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| Kathmandu, Thursday March 06, 2003 Falgun 22, 2059. |
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Gorbachev’s remorse and
Saddam’s resolve
By DR SHREEDHAR GAUTAM
Mikhail Gorbachev, largely responsible for the
disintegration of former Soviet Union in the disguise of transforming communism into
democracy, has recently been quoted as saying it is now America’s turn for ‘perestroika’.
He has categorically said that Washington is hell-bent on attacking Iraq despite its
readiness to cooperate to get rid of domestic crisis in the US. Gorbachev says: "We
do need a new world order but the US administration seems to think that the world should
be one big American backyard where US interest would take priority and the interests of
all other states would be ignored". Gorbachev’s harsh criticism of the country
he tried so hard to befriend in the late 1980s signals a sea change in him. It is an
admission that his policy of identifying the interest of the former Soviet Union with the
western world was a blunder. It is with this sense of remorse that he has criticised the
attempt of building Pax Americana. In a Russian Government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazela he
has rejected the ‘world order’ propounded by his former friends, and then
predicts that the US will face more threats in future.
Right thinking persons the world over have
appreciated the sense of repentance expressed by Gorbachev, especially his suggestion that
America needs in depth Perestroika. Though history will not forgive Gorbachev for his
short-sighted policies that have adversely affected the people in Russia and many parts of
the world, his recent outburst against the policies of his former ally country will to
some extent lessen the amount of his sin. However, we understand that at the beginning of
his reign, he had initiated some healthy programmes for cleansing the corrupt culture that
had developed in the Soviet Government machinery since the death of Stalin. But very soon,
he crossed all the limits by denouncing the socialistic system itself and championing for
western style democracy in the name of openness. Gorbachev fooled former Soviet people in
the pretext of replacing "corrupt socialism" with ‘humane democracy’.
Gorbachev’s recently expressed concern
should come as a great lesson to the power wielding leaders of different countries. It
exemplifies that a nation and the whole world suffer immensely if the leaders occupying
sensitive position commit mistakes or take decision in a whimsical manner. It is worth
recalling that there would have been no Gulf war if Gorbachev had not sided with the
western world in the Security Council in passing a resolution that, for the first time in
the history of UNO, authorized the world body to use force against a member country. It is
also to be recalled that, after the resolution was passed, Gorbachev tried to play the
role of mediator and put forward a compromise formula to the US that gave at least a month’s
time for Iraq to vacate Kuwait voluntarily. But, the western block rejected the proposal
and initiated carpet-bombing of Iraqi cities on the very night of the deadline of
ultimatum given to Iraq. By not giving any heed to the suggestion of Gorbachev, western
block showed utter ingratitude to the father of the ‘Perestroika’, mainly
because by then the Soviet Union had already been disintegrated and so it posed no threat
to the western interest Gulf war, thus, came as the first gift of Russian and American
joining together in the Security Council.
Close on the heels of Gorbachev’s remorse,
Saddam Hussein, in an interview with a US television reporter and CBS news anchorman Dan
Rather, has assertively proclaimed that he will die in Iraq and in no circumstances will
accept any proposal of exile. There are reports that the Russian President Putin recently
sent his emissary, a former Prime Minister, with a compromise formula for his gradual
retirement and then transfer of power to younger generation, including those Iraqis living
now in western countries and working against his regime. He has reportedly showed resolve
to stay in Iraq and not leave Iraq, even at the cost of his death. Saddam told the
reporter: "I was born here in Iraq whoever decides to forsake his nation from whoever
request is not true to the principles". He also refuted the charge that he would set
fire to Iraqi oil field in case of US led military invasion.
Gorbachev and Saddam are now in news for
different reasons, Gorbachev’s realisation of his mistake can evoke alertness in the
heart of the concerned politicians in all parts of the world. Leaders should have vision
for at least 200 years, and only then their decision can be guided, by the welfare of the
future generation. For instance, today’s America is the result of the vision shown by
American leaders, among others by Jefferson and Lincoln. Today Americans feel proud of
their visionary ancestors. Now, in Russia and China too people remember Stalin and Mao,
despite the fact that both countries are no more practising communism. Russians and
Chinese feel that Stalin and Mao unified their countries in the past and laid down the
foundation of modern development. It does not mean that Stalin and Mao had committed no
mistakes, but their mistakes were minor in comparison to their contribution. Very
recently, thousands of people lined up in Moscow to show their respect to Stalin and
called him the father of nation.
Saddam Hussein might not be a role model leader
for all. However, whatever his mistakes in the past, including his military adventure on
Kuwait, he has ultimately shown his resolve to die on his own soil than opt for
comfortable exile as done by Iran’s Shah in 1979 and very recently by Nawaz Sharif of
Pakistan. We remember the scene when Iran’s Shah dropped tears on the Iranian soil
before flying for Egypt, fully knowing that he would not come back to his own land.
Similarly, Nawaz Sharif agreed to a compromised exile in Saudi Arabia, not having any
faith in his people. But, Saddam Hussein has shown steadfast faith in the judgement of his
people, who have been suffering for the last 13 years. Why has he done so? We assume that
he has not done anything detrimental to Iraq’s integrity and sovereignty.
We know that Saddam Hussein has committed
mistakes, but the Iraqi people think that his contribution to the integration of Iraq is
much greater in comparison to his failures. He prevented Iraqi Kurds from carving a
separate state soon after his defeat in the Gulf War. Even his staunchest enemies
appreciate his loyalty to the integrity of the country. If he dies in Iraq tomorrow in the
imminent western aggression, his image will not diminish because so far he has not entered
into any open deal for his and family members’ safety. Whether we like Saddam or not,
we can learn from his resolve to fight for the independence of his country and then die on
his soil. As we have learned, from American visionaries of seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries, we can learn also from Saddam’s determination to die but not to desert the
people for personal sake. We hope Gorbachev’s remorse and Saddam’s resolve will
leave a positive impact on the minds of people, especially on the politician, who play
crucial role in either making or destroying the nation’s destiny.
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