• Capturing the despot
Capturing the despot
The momentous capture of Saddam Hussein, hiding in a hole on a farm near Tikrit, brings a decisive end to the rule of a murderous despot whose international crimes and devilish machinations have helped define two American presidencies.
It won’t end the war on global terrorism, or immediately stop attacks on U.S. troops. It will not instantly bring democracy to Iraq or peace to the region. But it assures Iraqis that Saddam will not return to power. And for now, at least, it is a welcome demonstration of the effectiveness of U.S. intelligence and military operations. Whether Saddam’s capture proves, in the end, to have been worth the price paid in lives, dollars and international relations, only time will tell.
A visibly relieved President George W. Bush said, it is the end of a “dark and painful era” and the dawn of “a hopeful day” for the Iraqi people.
Mr. Bush added, realistically, that the capture “does not mean the end of violence in Iraq” because U.S. forces “still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty.”
There is an undeniable domestic political benefit flowing from the capture. As long as Saddam’s whereabouts (and those of Osama bin Laden) were unknown, Democrats could point to the weakness of Mr. Bush’s foreign policy in general and Iraq strategy in particular. The capture could hurt Howard Dean, who has benefited politically from his sharp criticism of the war. With the Dow shooting past 10,000 and Saddam behind bars, Mr. Bush’s re-election prospects suddenly seem considerably brighter.
It also is difficult to know whether Saddam’s capture will be a critical turning point, marking the beginning of the end of violent Iraqi resistance to the U.S. occupation. To the extent that the Baathist party is a cult of personality, Saddam’s capture may significantly slow guerrilla attacks. Prodding Saddam to make a public call for an end to hostilities would prove particularly useful.
But the isolation in which Saddam was found may mean that he had little operational control over the attacks on the U.S. military. In that case, his capture, while a powerful psychological symbol for Americans and Iraqis, may not significantly decrease the attacks.
Nor is it clear whether Saddam’s capture will help knit the three major groups in Iraq – the Shiites, Sunni and Kurds – into a democratic nation. On Sunday, Shiites who had been persecuted by Saddam were celebrating, while Saddam’s Sunni allies were reported to be more sullen.
As important as the capture is symbolically, what happens next may be even more important.
The timing of the capture provides an important boost to special envoy James Baker III as he heads to Europe to persuade countries that have been highly critical of the war to forgive Iraqi debt. It had looked as if Mr. Baker would be arriving in European capitals on a sour note, after the U.S. announcement that rebuilding contracts would go only to coalition members. But now he will be riding in on the good news of Saddam’s capture, which French and Germans leaders were quick to embrace Sunday.
This would be an ideal moment to let bygones be bygones and bring our traditional European friends into the rebuilding effort. The United States could use military help from NATO countries to take some of the pressure off hard-pressed U.S. troops. And the United Nations could present useful nation-building help.
The trial of Saddam could provide a powerful public platform for the United States to make the case for removing the murderous dictator. But the trial will be a ticklish matter. He has committed crimes against his own people, neighbors in Kuwait and the international community. Allowing the Iraqi people to judge Saddam themselves, in a trial that meets international standards of justice, might be the best approach.
The successful military operation should boost morale for soldiers serving unexpectedly long and dangerous tours of duty far from home.
Mr. Bush’s capture of the villain he has pursued for most of his presidency – and who tried to murder his father – is a huge tactical and symbolic victory. The challenge now is for Mr. Bush to translate it into a broader strategic victory by persuading the people of the Middle East that their futures depend on rejecting despots like Saddam and embracing democratic ideals.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
