December 25-31, 2003

loose canon

America's Boy

by Bruce Schimmel

I checked in again recently with Kori, the Iraqi-born Philly cab driver, to see how he thinks the capture of Saddam affects the prospect of peace in Iraq.

Saddam's capture means little at this point, says the naturalized American citizen. Kori -- university-educated, in his 40s -- has lived here for more than a decade. He sends money to his family in Iraq and, still fearful of reprisals, requests that I print only his first name.

"Saddam was gone long ago," says Kori. "He died before he was captured. He's been gone since the war."

Saddam has left, but for Kori and this family, the tyrant's legacy of ethnic hatred remains, having bred civil strife for some 35 years. And for that, says Kori, the people of Iraq blame the United States.

"Everyone [in Iraq] knows that Saddam Hussein was America's boy in the Middle East during the '80s."

According to Kori, Saddam kept himself in power by aggravating discord inside of Iraq and by waging an endless war on Iran -- both with America's help. The U.S. supplied his weapons: "brand-new artillery made in America, imported from South Africa," according to Kori, who served in the Iraqi army before and during the first Gulf War.

Kori says that Saddam should be tried in an Iraqi court -- with help from the international community and without any meddling from the United States. But even a fair trial -- which Kori thinks ought to include the death penalty -- will not bring an end to the infighting.

"Iraqis do not need him [Saddam] to be on trial to get peace. We need jobs, stability. We need to be safe inside [our homes], to be safe to travel at night, safe to talk.

"You have no jobs, no food in Iraq. Think of [what it would be like if] half of Philadelphia went without jobs for eight months -- no electricity, no money -- and you've got kids.

"I talked to my brother, just after [Saddam's] fall and the price of vegetables skyrocketed. The only thing that's cheaper now is Pepsi -- and that is more valuable than water."

In the current chaos, says Kori, "We actually need another government which is as strong -- and as brutal -- as Saddam Hussein."

As to America's future role in rebuilding Iraq, the U.S. should get out, leaving reconstruction to the U.N.

But instead, Kori says, the Bush administration has put "thieves on the [current ruling] council."

"If Bush wants to help, he wouldn't bring [to the ruling council] a thief like [Ahmad] Chalabi."

Just what Iraq needs, I think: another "America's boy."