Saddam was a monster the West helped create

From a 1990 WP article:

'During its eight-year war against Iran, Iraq became the world's largest retail purchaser of arms. But in recent years, it also has sought the technology to develop its own arms industry, both to free itself from dependence on foreign suppliers and to develop the kind of doomsday armaments -- nuclear bombs, chemical and biological weapons, ballistic missiles -- that would make Iraq the Arab world's dominant power.

Experts say the development of Iraq's arms industry has its roots in the desire to lead the Arab world, as well as in Israel's humiliation of the Arab states in the 1967 Six-Day War. Saddam, whose Baath Socialist Party took power in Iraq the following year, saw the Israeli experience as a lesson in how a small but resourceful nation could become a regional superpower.

He began to put his program into practice in the mid-1970s, secretly launching projects to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, intelligence sources say.

Some of those weapons are already available and likely to be used by Iraq in any military showdown with U.S. forces. The bleak irony is that much of the technology and expertise that created those weapons was bought by Iraq in the West, sometimes by deception but often with the silent acquiescence of Western governments. Those sales continued even after Saddam's regime was accused of using chemical weapons against Iran and Iraq's own Kurdish citizens.

W. Seth Carus, defense analyst with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the combination of petrodollars and technological help from the West made Iraq a new phenomenon in the Third World. "Iraq is a unique case. No one's really done this before," he said.

Everyone, it seems, took a slice of the Iraqi arms pie. The Soviet Union, France, China and Chile sold Baghdad much of its off-the-shelf weaponry. West Germany, France, Britain, the United States, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and Brazil all sold the components, machines and tools -- much of it material with civilian as well as military application -- that are the building blocks of the modern Iraqi war machine.

As a result, military and intelligence analysts say, Iraq can make some of its own chemical weapons, has a fledgling nuclear-weapons program that could produce a bomb in five years or less and is working on a long-range missile that would enable it to deliver such a bomb to Tel Aviv, Tehran or Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"This is a Frankenstein monster that the West created," said Hans-Heino Kopietz, Middle East analyst with Control Risks Group, a private security firm here. "We closed our eyes because some businesses wanted to make money and because Saddam was a useful tool against Iran." '

Arabs angry about US intervention in Iraqi Parliament

As'ad Abu Khalil wrote today: "Some Iraqi members of puppet parliament, including Muwaffaq Ar-Rubay`i, are protesting the intervention by US and UK ambassadors in Iraqi puppet parliamentary affairs. Some are asking for restrictions on their movement. Yes, and you may ask US troops to implement your orders."

I suppose the Lebanese American professor in California would rather see Parliamentary deadlock in Baghdad, which might lead to further conflict, than to see Americans helping Iraqis to agree on an election law.

It seems that As'ad would rather see civil war in Iraq or a return to tyranny in Iraq (the Arab way) than to see American diplomats intervening in the Iraqi Parliament to resolve an impasse that would have threatened to derail plans for an election early next year. The Arabs are angry at America and at the Arabs who cooperate with America, even if that cooperation leads to peace in Iraq. It is sad.

12 times as many suicide bombings in Iraq as in Israel

Considering that the Arab nation has been fighting Israel for more than 60 years, and considering that of all political issues the Arabs are most concerned about the conflict in Palestine, I find it shocking that there have been at least 12 times as many suicide bombings in six years in Iraq as the number of suicide bombings during more than half a century of Israeli expansionism. I believe that this statistic, coupled with the fact that Arabs seem to be unconcerned about Arab terrorism in Iraq, shows how little the Arabs care about Iraqis. Judging by their reactions to the war in Iraq, it seems the Arabs in general care only for the Iraqis who fight Americans.

During the 60 years of Israel's existence, Arabs (all Palestinian) carried out 140 suicide bombings inside Israel. Hundreds of innocent Israelis were killed. When Israel kills innocent Palestinians, the Arabs become very angry, understandably.

After the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam's murderous regime, the Arabs have sent more than 1,700 suicide bombers to Iraq. Many suicide bombers have been Iraqi, but most have been non-Iraqi Arabs. The vast majority of victims have been Iraqi civilians, mostly Arabs and Muslims. But the Arabs don't seem to be as angry about this, except to blame America.

True that the first Palestinian suicide bombing occurred in 1994, so it has actually been 140 suicide bombings during 15 years of Israeli expansionism. Also a Palestinian American woman recently gently reminded me that it's much more difficult for Arab militants to enter Israel than it has been for Arab militants to enter Iraq. This is a good point. Still the fact is that the Arab "resistance", if there is such a thing, have launched 12 times as many suicide attacks in Iraq as they have in Israel, and that is not good for Arab unity.

I am not suggesting that Arab extremists try to carry out more suicide bombings in Israel. I believe that attacking innocent Israelis, civilians or soldiers, is wrong. The killing of women and children is especially disgusting, and in both Israel and Iraq the majority of victims have been civilians. But clearly there is something wrong here, if we are to believe that Iraq is part of the "Arab nation".

I did not expect so many non-Iraqi Arabs to fight in Iraq and I did not expect any bombings of Iraqi markets, universities, government ministries, police stations, restaurants, weddings and funerals. I mean that shows you how much the Arabs really hate Iraq, no?

Some people have tried to justify Palestinian suicide bombings, arguing that Israel has treated the Palestinians terribly and makes Palestinians' lives miserable. So what is the excuse for 1,700 suicide bombings in Iraq? Are the Arabs fighting occupation? Or are they fighting democracy?

Maliki brought security to Iraq?

I guess if one compares the situation to 2006 and 2007, security has improved a great deal in Iraq. But I hope Iraqi leaders can do even better than what Maliki's government has done in terms of security.

'As one guy hacked away with his scythe at the weeds and unwanted growth, the other was picking up rubbish. "Iraq is a country of good things," he said. "Inshallah it will get even better." I asked who they would vote for in the elections. Without hesitating, they both said, "Al Maliki."

Why Al Maliki? "Because he brought security to the country," said one. "And nobody has said that he is dirty like the others," the other man added. What about the Hakims, Sadr, or Allawi? They said Iraqis will not survive under sectarian leaders such as the Hakims or Sadr. And Allawi? "No. He's in agreement with the Baathists."

What about the oil deals? "Honestly, we have never in our lives seen any of the oil money." They doubted that any government would make a difference in that regard. But the money from oil will help repair the country and give people jobs. "We'll be better than the Gulf countries." Even, everyone's favourite, Dubai? "Inshallah better than Dubai." '

US military warned Iraqi govt of imminent attack

"The U.S. military had warned of an imminent attack hours before last week's deadly bombings in Baghdad, but the tip came too late to act on, Iraqi security officials said Sunday as outraged lawmakers pressed for answers about Iraq's ability to protect the capital.

Even news that 13 al-Qaida-linked suspects have been detained in connection with the bombings did little to quell the angry parliament members, who shouted down security officials as they tried to defend their forces.

The grilling in parliament was the third session since Tuesday's attacks that put government officials and security brass on the hot seat. It also suggested that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may need much bolder action to repair the government's image heading toward March elections.

So far, he shook up the Baghdad security command and some officers have been placed in custody for possible negligence after bombings that left at least 127 people dead and more than 500 wounded.

But many lawmakers — mostly political foes — have refused to let the government off the hook."

It's good to see MPs and political foes of the Iraqi PM refusing to let the government off the hook. This is another sign of a true democracy. Saddam's goons would have imprisoned or murdered any Iraqi for criticizing Saddam's murderous regime.

US invasion benefits Russia and China

'Critics said the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq said was driven by oil, but United States oil majors were largely absent from an Iraqi auction of oil deals snapped up instead by Russian, Chinese and other firms.'

"Our neighbours are the worst"

'Iraq signed with Shell and a Chinese company to develop the Majnoon fields. And today I heard they signed with Russia's Lukoil. Iraq is reportedly going to increase production to 12 million barrels a day, up from 2.5 million today. Funny, I remember people told me that the United States wanted to steal Iraq's oil. Here are some hefty deals signed, none of which is with the United States.

But back to the businessman's point of view. He said Iraq will become the third largest oil producer in the world, and nobody wants that to happen. He said, "Our neighbours are the worst." He pointed to Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the other Gulf countries. "They don't want Iraq's oil to compete with theirs. It is in none of their interest to have a successful Iraq. "

The man said a successful Iraq' democracy would frighten those same countries. He said a stable Iraqi economy would threaten the neighbours. That's why the countries that back al-Qaeda, of which he said Saudi Arabia was one, send bombers to make a statement here. The man said Syria let the killers go through their border to enter Iraq. "But the deals were signed, the bombs didn't stop anybody from signing," he said.'