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The noose around the
neck of Iraqi dictator on the penultimate day of 2006 marks the end of an
era and heralds the beginning of a new era with a noose around the
constitution and law of Iraq.
The presidential
authority has been bypassed for executing a citizen and the final act of
melodrama has been staged in haste on a religious holiday that is
celebrated in the whole Muslim world. Execution is constitutionally
forbidden on religious holidays. it appears that Saddam's execution was
the victor's justice, if not lynch-hanging. Emerging details of the
chamber scene at the time of Saddam Hussein's execution contradict any
image of justice or rule of law.
Well, one must be
deluded to dream of rule of law in the middle of blood shed that started
with an illegal invasion of Iraq, tortures at Abu-Gharib prison and
alliance of some of the sons of Iraq with invaders. Circumstances like
that can only lead to chaos and justifying illegal acts with some more.
No saint; Saddam
Hussein was a brutal man who held on to power with an iron fist. People
say that he allied with the US while fighting against Iran, not to mention
Arab-Persian Muslim in-fight is rooted in antiquity. Iran-Iraq war
whether waged with or without blessings of the US, was a misadventure. It
left both countries deeply wounded and with huge scars.
There are several
conceptions in the Muslim world about movement of history. The world is
perceived as Dar-ul-Harab (Battlefield) and Dar-ul-slam (A Peace Abode).
Lots of intellectuals foster such interpretations without clarifying as to
how to look at the world when Muslims are fighting among themselves?
The worldview that
imperial powers would like to promote is that of an ongoing animosity and
violence and more so, a violent consciousness. That is the only way to
sell arms. Every bullet that is manufactured is meant to shear a chest of
living and breathing human-target. The game of power, greed and violence
has a long history.
On that fateful night
in outskirts of Baghdad, mocking of Saddam Hussain when he was about to
die and dancing scenes in Iraq and Michigan after his death are good to
fuel sectarian fire even though he was a secular dictator who hardly cared
about religion while dealing with his enemies. He could hardly be called a
religious-sectarian ruler. He did not make any distinction whether an
enemy was Sunny, Shiite or Kurd – three groups that are being promoted to
describe diversity among Iraqis, if not animosity.
Whether there is
animosity or diversity within the boundaries of Iraq that was chalked on
the world map during early part of 20th century, there is most
certainly a need for unity at this juncture of history. Saddam Hussein's
trial, verdict and execution have not helped the cause of unity at all.
World had been
patiently waiting to see the proof of US and Britain's involvement in the
use of chemical and biological agents against Iranian army. He also gassed
his own countrymen to subdue a rebellion. With the death of Saddam
Hussein, it would be hard to see that proof for now. It will eventually
see the daylight.
The US administration
is conspicuously trying to distance from Saddam's execution. The crime for
which he is executed was carefully chosen as a trial by the US because
there was no possibility of mentioning chemical agents provided by the US
and Britain. However, the world is well aware of that fact. The US is
showing a distant and muted response to Saddam's execution as if it was
totally an Iraqi affair. It is being done in an attempt to absolve of any
responsibility in the conviction and execution. Such tactics never work.
The passionate youth
in Muslim countries are going to perceive it as yet another insult to
Muslims. They are going to care less for any reasoning and explanation put
forward by Iraqi government or Americans for all of the events of past few
years in the Muslim world, specifically Iraq. There is already a
perception of injustice that is going to fire up quickly and Saddam who
was a tyrant is going to become a saint for the last word being "Mohammad"
on his lips when trapdoors opened. He ruled with brutality in his time.
His brutality is going to transform into symbolism for violent resistance.
He was hanged as a criminal. This identity is not going to stick. He has
already assumed martyrdom. His metamorphosis from a man in flesh and blood
to a mythical figure in history is not too far away.
Muslims, who have been
waiting for a magical transformation of their condition in the world, have
obviously waited for long. In such a state of mind, it is not difficult to
see that they may take on the myth of Saddam Hussein for motivation and
inspiration - A mythical leader, dead or alive, who could be the savior
for their dwindling status and sealed destiny in the world. Saddam's
influence was limited to Iraq in the past. His potential for becoming a
source of inspiration for resistance has overnight become global because
he stood up to brutality unwavering till death. Far out into the history
Saddam Hussein as a dead-man, more inspirational is he going to be in the
hearts of people because he was the only one in the Muslim world who
stared modern Imperialism in the face and bravely took hangman's noose
around his neck. The world in the Muslim-mind that may or may not have
been a Dar-ul-Harab (Battlefield) can slowly transform into an ever
expanding war zone.
Myths hardly ever
change anything but never die. Frustration in the minds of Muslims,
perception of injustice, exploitation and aggression is going to be
augmented by Saddam's execution, for which there may not be an outlet
other than more violence. Mythical Dar-ul-Harab (Battlefield) within
Muslims along sectarian fault lines and against Christians and Jews for
being the western aggressor that defeated Muslim ummah, can border on
violence. The fissures of mistrust can easily turn into a big gulf.
Specifically, blood
shed of Iraqi civilians is a daily event. The loss of human life in Iraq
currently stands at more than half a million since war broke out. Can a
nation ever recover from such a huge loss of human-resource even when led
by the strongest among strong and the wisest among the wise?
"Thy shepherds
slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people
is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them. There is no
healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous (Nahum – Chapter 3)".
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