Word: kassem
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From the balcony comes the screech of a man's voice proclaiming a poem. Its refrain: "Hail to thee, Kassem, our jewel, defender of democracy, destroyer of our enemies...
...arms of Communist power in Iraq, none is more effective than the People's Court, which the Reds have virtually converted into an independent arm of government through which they focus pressure on Kassem. Presided over by Kassem's cousin, Colonel Fadhil Abbas Mahdawi, a willing tool of the Communists, the court stages televised nightly trials of "enemies of the regime," i.e., enemies of the Communist Party. Mahdawi is a suety, quick-witted ruffian-"Egypt has always had bad rulers. Cleopatra was a whore"-who holds court to extract confessions rather than dispense justice. Making...
Prosecutor: Colonel Aref went to Damascus and plotted with Nasser to invite Kassem there so that Kassem might be assassinated when he landed at the airport. (Horrified gasps from the audience.) But our leader knew of this plot and rejected the invitation, and will reject it forever. (Stormy applause...
Audience (in a rising screech): Kassem is a true leader! Long live, long live, long live...
Most Western diplomats hold that if Kassem ever does give way on the arming of the People's Resistance Force, the point of no return will have been passed in Iraq. Some pessimistic observers argue that Kassem is already so much a prisoner of the Reds that it is only a matter of time-and not too much time-until that point is reached. In the face of this looming diplomatic and strategic disaster, the U.S. and British policy of hands off in Iraq seems at first glance negligent. In fact, it is the only policy open...