Saddam's Nat'l Day Speech
Iraq News, JULY 20, 1998
By Laurie MylroieThe central focus of Iraq News is the tension between the considerable, proscribed WMD capabilities that Iraq is holding on to and its increasing stridency that it has complied with UNSCR 687 and it is time to lift sanctions. If you wish to receive Iraq News by email, a service which includes full-text of news reports not archived here, send your request to Laurie Mylroie .
II. SADDAM'S NAT'L DAY SPEECH
Baghdad Iraq Television Network in Arabic 0704 GMT 17 Jul 98
"Text" of speech by Iraqi president Saddam Husayn on the 30th
anniversary of the l7-30 July Revolution in Baghdad--live or recorded]
[FBIS Translated Text]
In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate, Our Lord, decide
thou between us and our people in truth, for thou art the best to decide
[Koranic verse]
O great people, 0 valiant men of our armed forces, O Arab mujahidin
and strugglers, O friends may the peace and blessings of God be upon
you. On this day every year, we recall together the outbreak of the
revolution on 17 and 30 July l968; but, on this day, the 30th
anniversary of the revolution, we will not busy you with figures and
accomplishments as is our custom on such occasions to reassure you about
the genuine progress of the revolution and the true pledge that was made
by its brave and noble revolutionaries. We will simply refer to
whatever we can scoop out from the great sea of accomplishments so as to
make you more certain and reassured that the revolution's meanings and
spirit, as declared on 17 and 30 July 1968 and afterward, continue to
consolidate and to pursue their course as a moral and principled
commitment from which we cannot deviate. In fact, every stage of the
revolution carries new advanced accomplishments that anger the foe and
p1ease the friend.
Figures and accomplishments no longer add anything essential to the
course of the revolution, now that it is viewed as the new model
revolution (thawrat al-tiraz al-jadid) in Arab and human life--since its
basic accomplishments are known to whomever follows its course--and now
that the nature and the conflict with the enemies and the legendary
steadfastness of our people, the people of civilization and glory,
eloquently express a level that reassures the sons of the glorious and
great nation and our friends in the world. The new model revolution
continues and is firmly established. Its people are great; its warriors
are noble and trustworthy to the oath and pledge; its future portends
brilliance, prosperity and premise; and its present is
characteristically strong.
This is your revolution, O glorious Iraqis, revolutionaries,
mujahidin and strugglers--sons of our glorious Arab nation. This is the
revolution you know--a revolution whose sincere pledge, commitment, and
position you appreciate. It is the glorious July revolution. It is the
base of challenge and great construction of the Iraq of civilization,
position, and great jihad.
O great people, now we are all living the ordeal of the blockade,
threat, plotting, and evil coming from outside Iraq. Also, we are all
living the honor of steadfastness and ability to confront threats,
depending on Almighty God. We are gaining stronger conviction in the
continuous jihad of a great people. On previous occasions we said that
the blockade would not be lifted by a unanimous Security Council
resolution after it was depicted as if adopted by a unanimous Security
Council resolution. Rather, it will erode the more the Iraqis remain
firm in their position, relying on God. The meanings of this position
were made clearer to the Arabs, who further interacted with it. It
became clearer basically to the Arabs and those in the world who have
serious humanitarian feeling and friendship. By the end of 1997 and the
beginning of 1998, the Iraqis waged battles and took positions. These
placed those who have no interest in the blockade face to face with
those who have evil intentions and ambitions The two parties were
separated by clear distinctive lines defining what is in the arena
between them in an unequivocal manner that does not allow for overt
maneuvering.
The enemies of Iraq will be mistaken if they imagine that they can
deceive the people who are fortified by all factors of national zeal and
the experiences of life that they underwent and who were scorched by the
fire of their enemies. These people are motivated by factors related to
their defense of life, drawing from its great principles and the
immortal heritage of our nation against those who wanted and are trying
to assassinate these principles and this heritage. These people
sacrificed tens of thousands of dear souls within a short period of time
as a result of shortages in food and medicine and the use of force. We
tell them in the name of that great people of Iraq that they are
disillusioned [ED: AP's much better translation is "they are under great
illusion" ]. They had better re-read ancient history and this glorious
history carefully to learn the lessons that would help us and them avert
the consequences of their evils and wrongdoings.
We reassert that the letter addressed to the Security Council and the
UN secretary general by the joint meeting of the Party command and the
Revolution Command Council on 1 May 1998 is not only a cry of protest,
but it represents willpower and an alternative strategy should other
means and methods fail to return life to its normal course and restore
justice. The command and the council will meet at a later date to
conduct an in-depth discussion of this issue and deal with it, along
with their great people, who are always at the center of events and deep
inside the consciences that beat with patriotism and national zeal.
After that, only what is right shall prevail. God is great.
Faced with the Iraqis' steadfastness, their insistence on the need to
lift the siege and their readiness to add a new honor to their stock of
sacrifices, the siege has started to erode. This year, and the years to
follow, is the time for the serious erosion of the siege imposed on
Iraq. It, along with our stock of true national revolutionary power and
our pan-Arab stand, will be the source of the great waterfall that will
end the siege, break its manacles, and shame its masters and henchmen,
God willing.
O Arabs, there are always rich lessons to be learned from history,
whose recollection would point to what is possible and what is not in
the present, while at the same time, rejuvenating initiative and faith
to muster up the resources in order for them to perform their role in
the right place and within the right framework.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the blessed revolution
and on the occasion of some Arabs speaking of holding meetings and
comprehensive summits and of other Arabs speaking of miniature or
medium-scale summits to discuss the Palestinian question or pan-Arab
issues in their overall sense and with reference to a speech we gave on
this same occasion in July of 1997, we say the following on the
Palestinian question:
The representatives of seven Arab countries met in Bludan in 1945.
The meeting resulted in the establishment of the Arab League and the
Arab League has been functional since then, despite the fact that the
representatives who agreed on its formation were representing only seven
countries, who had gained their independence then, not the
representatives of 22 countries and entities, which is the case now
resulting from the political and constitutional division of the nation.
Despite the fact that there was some foreign--especially British and
French--intervention at the time to make the formation of the Arab
League an alternative to Arab unity, whose slogans were being raised and
which was being called for by the Arab masses who were rocking the seats
of power and the remnants of colonialism in the great Arab nation with
it, the old colonial powers were unable to control the course it later
adopted, because the pan-Arab masses, their slogans and struggles were
going in the opposite direction of the will of these powers. This is
how the Arab League was preserved and how the enthusiasm for holding its
conferences, including summits, was maintained.
If the position of the Arab masses were any different, the Arab
League would have been canceled during certain stages in its history
after the foreigner failed to turn it into a colonialist plan, which
could be executed as an alternative to the glorious Arab unity.
In 1967, after the 5 June setback, the Arabs met in Khartoum. That
meeting was not attended by all Arab officials at the level of the top
official or people who come directly below the top official. Despite
that, the conference adopted important resolutions, including some that
laid the foundation for an Arab steadfastness that later provided the
resources to turn to the position of confronting the aggression and the
Zionist-US plan against Palestine and against the Arab homeland. The
Khartoum conference was then known as the conference of the Three No's.
Although some people cast doubts about that conference at the time, the
rejection of defeat and the insistence by 'Abd-al-Nasir's Egypt to
liberate territory provided the political and psychological base for the
military position in 1973. This happened because the Arab masses
supported the will of the resolutions issued by the summit at the time,
and because 'Abd-al-Nasir, may God have mercy on him, with his national,
pan-Arab, and international weight, was standing behind these
resolutions. These resolutions remained in force until al-Sadat
departed from the Arab ranks with his well-known position in 1977.
Despite the shock to the Arab masses, an Arab summit convened in
Baghdad in 1978. The summit was not attended by Egypt. Nor was it
attended by representatives of some Arab states on the level of the top
officials, Despite that, the summit was convened and the required
minimum level was adopted on the basis of a pan-Arab desire, based on
the mindful Arab popular position. Several resolutions were adopted. A
vital part of these resolutions was implemented. These resolutions
constituted the psychological and practical base for the steadfastness
of others and prevented their collapse, as was expected by the Zionists
and the masters of imperialism following al-Sadat's position.
In 1973, and on the fringes of the October Arab war against the
Zionist entity, some Arab states urged the influential international
parties to adopt a fair position, or at least a position that represents
the minimum level below which evil is implied. Otherwise the Arabs
would have to take into account the interests of their national security
in their oil relations, and economic relations in general, with the
concerned parties. Because the masses supported such a call, which did
not go beyond statements in the policies of the greater part of the
concerned Arab states, and because that call represented a substantial
part of the Arab mass position, the Arabs won the day in this field
without making the necessary serious sacrifice, which they had to offer
at that time.
In 1980, we visited Saudi Arabia. The Zionist entity was pressuring
the states with diplomatic representation to move their missions and
embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Zionist entity gave them an
ultimatum, saying ties with them would be severed and diplomatic
representation would be halted. Some states responded to that Zionist
pressure; however, as soon as we agreed with King Khalid, may God have
mercy on his soul, and documented that agreement in a statement, which
we declared after a meeting with King Fahd, crown prince at the time,
that did not only lead to halting the transfer of embassies to
Jerusalem, but even the embassies that had been moved to Jerusalem
returned to Tel Aviv.
From this you can see how a brief statement issued by only two Arab
states, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, was able to strengthen the nation's
prestige and standing among nations. The meanings of that joint
statement, issued by only two states, represented the will of the entire
nation and the will of the entire people. That was also because the
statement was based on the firm decision that the ultimatum of the two
states to those who would respond to the Zionist ultimatum was a serious
ultimatum and was for implementation and not for propaganda purposes.
Thus, the people concerned were convinced that the two states would
reconsider relations with them and that such a move might later be
followed by all Arabs; therefore, they immediately responded by refusing
to move their embassies to Jerusalem. Even those who transferred their
embassies to Jerusalem before that statement, transferred them again
back to Tel Aviv.
In 1990, an Arab summit was convened in Baghdad. It was not attended
by Syria, although an invitation was sent to its officials. Nor was it
attended by some top Arab officials. The resolutions of the summit had
a resounding effect on the Zionist entity, its makers, and the followers
of its aggressive policies, however. The Arab masses responded with
great enthusiasm to its resolutions. Moreover, there was a noticeable
confidence in the summit. Many hopes were pinned on it by the Arab
masses the moment it was decided to be held and before its declared
resolutions were broadcast. Those resolutions and the nature of the
known roles and stands at that summit adversely affected the plans of
the black conspiracy, which preceded August 1990 against Baghdad and its
men, stand, policy, and ability. This was the treacherous 30-state
aggression.
Brother Arabs: In 1996 the concerned Arabs held a summit meeting in
Cairo. One of its most important decisions was to facilitate the
mission of the United States and its supporters in maintaining the
blockade against Iraq under the banner of stressing the need for Iraq to
implement the so-called UN Security Council resolutions. That was as
though the concerned Arabs turned to play the role of a UN office on
behalf of the United States.
They also made other decisions, some of which were under the banner
of the Palestine question. What happened after their meeting? Did any
person concerned in the Zionist entity turn a hair? Did the White
House--the creator of the requirements for Zionist occupation,
aggression, and expansion against the Arabs and at their expense, even
care? Did these decisions have any positive effect on the conscience of
the Arabs from the rims of the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean to
the rims of the Arabian Gulf and the depth of the Arabian peninsula?
The answer is clear for us to make a definitive conclusion, without
being affected by the embellished phrases of anyone; however, is the
answer clear to those who were responsible for that Cairo meeting and
who dispensed with the meanings represented by Baghdad concerning the
position and history of the Arabs? Did the conference-- when it
discussed Arab issues--examine carefully the nature of the thoughts and
positions of the Arab masses?
Recalling some aspects of the recent past may embarrass some Arabs.
We do not mean to do this at all. We are in dire need of those direct
questions, however, whether those that are in our favor or against us.
We, as leaders and rulers, need to address these questions more than
ordinary citizens in our countries.
In most cases, the walls of ruling palaces are not transparent;
therefore, for any one of us to be close to the aspirations of peoples,
this person must have a transparent and living conscience. This also
goes for his principles. The thing that a transparent and living
conscience and transparent principles that reflect the reality of the
nation need the most is the truth as it is. This is why speaking about
the truth and asking questions about it aloud by us or by others is an
honorable patriotic and nationalist action. In fact, it is a sacred
religious duty.
We repeat and say: 0 brother Arabs, if some people consider the US
opinion in advance, or consider this opinion when supporting or opposing
the summit and its time and venue, what will their position be when it
comes to discussing the summit agenda and resolutions, especially
regarding issues on which the United States already has a clear and
specific opinion? For its opinion is biased, not neutral; it is at the
expense of the Arabs, not central between them and their enemy.
Some Arabs have appeased the United States. Many of them had hoped
that the United States would consider their friendship and sacrifices
for its sake over the past two or three decades; but, Palestine and
other Arab territories has remained occupied and Jerusalem, the third
holy place has also remained occupied. Some Muslim rulers, including
Arabs, say that they are Muslims, that they represent their people, and
that they believe in the Holy Book, the Koran; yet they do not feel
embarrassed or deeply pained to see Jerusalem occupied unjustly and
aggressively by the Zionists. Isn't this contradictory to justice,
truth, responsibility, and faith?
0 brother Arab officials, the experiences of 30 years of jihad,
struggle, and construction in government and underground work; and the
high principles, in which we believe and will never compromise, have
taught us that it is wise to gain more power and depend on God. It is
also wise not to dispense of the simplest people and their emotions,
abilities, and opinions for the sake of this fulfillment. The higher
the aims, the more their fulfillment calls for wider and deeper
mobilization, in which the official cannot dispense of the small or big,
those who are on the forefront or in the rear.
At any rate, if you find after all this, that it is better for the
nation and its enthusiastic sons to hold a summit or carry out any
measure with only part of, and not all, the capabilities of the nation
to regain its usurped rights and defend the inalienable rights against
the designs of the covetous and rancorous, this will please us very
much. It will confirm that the nation is in good shape, as we trust it
and see it. The important thing is that if you, or only some of you,
actually succeed in achieving the minimum in a way that pleases God and
the righteous sons of the nation, this would prove to everyone that
those directly concerned are a living part of the nation. It will not
matter then if you dispense of Baghdad's capabilities, because that
would not be avoiding or neglecting those capabilities and their
effectiveness, but a mere gesture that Baghdad should rest for a while
after a long jihad, provided there was someone to replace it in this
honorable jihad front.
Even if matters proceed in this way and according to these motives,
it would not please Baghdad and the great Iraqi people, who have never
stood by as spectators or agreed to rest while the battle was raging or
when matters called for deliberation and consultation. You must, 0
brothers, remember a wisdom from which we have learned our immortal and
bright history, that whoever wants to charge on the enemy with a sword,
which he only means to use when necessary, must do so without
hesitation, but with an experienced, well-known sword. Whoever wants
wisdom must ask the experienced; and whoever wants to warn his enemy,
his capabilities must be known to his enemy before taking any step; and
whoever wants to use force against his enemy, must use men who win one
half of the battle by their fame and the other half by their genuine
swords. May God grant us success. For it is on Him that we depend
first and last. God is great.
Brother Arabs: Some Arab officials have tried over the past two years
to falsify facts in an appalling manner, whether intentionally or out of
ignorance of the factors and causes of the conflict between the Arabs
and an entity that has usurped their holy places and territory and that
poses to them the most serious threat ever to life, sovereignty, and
security. In fact, this entity does everything, whenever possible,
against the Arab people and territory.
Perhaps, no one can deny the great suffering of the wounded,
struggling Palestinian people, the struggling Lebanese people, and the
Arab people in the occupied Golan. This suffering is the result of the
Zionist entity's disregard for the simplest requirements of justice,
even according to the criteria of non-Arabs. I reiterate that some Arab
officials, publicly and frankly, distorted the truth of the conflict
between the Arabs and the usurper, aggressor Zionist entity and the
great meanings they have lost as a result of its usurpation and
aggression. They turned this conflict into a disagreement over policies
and nothing more. They dwarfed the areas of disagreement to portray
them as if they were differences between some Arab rulers and Netanyahu
over minor tactical, transitional issues, and not over major strategic
and crucial issues that concern the entire nation.
Thus, they have surrendered to their enemy in advance. This is
because the conflict is managed by one side, which declares its full
objectives to the other party, which is required to make sacrifices and
provide strategic requirements in order to succeed The party that
conceals the entire truth and declares only a part or it and provides
requirements only to meet that part will inevitably be defeated. In
fact, it has already been defeated morally before any confrontation on
the ground. This is the situation of some Arabs who tried to beg the
help of the biased US administration to put pressure on Netanyahu in
order to resume discussion of the so-called peaceful solution, in
accordance with the Madrid and Oslo resolutions alone. They pour their
curses on Netanyahu, while the American-Zionist administration takes
advantage of their stupor to throw dust in the eyes of some Arabs from
time to time.
One may say that the speaker does not master the art of tactics and
that Arab action in this manner may win the Arabs world friends at a
time when the Zionist entity is losing them. Commenting on this, Arab
brothers, I would like to say: Tactics are not indicative of skill or
magic in international politics today. A tactic is an action based on
time and capability to serve a set strategy or achieve a certain aim at
a specific time in the light of an ability that is designated and
mobilized in the field. The tactic, therefore, is part of a known
strategy that is understood by the rulers and people. Otherwise, the
tactic will not succeed.
The enemy masters the art of tactics and strategies in dealing with
its people as well as its friends and enemies. It is skillful in
understanding the nature of international politics now as it did in the
past. It does not wait for the international politics to voluntarily
give it what it wishes or what it seeks to obtain, therefore. The enemy
wrests what it wants from world politics and even forces the world to
use some of its concepts and aims against you so that you would give up
things without fighting or exhausting it. The enemy does not lose
anything in adopting this policy, or better, the no-policy. The enemy
is good at using the art of tactics as part of its strategy. It knows
that the target you want to defend should be behind you so that it can
be guaranteed against enemy attack. The enemy knows that you cannot
mobilize an effective force to wrest any target from it, if this target
loses its sacredness and public interest--two elements that rally the
people and nation. The enemy, therefore, is always placing deeper,
larger, and harder targets than those you are talking about and
demanding. It mobilizes its forces against what is declared or
undeclared among them. It calculates its alliances accordingly
Return to righteousness as it is--0 brothers--and righteousness will
then return to you, God willing. At that point, tactics would then
prove successful. Moreover, at that point, any policy, even if the
Arabs ignore parts of it, would not cost them their historical right in
a time of variables where the world does not wait forever for the
incompetent and the weak to give them ready made profits.
Nevertheless--Baghdad of the Arabs and of Islam; Baghdad which is
greatly protective of the nation's higher ideals and principles and
which loves the sons of its nation--does not permit itself to be a
cause, a cover, or a pretext for obstructing the convening of a serious
meeting for the Arabs at the summit level to issue decisions that would
put the nation in a better situation toward itself and its friends and
enemies. The important thing is that you should meet and that your
meeting should have a purpose and should be a serious meeting, brothers,
so that you can make decisions concerning the affairs of your
nation--decisions that would please God and the sons of the nation. You
should also study matters wisely without being distracted and without
obstacles or prejudices, which prevent you from performing your duty.
Your meetings should be regular and their place and time should be
specified in advance each time, regardless of agreements or differences
over this or that issue.
At that point, you would give yourself a strong reason to be an
active part of your nation and for your nation to gain higher status. 0
magnanimous Arabs, the Iraqis know that they pay the price for any
righteous stand they take, and any righteous words they say. They know
that the price of taking a righteous stand now is not economic where an
agreement is annulled or proposed aid denied, nor is it diplomatic where
the ties between two or more countries weaken. It is not cultural
either; because all these prices are tainted with the blood of our
blessed martyrs.
The Iraqis know that the sacrifice will be made at the expense of
their dreams, aspirations, and objectives. They know that those who
will make these sacrifices must rise to their appropriate level, for
those who seek the peaks of mountains, not the pits of valleys, must
make sacrifices to suit their objectives. There is no way cut of a
dilemma caused by a greedy imperialist foreigner or an occupying
foreigner by building on low ground, because it will then be washed away
by the flood and be left in ruins. The enemy cannot be made to
understand the truth and respond to what is right and just by
submission, but rather by the Arabs taking an honorable and proud stand,
in which case the foreigner may retreat without the shedding of blood.
Humiliated submission does not bring anyone out of his predicament
or the predicament into which he was pushed. Nor does it allow anyone
to come out of these predicaments honorably, or free his resources from
the control of those who are trying to contain and waste them.
The Iraqis echo the words of their great poet, Kamal al-Hadithi:
Small birds will not be spared disgrace if they flee chasing falcons.
Life will progress and those who are mortal are bound to die. Though
our resources may be scare and dispersed, we do things our way, then we
forge ahead to drink the purest of waters.
God is great!
Arab brothers: A firm position, based on right and objectives, will
push us closer to our conscience and push our conscience closer to us.
It will also make us a vital part of our nation and people, enabling us
to provide them with additional resources o£ wisdom and ability, and
enabling them to provide us with a great influx of wisdom, ability, and
love.
What is even more important is that such a stand will push us closer
to our creator, God Almighty, who has absolute power and wisdom, who
would give us an opportunity to forgive us for the innumerable mistakes
of power.
We will not get closer to where we want to he unless we become part
of the collective Arab conscience and unless everyone shows interest in
these considerations, and not in the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of
this or that enemy of the nation and those who underestimate its
abilities. Only then, and by relying on God and the nation, and not on
any international official, the Arabs can convene a summit, attended by
those who choose to attend it. Such a summit will attract the attention
of, and generate good reaction among all Arabs from the Atlantic ocean
and the Mediterranean to the Arabian Gulf, regardless if this or that
Arab leader chose to attend, or abstain from it.
Only then, the people concerned with the summit can act with
confidence. They will feel a degree of love they have never seen before
in the eyes and hearts of their people. They will also taste the
admiration of world states and their representatives that can fill them
with confidence when they make their enemies have the necessary fear.
Our Lord, condemn us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord,
lay not on us a burden like that which thou didst lay on those before
us. Our Lord, lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to
bear, blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us.
Thou art our protector, help us against those who stand against faith.
[Koranic verses]
Long live the Arabs; Long live the children of our glorious nation;
Long Live Iraq; Long live the mujahid valiant Iraq; Long live Palestine,
free, dignified, and Arab; Glory and immortality to the martyrs of Iraq
and the Arab nation; Glory and immortality to the martyrs of Palestine;
God is great; God is great; God is great; Damned be the lowly.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
