Currents and Crosscurrents
Saddam Hussein: An Enigmatic Leader with a Cat's Life
At any point of time in history, there exist some persons who become objects of great controversy so much so that a deep veil of mystery surrounds their life, work and sense of purpose. Iraq's President Saddam Hussain figures prominently among the few such persons that subsist in contemporary history.
The person, who has been severely condemned time and again for what were termed as quixotic adventures, gargantuan misdeeds and colossal national wastes, is variously described as a misguided genius, a mistaken fool and even, to the extent of, a devil incarnate. To some others, he is regarded as a veritable leader whose policies and actions stemmed from a deep sense of patriotism and were designed solely to restore the past glory of his land and people. Both these postulates hold good, albeit partially.
The first of the great misadventures he embarked upon was a war, in 1981, with the neighbouring Iran, with whom the internecine feud has been perpetually ranging from time immemorial. During the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution in Iran with the consequent weakness of economic strength and disarray of military prowess of Iran, Saddam Hussein, who is known to his people as "Jaish," made the first terrible blunder.. He invaded the south-western part of Iran and hoped to wrest Korramshah away from an off-guard and ill-prepared enemy. The Iranians, even amidst chaos and confusion, regrouped and gradually put up a bold resistance. The result was a prolonged war for eight years in which neither really won but both sustained heavy losses in men, material and resources.
The other act of misadventure of the great Jaish was his attempt to seize Kuwait by force, on the pretext of an ancient disputed territorial claim. He actually did so this time by a successful blitzkrieg in a few hours in August 1990. The 30 odd nations that amassed an armada of forces under the auspices of the United Nations not only repelled the aggression successfully but pushed the enemy back almost to the doorsteps of their capital city, Baghdad. The reason why the enemy was not totally vanquished or destroyed , which the allied forces were capable of doing, was a matter of strategic considerations, mainly of the western combating powers. A defeated and disgraced Sunni ruler in Baghdad would have led the majority Shias in the south to rise in rebellion and truncated the country in half. They would have joined hands with Shia Iran. A stronger Islamic Fundamentalist regime in Iran was farthest from the choice and plan of the West. The regime in Baghdad would serve real victors' interests best by keeping itself alive, though impotent, to act as a counterpoise to the rising strength from across the borders in the East.
The economic as well as other bans and restrictions imposed by the United Nations, mainly at the prodding of the United States, on Iraq could not deter the Iraqi leader from its daring defiance of UN resolutions, including composition and activities of the UN team of inspectors of prohibited weapons. The expulsion of American members and refusal of entry to the latest team are the glowing examples of such bravado. The price for paying all these is heavy and is being paid by the people of the country through their nose. Economic deprivation of the people has reached the highest peak.. Essential foodstuffs and medicine also have been scarce. The limited food for oil deal and the mercy of some friendly nations remain the prime source of hope and subsistence for the people.
One does wonder why and how this great survivor survived so long in the face of so heavy odds. If his policies and actions caused so much of distress, humiliation and deprivation to the people, why not people took up arms against him and toppled him? This question has baffled many, rather most, people. Even most knowledgeable of all, the arch enemy Iran, could not make an objective assessment. A senior Minister confided to me while I was assigned in Tehran that he would give Saddam Hussain between six and nine months to last in power.. Several years have elapsed since then. Saddam Hussein has become stronger than ever before.
A logical explanation, perhaps, is the ability of this shrewd, determined and cruel leader to play all facets of emotions of the people in his favour. People can be variously described as those who love him, hate him and/or fear him. Some people do love him, no doubt, for his heroic deeds, being able to withstand, though briefly, the onslaughts of formidable and numerically superior foes, and ostensibly for his oft-repeated patriotic pronouncements. Many more people hate him for having brought untold misery, severe distress and economic hardships to them as well as to others. But it is an axiomatic truth that all, friends and foes alike, nurture a deep and terrible sense of fear out of him. The reported execution of General Saddam, who acted as a friend and comrade-in-arms with Saddam, a few days ago only proves that the traditional policy of this ruthless Baath dictator has remained unchanged. From the very inception of taking over power two decades ago Saddam Hussain has been ruling the nation with a clinched iron fist. A significant number of his erstwhile close partisans, relatives and friends, besides innumerable dissidents, have been simply eliminated. The fortunate ones got exiled. The state was and is still running as a police state. The only parallel that can be drawn is in North Korea, where a similar statecraft is in vogue. There have been numerous disclosed and undisclosed coup attempts which have so far been foiled. He survived all the nine lives of a cat and one wonders how many more he will survive in future. But it goes beyond doubt that the person of Saddam Hussain has been and will remain a mystery, to be adored or to be hated by people.. But, none can afford to remain indifferent to this enigmatic person.
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