.}


21.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 10:13:41
Well that’s a hangover cure and no mistake! Sobered me right up. Fascinating stuff, but by god, no wonder Saddam wasnt ousted sooner. Cheers though Ed.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate. Though, if Saddam had been ousted, the family would have been ousted too. Even if not, Saddam had made Qusay his heir, as Uday was too violent even for him!}


22.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 10:48:32
Well thank goodness for small mercies eh? Mad to think it was so recent too!


23.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 12:00:49
All I can say is 'wow'. Very eye opening read that was Ed. One of your best and worst all at the same time if that makes sense. I mean that in the sense that it was so hard to read about the atrocities but written so well that I couldn't stop. The amount of research that would've involved must have been staggering. I can't comprehend how one human can so easily inflict such atrocities on others, especially in a sporting capacity like this. Truly shocking.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate, I wish I could remember who suggested the article to give them their credit. I have been doing little bits of research every so often ever since they mentioned it. It was eye-opening for me. It was a case of where do you stop, as there was so much he did outside of football, as well, that I had to make a conscious effort to not explore that too much and concentrate on football or what he did becomes overwhelming.}


24.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 12:25:44
I can see what you mean by not knowing where to stop. Makes me wonder what goes on inside the head of someone that sadistic. Would have been truly terrifying for those players. I'm still shocked that life can mean so little to some. Again great article mate.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate. It is hard to believe that people have to go through such torment in life. Makes you grateful for what you have at least.}


25.) 30 Mar 2019
30 Mar 2019 19:08:49
True that Ed. It's very easy for people to moan, we all do about life in general but in reality we have it so bloody good compared to some in this world. No matter how bad things can get, there's always someone in a worse place going through worse problems. Articles like this really make you think about it.

{Ed001's Note - exactly mate, I see people with nothing who still manage to scrape together enough money to send home to keep their families from starving. We don't know how lucky we are, those of us born in the UK. Though Ra has done a good job of reminding us!}