Egyptian newspapers recently published several articles calling on Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, and his supporters, to put an end to their meaningless bravado and to begin acting responsibly to prevent war in the Middle East.
An article in Al-Ahram Weekly details some recent statements made by Saddam Hussein, then declares, ?Clearly, Saddam Hussein still clings to a long outdated mentality.? Among other things, the Egyptian piece refers to the January 6th speech on behalf of Saddam, when the Iraqi minister of information, Mohammed Said Al-Sahaf, offered ?a feeble apology to the Kuwaiti people... [and then] justified the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 on the grounds that it was legitimate self-defense against an American conspiracy that involved the Kuwaiti regime.? In that speech, the al-Ahram article reported, Saddam also ?praised the perpetrators of the recent attacks against US military personnel in Kuwait, saying ?The people of Iraq salute those young men who bear arms against foreigners.? The Iraqi president then went on to declare that Iraq will emerge victorious in a confrontation with the US.? Then, after stunning ?everyone that had placed faith in a more realistic and conciliatory mood in Baghdad,? according to the al-Ahram Weekly, Saddam went on to accuse the international arms inspectors of espionage. ?Then, in an allusion to the Mongol invasions,? the Egyptian article said, ?he proclaimed that the Americans would die at the walls of Baghdad.?
The article in Al-Ahram Weekly opines, Saddam?s ?ability to warp facts, his inability to learn the lessons of history, are indeed remarkable. He pitches his rhetoric for local consumption and Arab satellite network addicts, encouraging them to take up his war cries and help him deceive the Iraqi people and push his country for a third time into the crucible of war and for a third time into a confrontation with the world.? However, the writer continues, ?With US and British forces amassing in the region the situation can no longer tolerate vainglorious posturing, threats and delusions.?
The Egyptian piece calls on Saddam to ?do something to demonstrate that it has changed. It is unacceptable that Saddam should sacrifice the welfare of his people and his country simply to perpetuate his stay in power. Priority must be given to the interests of the Iraqi people and their nation.
It is time for the Iraqi president to take a courageous initiative that will defuse the crisis and dispel the spectre of a war the victims of which, for the second time in just over a decade, will be the Iraqi people.?
In an eloquent conclusion, the al-Ahram Weekly piece declares, ?True courage resides in the ability to make appropriate decisions based on an accurate reading of the situation. Idle heroics are a recipe for disaster.?
In another Egyptian newspaper, the Egyptian Gazette, appears an article also criticizing Saddam Hussein. The author of the Gazette piece says, ?It is quite painful that Saddam Hussein, an Arab and Muslim president, is the author of all these catastrophes. He has twice sparked off wars in the region. He looks set to ignite the third. Some people may say he is innocent this time. But this is difficult to prove. At least, he has been at the centre of all problems and disputes since he fought a devastating war with Iran for eight years and then triggered deep inter-Arab rifts by invading Kuwait.?
In light of the dangerous situation the region faces, according to the Egyptian newspaper, ?it is downright disgraceful that some Arab TV stations stir up the feelings of the masses by airing talk shows, which hosts guests known for their thread-bare and fake advocacy of Arab nation's causes.? The pandering to Arab mob frustration on air, the article says, is hypocritical, for ?was the Arab nation taken into the Iraqi leadership's account when it fought a ferocious war with Iran, invaded Kuwait and started developing chemical and biological weapons??
In fact, the newspaper notes, ?The whole Arab stand is opposed to an attack on the Iraqis and warns against the consequences on the aggressors themselves. Why should the nation pay the price for mistakes it has not committed?? As for Iraqi and other inciters, the Egyptian Gazette writer asks, ?Why do mongers of hollow slogans want the Arab nation to be disregarded at one point and on the spot at another??
An article in Al-Ahram Weekly details some recent statements made by Saddam Hussein, then declares, ?Clearly, Saddam Hussein still clings to a long outdated mentality.? Among other things, the Egyptian piece refers to the January 6th speech on behalf of Saddam, when the Iraqi minister of information, Mohammed Said Al-Sahaf, offered ?a feeble apology to the Kuwaiti people... [and then] justified the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 on the grounds that it was legitimate self-defense against an American conspiracy that involved the Kuwaiti regime.? In that speech, the al-Ahram article reported, Saddam also ?praised the perpetrators of the recent attacks against US military personnel in Kuwait, saying ?The people of Iraq salute those young men who bear arms against foreigners.? The Iraqi president then went on to declare that Iraq will emerge victorious in a confrontation with the US.? Then, after stunning ?everyone that had placed faith in a more realistic and conciliatory mood in Baghdad,? according to the al-Ahram Weekly, Saddam went on to accuse the international arms inspectors of espionage. ?Then, in an allusion to the Mongol invasions,? the Egyptian article said, ?he proclaimed that the Americans would die at the walls of Baghdad.?
The article in Al-Ahram Weekly opines, Saddam?s ?ability to warp facts, his inability to learn the lessons of history, are indeed remarkable. He pitches his rhetoric for local consumption and Arab satellite network addicts, encouraging them to take up his war cries and help him deceive the Iraqi people and push his country for a third time into the crucible of war and for a third time into a confrontation with the world.? However, the writer continues, ?With US and British forces amassing in the region the situation can no longer tolerate vainglorious posturing, threats and delusions.?
The Egyptian piece calls on Saddam to ?do something to demonstrate that it has changed. It is unacceptable that Saddam should sacrifice the welfare of his people and his country simply to perpetuate his stay in power. Priority must be given to the interests of the Iraqi people and their nation.
It is time for the Iraqi president to take a courageous initiative that will defuse the crisis and dispel the spectre of a war the victims of which, for the second time in just over a decade, will be the Iraqi people.?
In an eloquent conclusion, the al-Ahram Weekly piece declares, ?True courage resides in the ability to make appropriate decisions based on an accurate reading of the situation. Idle heroics are a recipe for disaster.?
In another Egyptian newspaper, the Egyptian Gazette, appears an article also criticizing Saddam Hussein. The author of the Gazette piece says, ?It is quite painful that Saddam Hussein, an Arab and Muslim president, is the author of all these catastrophes. He has twice sparked off wars in the region. He looks set to ignite the third. Some people may say he is innocent this time. But this is difficult to prove. At least, he has been at the centre of all problems and disputes since he fought a devastating war with Iran for eight years and then triggered deep inter-Arab rifts by invading Kuwait.?
In light of the dangerous situation the region faces, according to the Egyptian newspaper, ?it is downright disgraceful that some Arab TV stations stir up the feelings of the masses by airing talk shows, which hosts guests known for their thread-bare and fake advocacy of Arab nation's causes.? The pandering to Arab mob frustration on air, the article says, is hypocritical, for ?was the Arab nation taken into the Iraqi leadership's account when it fought a ferocious war with Iran, invaded Kuwait and started developing chemical and biological weapons??
In fact, the newspaper notes, ?The whole Arab stand is opposed to an attack on the Iraqis and warns against the consequences on the aggressors themselves. Why should the nation pay the price for mistakes it has not committed?? As for Iraqi and other inciters, the Egyptian Gazette writer asks, ?Why do mongers of hollow slogans want the Arab nation to be disregarded at one point and on the spot at another??