Over the past six weeks, I have visited most of the countries that circle Iraq -- Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and now Kuwait -- and I have yet to find a person who will speak up for Hussein. That strikes me as important. There are anti-American protests in the Arab world, as there are everywhere else these days. But almost nobody is carrying Hussein's portrait or claiming that he's the champion of the Arabs, as they did in the past.
Kuwait's leading Arabic newspaper, Al Watan, has just started publishing a special 12-page daily edition called "The War to Liberate Iraq." "You need a lot of courage here to say 'liberate,' " observes Mohammed Jassem, the paper's editor. But Jassem did it, with the support of the paper's owner, Sabah, because he knew it was the truth.
The question, my Arab friends agree, is how to remove Saddam Hussein, the man whose time has come and gone. They would passionately like to achieve that result without a war, which would have unpredictable and potentially dangerous consequences. But they understand that Iraqis won't take the risk of rising up against a leader they detest -- but also mortally fear -- unless they are certain the United States stands behind them.
The sentiment that Saddam's time has come and gone is exactly right......that's why I think this war is a waste of our hard earned resources.
However, what is particularly frustrating about this article is that if the Muslims do feel the way this guy suggests; that they will be glad when Saddam is gone, then they need to step up to the plate. Unfortunately, that is not what is happening. Instead they squabble among themselves........the more democratic states calling for Saddam's removal while the less democratic backing away from such a position.
So, as much as this war appears to be a significant step in our history, I think this war is a pivotal point in the Arab world. They need to get their act together.
ted |
