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Manuevering for Death, Oil, and Political Victory by Sobi Hossain |
Five years ago, Desert Storm left Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein humiliated and weakened, yet, unfortunately, still in power. The five-year-old battle of attrition against Hussein erupted once again this year on August 31st. Despite warnings issued by President Clinton, Hussein forcefully seized control of northern Iraq from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan-the Kurdish faction being protected by the United States. On August 31st, Hussein sent 40,000 Iraqi troops to the Kurdish safe haven in northern Iraq. Within hours Hussein's troops reportedly rounded up and killed dozens of Iraqi defectors and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was replaced by the Iraqi-supported Kurdish faction known as the Kurdistan Democratic Party. In addition, Hussein uncovered and killed members of the clandestine CIA operation that had been working covertly for almost five years to overthrow him and his regime. The CIA members escaped into Turkey hours before Saddam's troops arrived. Unfortunately, the 1,500 members of the Iraqi National Congress aiding the CIA were not so lucky. One the covert operation had been uncovered, the CIA immediately abandoned their allies and left them to fend for themselves. Those who were not able to flee were tortured and then systematically executed by the Iraqi secret police known as the Mukhabaret. "the CIA has fled and abandoned a large number of people," says Rend Rahim Francke, director of the anti-Saddam Iraq Foundation in Washington. "All Iraqis-all those in the opposition-feel extremely let down by the US. The perception among Iraqis is that having anything to do with the US is dangerous to your health."
In response to Hussein's latest human rights violations against the Kurds, President Clinton has launched several missile attacks against Iraq. The Clinton Administration, however, has been criticized for not launching a "proportional" attack against Iraq. President Clinton's political fate in the upcoming election is largely riding on his dealings with Iraq. Thus far, the ongoing conflict with Iraq has been an unremitting test of wills between Hussein and Clinton. Every act of defiance committed by Hussein, including firing at allied planes in the no-fly zone has been met with a retaliatory act by the Untied States-the firing of additional cruise missiles.
Since the Gulf War in 1991, the United States has pursued a policy of containment against Hussein and his regime. However, in light of recent events, the Clinton Administration is now preparing to launch a war of annihilation against Hussein and his regime. Currently, US troops, planes, tanks and weapons are accumulating in the Gulf. Clinton, however, has explicitly stated that the United States will not launch an attack unless provoked by Iraq. Hussein has backed off away from his threats of war with the recent build-up of troops, but it is uncertain how long this will last.
Meanwhile, both President Clinton and Saddam Hussein are in extremely precarious positions. The event of the upcoming weeks will undoubtedly determine the political fates of both.