HURRIYET- Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the latest developments in Iraq. A summary of her column is as follows:
This is a geography of symbols and hints, in other words, the geography of feigned ignorance. Saddam Hussein’s 65th birthday celebrations were based on them as well. The parade attended by representatives from all the cities, schools and institutions in Iraq was held on Palestine St. in Baghdad. There were Palestinian flags flying next to Iraqi flags, and banners called on Saddam to lead Palestine. One of the slogans read, ‘Let us save Saddam and Palestine from the US.’ The message given by Iraqi youth to the international press was, ‘Saddam is the only Arabian leader who defends the interests of the Palestinian people and the Arabian nation.’ The biggest of the messages within these symbols was meant for US President Bush. According to some Iraqi observers, these celebrations were an ‘unofficial referendum.’ The fact that the most repeated slogan of the celebrations was ‘Bush, listen to our voice, we love Saddam’ strengthened the hints of referendum. During the sweltering holiday the procession was too crowded and the slogans of love for Saddam were too much. I talked to some of the people. Were they pretending ignorance? Iraqi observers are of the opinion that a US attack is immanent. Iraqi Deputy President Taha Yasin Ramazan told US network NBC over the weekend that the US could attack anytime, which is shown as evidence of this expectation. When I understood the feelings of the people I talked with yesterday on Baghdad’s streets, I thought they were right. They consider the rhetoric out of Washington as a direct insult towards them and their national identity. Thus, they hold tight to Saddam. Could they possibly help him more? While coming to Baghdad through Amman, a Canadian painter with whom I shared the 10-hour bus ride invited me to an exhibit that he will open here to support the Iraqi nation and told me about a civilian network that they had established against a new US attack. One 74-year-old Japanese researcher, who traveled 20 hours from Tokyo to attend the International Solidarity Conference, said, ‘The US dropped an atom bomb on us. The US is the biggest terrorist.’ Yesterday in Iraq was a sort of preparation for the critical meeting to be held by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Iraqi Foreign Minister Naci Sabri later this week.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION