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LIBERATION OF IRAQ
By Rakesh Chhetri
November 24, 2004
GMT 7.25 AM
The liberation of Iraq was, an
affirmative action and positive deliverance for the victimized Iraqi
people, from the victims’ perspective, even if France, Germany
and others did not support the liberation of Iraqi people.
On April 9, 2003, Iraqi people were
liberated from the rule of world’s most tyrannical dictator.
Liberation, a fait accompli for over 53 million Iraqis ( 25
m) and Afghan ( 28 m) people, who are now free to enjoy their
freedoms and liberties, once denied to them, thanks to President
Bush. Without President Bush, Saddam Hussien and Taliban regime
would be still torturing and murdering their people. Who better
understand the values of Iraqi liberation than, the helpless
Bhutanese refugees (over 100,000 ) living in refugee camps in Nepal,
who were forcefully evicted by another despotic monarchial regime
of Bhutan.
These dictatorial and despotic regimes
control the political, economic, spiritual and cultural lives of the
people. The international community should
not allow the dictators to rule. People forced to live in a
state of perpetual fear for their personal safety form the rule of
despotic rulers understand well the true values of these freedoms.
All other freedoms and rights become secondary to an individual’s
personal safety and security. Francis Fukuyma appropriately
emphasizes that present day western democracy with “freedoms and
liberties” as the ultimate goal of humanity in his famous theory of
the "End of History". The United States is the sole super power of
this century. The United States’ rule of law, democracy,
self-governance, liberalism, freedoms, education system, technology,
scientific innovations, free enterprises, equal opportunity,
tolerance, diversity etc., inspire us. The long visa queue in front
of any US embassy, be it for business, tourism or education purpose
and scramble for Diversity Visa program vindicate this.
Saddam waged constant war against
his own people. On March 16 1988, Saddam gassed his own people
killing over 5000 people. His sons ran rape and death chambers. Mass
graves, rape and death chambers are now being unearthed after
liberation. Saddam regime denied Iraq's majority Shiites the right
to practice their traditions. Tens of thousands of Iraqi Shiites
were killed and imprisoned. The liberation of Iraq was thus, not a
question of war or peace. It was in fact, a question, whether the
liberation war could bring an end to the long sufferings of Iraqi
people, at the hands of the most tyrannical regime of the world –
which it did successfully.
The Iraqi people could not enjoy
freedoms or gain personal safety, and security under Saddam rule. A
peaceful regime change of the tyrannical dictatorship was not
possible The Iraqis themselves could not remove him. Nor could he be
removed by the United Nations resolutions alone and without his
overthrow they could not expect to gain freedom. The Arab neighbors
were silent on Iraqi peoples’ sufferings. The liberation of Iraq was
thus, an affirmative action and positive deliverance for the
victimized Iraqi people, from the victims’ perspective, even if
France, Germany and others did not support the liberation of Iraqi
people. The real fact is that a fascist dictator was removed as in
the case of former Germany. Those who are anti-Americans will never
accept the liberation of Iraqi people. If they were allowed to
hold, Iraqis would still be under the repressive and torturous
Saddam rule. It is high time for the oppressed people in the
Middle East and elsewhere to acknowledge, that their problem is
their own rulers, and not the United States of America. It is true,
freedoms and liberty do not come free.
Iraq and the region are on the
threshold of fundamental changes. It will take some time for the
domino effects to be visible. Libya is closing down
its weapons-of-mass-destruction programs. Saudis are cracking down
on militants. A new democratic Palestine state will emerge in the
new year, which could live at peace with Israel.
The United States has also helped to
liberate other countries in the past. It has helped to save the
French people from Nazi occupation in 1944. The Germans were also
helped by the USA. In 1945 the United States helped to free German
people from Hitler’s rule. During the Berlin crisis, US helped
Germany against Stalin. Under US leadership German people saw the
dissolution of Warsaw Pact which ultimately led to the reunification
of Germany. In 1991, Kuwait was liberated by the United States form
Saddam’s invasion. The spread of democratic ideals and freedoms in
Arab world are now being talked as a part of the new US foreign
and homeland security policy.
The foreign insurgents led by
Jordanian Abu Musab Zarqawi, are killing innocent Iraqi men, women
and children indiscriminately in the name of Islam and they rejoice
in it. They are destroying Iraqi economy and society. They are
hurting Iraqis and not the Americans. Where were Zarqawi and his
people when the Iraqis were suffering in Saddam's regime?. Zarqawi
and his band of insurgents would do well, if they spend their
resources to liberate their own countrymen from authoritarian rule
in their native countries. Once upon a time people took up arms to
liberate their country form the rule of dictators or authoritarian
regimes. But the Islamist insurgents seem to have no agenda, except
killing. The senseless killing of 12 innocent Nepalese workers and
Madrid bombing also reveal their true agenda. Iraq could now become
a beacon of hope, prosperity and freedoms for the entire Arab
world, which the insurgents hate. All Iraqi people must work hard
to protect their new found freedoms from the insurgents. The
nation-building process is a partnership project of all Iraqi
citizens.
For the
liberation to be successful, Iraq needs to be stabilized first. In
February 2005, a democratically elected Iraqi government is
expected to be in place. International community and Iraq’s
neighbors must extend all possible assistance to Iraq to succeed in
its democratic venture The new government requires US support for
Iraq’s stability. That means the United States needs to remain in
Iraq as long as it takes to stabilize the country and help to
develop the first modern and free democracy in the
entire Arab world. A withdrawal of US
troops at this stage may bring disastrous consequences for Iraq
and the Middle East as a whole-
a new dictatorial regime and civil/tribal war in Iraq and new armament in the
region.
-End
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