by Mani Shankar Aiyar
. . . Iraq under Saddam had everything going for it -- except
democracy. And it was, of course, the absence of democracy that
accounted for Saddam brushing aside all vested interests: his
instant liberation of women, his instant dismantling of feudalism,
his instant caging of the priesthood, and, therefore, his instant --
and, yes, brutal -- exclusion from Iraq of all forms of religious
fundamentalism and religion-based terrorism. Which is, one thing at
least that Osama bin Laden and Bush III share: they hate Saddam
equally.
If Saddam goes, the brutality of the Baath party will finally be
ended.
But other things not wonderful either will take its place. There
will be a takeover of civil society by the elements sidelined over
four decades of Baath rule. Therefore, along with democracy,
fundamentalism and terrorism will rear their heads. . . .
FULL TEXT
[Mani Shankar Aiyar was commercial counselor and deputy chief of
mission at the Indian Embassy in Baghdad from 1976 to 1978. He is a
member of the Indian parliament representing the Congress Party. His
column is published weekly.]
