T.A.F.K.A.Z
14-12-03, 23:38
Arabs' Welcome of Arrest Is Tinged With Regret
By NEIL MACFARQUHAR
Published: December 14, 2003
AIRO, Egypt, Dec. 14 — The capture of Saddam Hussein has reinforced the ambiguity that many people in the Arab world felt about the American-led war and occupation of Iraq.
Images of the bearded, rumpled former Iraqi leader undergoing a medical examination by an American medic were broadcast into Arab homes around the world, as were the photographs of the underground hideout from which troops pulled Mr. Hussein from hiding.
After more than two decades of painting himself as the Knight of the Arabs, Saddam Hussein had been captured without so much as firing one shot.
While the Arab public harbors no particular love for the deposed dictator or other oppressive governments in the region that were similar to his, they despair that an outside power can humiliate the Arab world by capturing such a significant figure with relative impunity, underscoring their own powerlessness.
"It is a shock to many," said Mustapha Hamarneh, the director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan.
"They wanted him to at least die fighting, not be caught lying down in some hole like a rat. The image they built of him over the past 35 years was that he was a knight who would not die lying down. The real image or the real character turned out to be radically different."
The reactions ranged from giddy celebrations in Kuwait, which Mr. Hussein invaded in 1990, to a measure of doubt in places like Egypt that the capture had actually taken place, or that it was really Mr. Hussein in custody.
Official reaction was muted, too, with only a few senior government officials stepping forward, mostly to express hope for a better future for the Iraqi people and a fair trial for the captured dictator.
"We hope that what happened will be a step to accelerate for the Iraqi people to handle their own affairs," Ahmed Maher, Egyptian foreign Minister, said.
"We hope that this step will make the Iraqi people more dedicated to build their country, and to development toward more independency. Egypt supports a fair trial and any defendant would be granted a chance to defend himself."
A strong sense of anti-American sentiment came through in comments by some Arab citizens who said they regretted that the United States had made the capture and could now crow about it.
"I only wish it was not the Americans who got him," said a Syrian student, Abdule-Nasser, according to Reuters. "I don't like Saddam but as an Arab I wouldn't like to see them dragging him around Baghdad."
Many Arabs said that they wished to see Mr. Hussein stand trial and that the United States must make good on its promises to install democracy and hand over power to the Iraqi people.
"I consider the arrest of Saddam a very important achievement and a victory for the Arab nation," said Abd al-Bary Taha, a Yemeni. "His absence is a significant indicator for the fall of autocracy in the Arab world. With the absence of Saddam, Americans will have no excuses or justifications that the resistance is related to Saddam."
He added: "However, some members of the resistance received moral support from Saddam's presence. But, generally, the Americans will come to realize that resistance is coming from the Iraqi people not his followers or Baath party."
www.nytimes.com
By NEIL MACFARQUHAR
Published: December 14, 2003
AIRO, Egypt, Dec. 14 — The capture of Saddam Hussein has reinforced the ambiguity that many people in the Arab world felt about the American-led war and occupation of Iraq.
Images of the bearded, rumpled former Iraqi leader undergoing a medical examination by an American medic were broadcast into Arab homes around the world, as were the photographs of the underground hideout from which troops pulled Mr. Hussein from hiding.
After more than two decades of painting himself as the Knight of the Arabs, Saddam Hussein had been captured without so much as firing one shot.
While the Arab public harbors no particular love for the deposed dictator or other oppressive governments in the region that were similar to his, they despair that an outside power can humiliate the Arab world by capturing such a significant figure with relative impunity, underscoring their own powerlessness.
"It is a shock to many," said Mustapha Hamarneh, the director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan.
"They wanted him to at least die fighting, not be caught lying down in some hole like a rat. The image they built of him over the past 35 years was that he was a knight who would not die lying down. The real image or the real character turned out to be radically different."
The reactions ranged from giddy celebrations in Kuwait, which Mr. Hussein invaded in 1990, to a measure of doubt in places like Egypt that the capture had actually taken place, or that it was really Mr. Hussein in custody.
Official reaction was muted, too, with only a few senior government officials stepping forward, mostly to express hope for a better future for the Iraqi people and a fair trial for the captured dictator.
"We hope that what happened will be a step to accelerate for the Iraqi people to handle their own affairs," Ahmed Maher, Egyptian foreign Minister, said.
"We hope that this step will make the Iraqi people more dedicated to build their country, and to development toward more independency. Egypt supports a fair trial and any defendant would be granted a chance to defend himself."
A strong sense of anti-American sentiment came through in comments by some Arab citizens who said they regretted that the United States had made the capture and could now crow about it.
"I only wish it was not the Americans who got him," said a Syrian student, Abdule-Nasser, according to Reuters. "I don't like Saddam but as an Arab I wouldn't like to see them dragging him around Baghdad."
Many Arabs said that they wished to see Mr. Hussein stand trial and that the United States must make good on its promises to install democracy and hand over power to the Iraqi people.
"I consider the arrest of Saddam a very important achievement and a victory for the Arab nation," said Abd al-Bary Taha, a Yemeni. "His absence is a significant indicator for the fall of autocracy in the Arab world. With the absence of Saddam, Americans will have no excuses or justifications that the resistance is related to Saddam."
He added: "However, some members of the resistance received moral support from Saddam's presence. But, generally, the Americans will come to realize that resistance is coming from the Iraqi people not his followers or Baath party."
www.nytimes.com