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So what is the book all about?
Obviously, the Gulf War which is seen only from Baghdad.
Consequently the Anglo-American insistence on sanctions and
the response of the world, as well as the sufferings of the
Iraqi people should be taking the centrestage. The occupation
of Kuwait becomes' incursion', which paved way for its 'union'
with Iraq after the Revolution Command Council in Iraq
responded to the 'historic appeal made by the free interim
government of Kuwait.' Helpfully, the author explains the
historical support for this appeal by dwelling on Ottoman
history, without pondering that this would also entail the
right of Istanbul to rule the region even today.
This,
however, does not absolve the Americans of the guilt of
pitching the innocent civilians in the frontline in order to
rid the world of President Saddam Hussein. Equally galling is
the insistence to subject Iraq to 'inspections, anytime,
anywhere by anyone' — as Tony Blair puts it. Repugnant as
the sanctions are, it is hard for an Indian to be outraged, as
Bhim Singh does, at the fact that Iraqi children have been
deprived of milk as a result of sanctions, though it can
understandably torture the conscience of the developed world.
In this
context, the author refuses to see the link between the
obstinate insistence of the Anglo-Americans to subject Iraq to
intruding inspections and the evidence that biological and
chemical weapons of mass destruction were used against the
Kurds. He parrots the Iraqi arguments on the issue of Kurds
who continue to struggle to reconcile history with their
aspirations, living as they are under the control of Turkey,
Iran and Iraq.
Bhim Singh
has a strong case about the subversion and marginalisation of
the United Nations by the Anglo-Americans, but this needs to
be seen in the historical context. In an era when regional
conflicts need to be contained, the world body has repeatedly
been found wanting in checking the recalcitrant states. Its
pusillanimous efforts have yielded in horrific ethnic
cleansing in the Balkans. Contrast this with the effective
initiatives in Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.
Much of the book is full of
efforts of the Voice of Millions, a journal edited by
the author, and other bodies headed by him in lending support
to Iraq and Iraqis under President Saddam Hussein.
Incidentally, he also commends the democratic constitution of
Iraq which 'ensures putting the candidates for the post of the
President of the Republic to direct secret and free
plebiscite' when Revolutionary Command Council elects its
Chairman who is nominated for the post of the President. After
this is ratified by National Assembly the name is put to
general popular plebescite. Thanks, but no thanks. The
democratic world would rather prefer Anglo-American models and
their variants even if they sound old and decadent!
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THERE
is much to admire and know about the people and leadership of
a country that has stood up to the pressure of the only power
of the world for more than a decade. Such steadfast resolve to
live life on their terms is both heroic and exceptional
especially when better-endowed countries have had to follow
the directions of the United States of America; and, therefore
when anyone attempts to write about Iraq, it is natural for
the reader to hope for a comprehensive insight into the place
and the people who have shown the tenacity and the courage of
conviction to suffer the privations. Disappointingly, Bhim
Singh's book fails, either to make Iraq a familiar place to
the reader or make the resistance a coherently documented
saga.
