"Why is Saddam so strong?"

Saddam Hussein

"In republican governments, men are all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the latter, because they are nothing,"
Baron de Montesquieu

Weary after a protracted and bitter war with Iran, a decisive military defeat by the U.S. led international coalition over the invasion of Kuwait, and seven long years of international economic sanctions, the Iraqi people find solace in religion.

tomb of Imam Kazim at the Al-Kazimiya MosqueAbu Hanifa mosque in Baghdad
Baghdad's Shiite Muslim visiting the tomb of Imam Kazim
at the Al-Kazimiya Mosque (left) and Iraqis pray at the Abu Hanifa
mosque in Baghdad (right).

At 03:49 PM 6/14/97 +0200, you wrote:
>Why is Saddam so strong. Does the majority of the people in Iraq support Saddam? Are the elections fixed. Who won the gulf war. I would very much like to her your version on these questions. Democracy forever!!!
Harald E (harald.e@hoyre.no)

      Dear Harald,

      I thing the answer as to why "Saddam is so strong" fairly obvious. The Iraqi people are near-starved and occupied by the simple attempt of survival, any dissent would mean prison or more likely worse, and the prospects for any meaningful improvement in the situation are unlikely in the near future. From what I hear and read, the people have resorted to religion for comfort and support and have steered away from secular affairs. Seeing no other more earthly manner in which to influence their fate for the better, they pray to Allah that he might mitigate their hard lives. If I were an Iraqi, I would probably do exactly the same.

      There are no elections in Iraq. It is a police state and what the majority of the people want or desire has no bearing on Saddam Hussein. "In republican governments, men are all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the latter, because they are nothing," claimed the Baron de Montesquieu. I think that the best description of the role of the average Iraqi today in Hussein's police state.

      Very Truly Yours,

      Richard Geib

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