Meltha Magazine Online

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1995, Volume 1, No 3-4, pages 24-25

PART II. OPINIONS

SADDAM HUSSEIN: THE VIEW FROM RUSSIA

The critical situation around Iraq is largely determined by the ambiguous attitude to Iraq on the part of different countries that pursue their own geopolitical interests in the region. An appropriate analysis of this situation in our opinion was arguably well made by Dmitri Kulik in "Komsomolskaya Pravda", issue N125 dated from July 12th 1995.

Now we would like to bring to the focus of readers an abridged version of the journalists material which virtually unveils the secrecy of the long term blockade of Iraq. The UN sanctions against the leader of Iraq have long become a crime against the people of this country .The people's suffering seemingly is inflicted not only due to the cruelty of Saddam Hussein, but also due to the continuing blockade.

SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL CARRYON

AS HE FITS EVERY BODY'S PURPOSE BETTER

The chronicles tell of the most powerful and cruelest rulers of the world. If we look at ancient Rome we will find among most notable figures Cesar , Kaligula, Neron and others who were reputed as most savage and cruelest emperors. France is famous not for weak-willed Bourbons, but for merciless . Napoleon and savage Robe spear instead. This line of cruel characters is typical of Russia, too. Tyranny is a common feature in the Middle East too, including Saddam Hussein, Iraqi president as one of the most contradictory and perfidious politicians at the end of this century.

Launching a military campaign against Kuwait the Iraq leader was likely to believe that this small and rich country was an integral part of his own country .Although he undoubtedly pursued some political goals as well. He also counted on envy of poor countries in the region to the riches of the Persian gulf states. But it is never enough to unleash a war. Today it is quite commonly acknowledged that Saddam Hussein fell a prey to a plot that was impeccably conceived to pass on false information to Iraq. Otherwise even his adventurous character would never have brought him over to this ill-fated decision to attack Kuwait.

Hussein has lost support not only from western countries but also from the majority of his Arab neighbors. Could Iraqi president perceive that after several years his friend, ally and namesake King Hussein would tie up in peace with Israel and that there would be a white and blue striped flag; with David's star upon it flying over on the building of Israeli embassy in Jordan? But in the background of his failures a notoriously known "phenomenon of Saddam Hussein " came to show up like it never was before. Having made serious mistakes in the beginning he suddenly started to gain a victory one by one. It is suffice to mention his imitation of "new" aggression against Kuwait where he once again showed to the world at large that his power could not be discounted any way. Meantime, the West was no longer united to oppose his maneuvers at the time. France along with Russia was trying persistently to denounce and lift after all the embargo from Iraq. It was grating on nerves of the White House residents. Americans in turn whatever they could tell of Hussein have been trading with Iraq through third party companies for. a few years now according to some consistent information source, I presume.

Fighting over the lifting of UN sanctions the Baghdad regime "all of a sudden" rejected the UN Security Council decision on Iraqi 2 billion barrels oil export in six months in exchange for some goods with special UN aid program. Hussein realized that this time he would have a chance to split into the monolith of western allies in order to lift the embargo completely.

It is paradox that Saddam Hussein could help not only himself, but Russia as well, because Russia was given a lucky chance to try working upon Iraq again and again though Iraq seemed to have broken the spell with it, Russia would after all try to patch up its shattered position in the Middle East. Baghdad has recently hosted a number of Russian governmental and nongovernmental delegations including Russian foreign minister, as well.

Saddam Hussein certainly is a man who ~ can give a great surprise as he changes his ~ image, but he is best at it when he takes an , unpredictable political decision. According ":,; to some sources the Iraqi security agency assisted the CIA and the FBI in investigating the bomb trap accident in the New- York city shopping center. It became possible due to softening of American stance with Iraq. Besides, Iraqi prime minister Tarik Aziz made a sensational statement recently that Iraq will never see an enemy in Israel any more. Obviously it caused much confusion in Tel Aviv for a while.

Some time ago even a joint US-Israeli task group was set up to assassinate the Iraqi president. Moreover, there were actual attempts on his life any way. It is noteworthy that Israel has shifted his stance a little with the Iraqi regime recently. No more threats and most importantly nobody seems to get this dictator toppled from power.

These days Hussein's enemies try to pull the strings rather than to sting him sharp. They press him politically and economically instead. Meantime, his foes try to launch a campaign to discredit him in his personal life and to stir the minds in the Iraqi public. This time propagandists simply fall upon his luxury cars he uses in his every day life and nothing more. Only one exception is his bunkers that allegedly look like a fascinating palace from Scheherazade stories indeed.

But there is something strange about it. How can the majority of Iraqi people still love and adore this dictator so sincerely after all? 2.5 million people in this 18 million strong country are starving. And the daily food ration of the rest of the population has been cut down by 40 percent. They say people need more drinking water let alone food and other things. One liter of drinking water now will virtually cost as much as one quarter gallon of gas. Everybody talks about UN sanctions. Obviously before the Persian gulf war conflict Iraq still enjoyed some stability and a fairly decent life.

Baghdad will certainly have excessive oil exports to support itself. If it happens, then Iraq will become the sixth largest oil exporter in the world. According to the latest stats Iraq can make 1,5 billion barrels of oil a day.

Hussein's foes and competitors would hardly be pleased with it. However in Kuwait they understand what might happen if Iraq will get rid of its leader and tyrant alike. Most probably there will be chaos and civil war .Actually this is what they fear in the west, too.

Iraqi leader seems to fit everybody's purpose better any way. The most of his opponents just think that it would be better if they would not show it after all.

Dmilri Kulik