Bill Sykes' Newsletter from America.
(Christmas 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Last word.
 I
see that Britain is currently hosting a meeting in London
of six Iraqi dissident groups. It has been reported that
the meeting, attended by around 1000 people, includes
300 opposition delegates who are apparently recognized
by the United States.
The last time the United States interfered in a "major"
regime change in the Middle East, the Shah of Persia,
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, (1919-1980), who ruled Persia,
(Iran) from 1941-1979), (and was backed by the American
government), was overthrown in the  Islamic
revolution of 1979 which was conducted by Shiite clergy.
The Ayatollah Khomeini took over and founded the “Islamic”
Republic of Iran, where he became the nations political
and religious leader. Not what I would call a successful
political foreign policy decision by the United States.
The members of the opposition meeting in London, who
in the majority have been out of the country in exile
for at least the last twenty years or so, do not give
me a feeling of great confidence in their ability to successfully
run a government which when considering the background
of the opposition members could possibly have a majority
of Kurd and Shiite so-called politicians who are not known
for a cooperative attitude.
The two factions are completely different in their ways
of life. The Kurds living in Northern Iraq are a semi-nomadic
tribal people who are a constant concern to their Turkish
neighbors. The Shiites who live in Southern Iraq are devout
members of Islam. So, as Rudyard Kipling might have said,
"North is north and south is south and nair the twain
shall meet". !!!
 Just
imagine what would happen if Saddam Hussein was deposed
and the so-called opposition took over---it would probably
be absolute chaos. Surely Mr. Bush and the American Government
cannot believe that the people who “didn’t”
defect from Iraq, will accept the return of a consortium
of exiled Kurds and Shiites to govern them.
Is this another example of an American Foreign policy
blunder which will come back to haunt us???
It would seem more appropriate that the exiles, if they
have the courage to return to Iraq, would fight each other
for the control of the land between the two "no fly"
zones and set their eyes on the capture of Baghdad.
We welcome feedback about any of the contents of these
newsletters. Please send all correspondence to bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
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