E D I T O R I A L

Iraq on the Brink: Grass may grow on the battlefield but never under the gallows

THEY would not like call it a civil war when they count and admit 6.5 lakh deaths in three and a half years in Iraq. And these are mounting every passing day. For them it is the dawn of democracy and return of peace and progress even when Iraq wilts and its streets get soaked with the blood of the innocent or not so innocent as you chose describe. Sectarian violence, direct fall out of the invasion of Iraq by the American led coalition of forces is devouring that hapless country once a symbol of secularism and national pride.

Saddam Hussein is no longer a stumbling block to stop President Bush and Prime Minister Blair from their game plans. Bush has pushed in 21000 more troops. He bravely faced the gallows and mocked at his executioners as he filled the Arabs with pride and need to unite and this has been world spectacle for a fortnight. It takes real genius to create a martyr out of Saddam Hussein, whose hands were full of blood of his own people and these very people refused to fight for him during the United States-led invasion. His tomb in his home village of Awja is already a place of pilgrimage for the five million Sunni Arabs of Iraq who are at the core of this uprising. His last words and poems are in circulation worldwide.

“How can the recording of Saddam's execution minute by minute and exhibition of it to the whole world be compatible with the understanding that a person's moment of death is among his most private personal rights? Isn't the performance of this execution by the Shia militia equivalent to a crude crowning of a pre-modern understanding of vengeance rather than a principle of justice?” Asked one serious commentator. No one answered, neither from the White House nor from 10 Downing Street, the palaces that set the world agenda. The US is not likely to succeed in convincing that the execution was purely an Iraqi affair.

During his long years as ruler of Iraq, Saddam Hussein had the backing of United State of America and its allies particularly the demised imperial power now consigned to a lackey’s role, the British Isles. Forget BBC, the self-proclaimed independent media house in the world with its vast resources to invent lies and the filthily rich CNN and other media outlets, and just go down a little to into history to know how the imperial games are played. Whose war was he fighting with Iran for eight years and who helped him with weapons and ammunition and against encouraged him to attack Kuwait. By invading Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990, he reduced his nation to poverty. This was made worse by the economic sanctions imposed by 13 years of UN sanctions. Million of children perished for want for medicines and a modern state was reduced to backward country.  There is lot against the fallen president, but others who now decide the fate of Iraq have to answer for the current mess.

How about remembering Indian story of long arduous struggle for independence. Can any one forget that Suez Canal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nicaragua or Jammu and Kashmir, the constant source of irritation and violence in the sub continent? Or can anyone forget Congo and Patrice Lumamba.  Wonder how Castro has survived the imperial game.

The choices exercised by Bush and Blair have led to disaster in Iraq, culminating in a chaotic execution that is fuelling civil war and now the solution is more army. Bush does understand the grim situation in Iraq, as does Blair. He appointed bipartisan group to study the situation and come up with a solution. The suggestion to talk to Syria and Iran have find a political solution have been rejected as of course other suggestions. Bush wants the next president to find the solution and would hang on to the ever-worsening situation and even killing of more American soldiers.  Even the efforts to have a deal with Sunnis are not likely to bear any fruit. An attack on the Shia militiamen of the Mehdi Army could finally lead to the collapse of Iraq into total anarchy.

It is for the American public to force a solution and get their country out of the ditch. Leave the solution to the international community, to diplomacy and political sagacity. Adding another 21,000 troops when 1.45 lakh has not helped, would add to more violence.

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With Compliments from


Gogi Sidhu
President

Satish K. Jain
Executive Vice President

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