Posted on 12/13/2004 6:10:26 PM PST by blam
'Chaos in Iraq could produce another Hitler'
By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor
(Filed: 14/12/2004)
The chronic instability and widespread feeling of humiliation in Iraq could give birth to an "Iraqi Hitler", the country's president, Ghazi al-Yawar, said yesterday as a suicide car bomber killed at least seven people in Baghdad.
The explosion at the entrance of the "Green Zone", the capital's fortified government and diplomatic compound, left 19 people wounded. All the victims were reported to be Iraqis.
An US soldier surveys the blast zone in Baghdad
The blast came on the anniversary of the capture of Saddam Hussein.
The arrest of the former Iraqi dictator has not stemmed the insurgency, which is concentrated on the Sunni triangle, with daily bombings, shootings and kidnappings.
Mr Yawar, who has in the past criticised US operations, said the political climate in Iraq could bring a new era of political fanaticism.
"This could in the long term create an environment in which an Iraqi Hitler could emerge like the one created by the defeat of Germany and the humiliation of Germans in World War I," he told Asharq al-Awsat, a London-based Arabic newspaper.
Ghazi al-Yawar
Mr Yawar – a Sunni Muslim appointed to the largely symbolic post of president in June – urged Iraq's neighbours to break their "negative silence" about violence in Iraq and help stabilise the country.
"When a fire breaks out in your neighbour's house you should act quickly to put it out, not only for the sake of your neighbour but also so that you are not forced to put it out in your own home when it spreads there," he told the paper.
Interviewed by the BBC's Today programme, the president predicted a surge in attacks ahead of the Jan 30 elections to choose a transitional parliament.
"Their tactical target is to undermine the electoral process and to stop us having our first elections. This is why we see it is a challenge we have to meet," he said.
Most of the parties representing the once-dominant Sunni Arabs, who make up about a fifth of the population, have called for the elections to be delayed, saying that a fair poll was impossible amid daily violence.
But America and the Iraqi interim government believe that holding the elections on schedule, even if imperfect, offers the best way of turning the corner in the crisis.
We just got rid of a pseudo Hitler.
After WWII, there were thousands of US casualties, until Conrad Adenauer was told that if he didn't fix it, we would replace him. It wasn't pretty, but he got the Wehrmacht and SS to shut down the dead enders.
He that has ears, let him hear.
ein spiderhole?
The world seems to be crawling with Hitlers and Hitlerphobists. One thing a Hitler wannabe needs is a Modern State already in place. Iraq would not be that Modern State, and still less so if it collapses even further.
No, Mister Yawar, this time we stopped Hitler at Sudetenland. Big difference.
Non-militant Iraqis already show no nerve in dealing with violence. It probably doesn't matter who or what they "elect". They have already ceded their country (except Kurdistan) to the Islamists, the militant Sunni, and the militant Shia.
All that's needed outside of Kurdistan is another thug, like Saddam, and the new torch will be passed. The passive Iraqis will forever blame the US "occupation" for not securing their country.
Yawar is just a figurehead. Allawi is in charge.
Just like the Queen and Tony Blair
I predict that no matter what happens, news articles like these will produce more hysterical, idiot liberals.
History always repeats itself. Given the history of Iraq, it is more likely there will be three Hitlers. One controlling each separate ethnic group. Then they will fight to kill each other.
--Boot Hill
The Telegraph is one of the most conservative newspapers in all England.
That's called damning with faint praise! In any event I never found that to be the case and both articles were clearly anti-GWOT and the first article was complete BS (as many posters pointed out).
--Boot Hill
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