Sentencing former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to death will
not fundamentally change the volatile situation in the troubled
Middle Eastern country, but could instead lead to an escalation of
bloodshed, Chinese observers said yesterday.
Whether Saddam lives or dies makes no difference to the
complicated situation in Iraq, Yin Gang, a researcher of Middle
East issues at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told
China Daily.
"But one definite thing is some supporters of Saddam are likely
to take retaliatory actions if he is executed, which will deepen
the country's turmoil," Yin said.
According to Yin, the country's majority Shiites, who were
heavily persecuted under Saddam's more-than two decades of
authoritarian rule, will view the outcome as a cause for
celebration.
But some Sunni supporters of the former Iraqi leader still
cherish the memory of Saddam's rule, he said.
Hua Liming, a former Chinese ambassador to Iran, said the
execution concerns not just Saddam alone.
"The guilty verdict for Saddam is expected to escalate the
conflicts between hardliners among Saddam's fellow Sunnis and the
opposition Kurds. Besides, some anti-US military forces might also
avail of the opportunity to create conflicts," Hua said.
The verdict was made ahead of elections in the US on Tuesday
during which control of Congress is at stake. The Democrats'
strategy has been to increase pressure on the Republicans by
claiming the war in Iraq started by the Bush Administration is a
"failed course," Hua said.
Although US President George W. Bush's chief spokesman Tony Snow
underscored on Saturday that Saddam's trial was being conducted by
an independent Iraqi judiciary, observers said there were still
concerns that the timing of the trial was at least partially
approved by the US.
"The Bush Administration wants to assure its voters of the
legitimacy of the war, but the verdict will surely complicate the
Iraqi situation," Hua said.
(China Daily November 6, 2006)
