Under the scorching Iraqi sun, the streets of Baghdad seem to be forever shrouded in a mysterious mist. In this troubled country, there was once a name that made the world tremble – Saddam Hussein.
Over time, however, the narrative about the iron-fisted ruler was gradually overshadowed by a new political landscape and the dust of history.
But just when the world thought that all the stories about him were over, a secret that shocked the world slowly emerged - the shadow of Saddam, or rather, his "stand-in".
In a country torn apart by war, Saddam's life seems immortal.
Not because he really possesses the mystical power to escape death, but because there is a group of obscure people whose fate and existence are designed to perfectly replicate and protect this ruler. These people are Saddam's stand-ins.
In the thick smoke of the Iraq war, the image of Saddam Hussein on television screens became the center of global attention. Every time he appeared, he seemed calm and calm, as if the war had not touched him in the slightest.
However, behind this calmness, there is a secret that is difficult for people to detect. Public suspicion is not unfounded, as evidenced by Omar's presence.
Omar, an ordinary man destined for a career in law, is drawn into this dangerous game of power, lies and survival because of a face that bears a striking resemblance to Saddam. The trajectory of his life changed completely after his encounter with Saddam.
On the campus of Cairo University, two young figures often get together: Omar and Saddam. The promenade in the school bears witness to their camaraderie and dreams of their youth.
However, fate always seems to like to joke, and just as the flowers of their friendship gradually bloomed, Saddam Hussein was expelled from school for various reasons. The news weighed on Omar's heart like a heavy stone, but he didn't expect that this was just the beginning of a fateful one.
Twenty years later, Omar received an unexpected invitation to go to Iraq. At that time, Saddam Hussein was already the first in Iraq, and Omar was still immersed in the pile of law firm files.
Stepping into the ** mansion, Omar's heart swelled with mixed emotions, looking forward to a reunion with his old friend. However, he was greeted by Saddam's adviser Barzan and a shocking piece of news.
Barzan's voice echoed in the spacious room: "Mr. Omar, your face is very similar to ours. We want you to be a stand-in for him. ”"Stand-in? Omar's voice was filled with uncertainty and shock, "That's not why I'm here. ”
Barzan smiled slightly, and his gaze swept coldly over Omar: "In Iraq, the security of ** is above all else. You don't have a choice. ”
Omar's heart was churning, but he soon realized that he really didn't have a choice. The power that was denied, like his freedom, was wiped out overnight.
Faced with Barzan's cold but determined gaze, Omar knew that his life was about to enter a new and sinister phase.
In that dimly lit cell, Omar spent a month that seemed longer than he had been in decades.
The mold on the walls and the dampness in the confined space became his daily routine. Every footstep that approached made his heart beat faster, and every sound of a key turning made him nervous.
However, the end of it all is not a release, but the beginning of another torture.
Finally, he was taken out of his cell, but instead of being freed, he was taken directly to a private hospital in ** province.
The facilities are advanced and the doctors are highly skilled, but for Omar it is more of an elaborate cage. His first cosmetic surgery is about to begin, targeting his jaw.
In the cold light of the operating room, Omar lay on the operating table, with doctors surrounding him. Their eyes are obscured by surgical caps and masks, revealing only concentration and apathy. The scalpel glistened in the light, and Omar felt a piercing cold.
The operation lasted several hours.
When Omar woke up, he felt a sharp pain in his jaw. Doctors bandaged his chin with cold, disinfectant-smelling gauze, and he was taken back to a single room. This room will be his temporary "home" for a series of cosmetic surgeries over the next few years.
Over the next few years, Omar's nose, cheekbones, and even vocal cords underwent changes.
After each operation, he spent a long recovery period in the hospital room. Every time he looked in the mirror, he noticed that his face was more and more like Saddam. His original appearance disappeared little by little under the doctor's scalpel, and was replaced by the shadow of another person.
When Omar and Saddam Hussein met again, it was difficult to distinguish between the two. Saddam Hussein examined his double, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. He nodded, then turned away, as if to confirm the integrity of a work.
In a hospital in Cuba, Saddam, who was undergoing a herniated disc in his waist**, once again recognized Omar's new look. The hospital's white walls and silent atmosphere contrast with the communication between them.
Saddam's training and Omar's stand-in training seem to be intertwined here, forming a bizarre picture.
After that, Omar and Saddam Hussein began to meet regularly. At each meeting, Omar had to show his imitation of Saddam's every move.
He learned Saddam's walking posture, his way of speaking, and even his subtle facial expressions. When they met, Saddam Hussein would observe carefully, sometimes nodding his head and sometimes proposing amendments.
Omar became a shadow of Saddam Hussein, and his life revolved entirely around how to be another person. He knew that every successful imitation was an erasure of his identity, but he had no choice but to gradually lose himself in this silent change.
Omar's life took a dramatic turn from December 1998 onwards. As a member of the stand-in team, he is no longer the same Omar imprisoned in a small space, quietly waiting for the next operation, but an image that needs to be constantly presented in public.
His life is divided into two parts: a lonely wait in an enclosed space and a precise performance in the public eye.
Whenever there is a specific task, Omar is carefully dressed and prepared. His clothing, hairstyle, and even his gait had to be adjusted strictly in accordance with Saddam's style.
He was taught how to behave in public, and every smile, every gesture was arranged just right. In these public events, Omar is no longer himself, but a shadow of Saddam, a being designed to protect the real Saddam.
Political meetings and public events became part of Omar's life. At these events, he had to precisely replicate Saddam's behavior, whether it was speaking at international conferences or waving at public gatherings.
Every detail is pre-arranged and rehearsed to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Omar knows that his performance is not only about his own safety, but also about the country's image and the stability of the political situation.
Omar is not alone in these activities. He knew that, in addition to himself, there were at least two other "companions" similar to him who were playing the same role.
Although they rarely had the opportunity to meet or communicate, Omar could feel the tacit understanding and empathy between them. They are all chosen people, and their fates and roles are closely linked, and they share the heavy responsibility of protecting Saddam.
When there is no specific task, Omar is confined to an enclosed space. Although this space provides basic living conditions, it lacks freedom and interpersonal communication.
Here, Omar spent countless days and nights, and time seemed to freeze here. Every nook and cranny of the room was familiar to him, and every object seemed overly familiar and monotonous. Time loses its meaning here, every day is the same as yesterday, and every tomorrow heralds repetition and waiting.
Even so, Omar still strictly adheres to the rules and discipline. He knows that his role does not allow for any kind of lapse or freedom. His life is tightly controlled, every outing is carefully arranged, and every return to the enclosed space means the beginning of another period of loneliness and waiting.
In this closed and boring life, Omar became a precise and selfless executor. His existence no longer belongs to himself, but becomes a pawn in a complex political game.
Every time he appears in the public eye, every time he participates in political meetings and public events, it is a proof that he is the third stand-in and the shadow of Saddam. In this role, Omar loses himself and becomes a shadow in the service of the country and the political situation.
In Iraq**, the issue of Saddam's stand-in has always been an unsolvable mystery. In addition to Omar, Mekhail Ramadan's name is also frequently mentioned in this secret stand-in game.
Mehail, a man with a serious face, always seems to have hidden secrets in his eyes. Like Omar, Mekhail has been caught up in this dangerous and bewildering political vortex.
In a rare exchange, Mekhail revealed to Omar that in addition to the two of them, four other people had been trained to be Saddam's stand-in. There is little overlap between these stand-ins, who seem to be scattered in different corners of Iraq, silently playing the role they have been assigned.
They are strictly not allowed to touch or communicate with each other, and each is an individual who only knows his place in this vast mechanism.
Some of these stand-ins have appeared at public rallies, some have spoken on television, and some have attended international conferences.
They were so well trained that every movement and every word was incomparably precise, as if Saddam's shadow had been copied in multiple copies and scattered in all corners of the world. But behind these glamorous and glamorous are their endless sacrifices and dedications.
Each stand-in has its own story, but their story has never been heard in its entirety. Their existence is like an elusive mystery, and every time they appear is for the safety of Saddam, while their own lives and safety are always in danger.
Whether it is in domestic political turmoil or in international tensions, they are the frontline of defense and the best tool that Saddam uses to cover and protect himself.
Over time, the connection between these doubles became more obscure and secretive. Everyone is strictly monitored to ensure that there is no contact between them of any kind. They are like deliberately isolated shadows, although they are all under the same sky, they can never touch each other.
However, all the secrets and mysteries gradually dissipated with Saddam's death. The identities and fates of the stand-ins who once played a role behind the scenes have become a part of history. Their stories, like quicksand in the desert, drift away with the wind, leaving behind only unsolved mysteries and truths that no one knows.
References:
Left high mountain. International Order and Global Justice from the Perspective of "Saddam's Death" [J].Journal of Central South University:Social Sciences,2007,13(2):125-130