
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 1, 1991                   TAG: 9103010705
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-13   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: SAM NAUMAN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

POSTWAR PRESCRIPTION

THE United States and the allies have now won the war. But what happens to Iraq?

Is the most industrialized state in the Middle East going to be left to decay, or are we going to turn the situation around so that Iraq becomes a Western-style democracy, participating in world security and producing cars, television sets and washing machines instead of Scud missiles and bombs?

How the postwar situation is handled would definitely affect the outcome. Analyzing what the United States wants as an outcome would show that we need a stable Iraq that is friendly to this country and a responsible and productive member of the world's community. This would not be achieved by punitive treatment of postwar Iraq, with impossible terms guaranteed to keep it poor and bitter and with the consequent instability that would produce. Iraq must be rebuilt and rehabilitated.

After World War II, the United States was magnanimous and sensible. Both Germany and Japan were helped, and one only has to look at how these two countries are now solid pillars of the world's democracies and staunch U.S. allies. The problem that complicates the picture is the fate of Saddam Hussein. If he is to remain in power, then the United States is less likely to help. This imposes a big burden on the Iraqi people: How does one ask Saddam to leave?

An ideal situation would be a free election in which the Iraqi people could elect their own government. Only then can they be held responsible for what the government does and consequently how the United States responds. An unacceptable scenario would be the imposition of a government by outsiders. One would not want to see secular Iraq being run by a Moslem fundamentalist regime with the consequent lack of rights for women and other minorities.

There should be nothing less than full Western-style democracy. This could eventually help bring democracy to other countries of the Middle East and create a region free of hate, squabbles and turmoil. If the United States is to take a constructive part in the peace process, then it must be viewed by Middle Easterners as an impartial country, bent on justice and peace for all, and not as a superpower setting up oppressive puppet-governments detested by the people. That is where credibility is lost.

There is now a great opportunity, as well as a huge responsibility for the United States. America should undertake it with as much planning, efficiency and pride as it took on the war. The consequences of the actions taken in the next few weeks and months will be felt well into the 21st century.

by CNB