Dancing On The Bodies

Abdulwahab Badrakhan     Al-Hayat     2003/07/26

After the U.S. Defense Department made up its mind to publish the photos of the bodies of Udai and Qusai, the sons of Saddam Hussein, American official and media quarters made certain that Arab media will publish the photos as well. Thus, many phone calls were made. They knew that they had taken an immoral decision, and they would be relieved to know that others will share the burden of the filth that was so skillfully expressed by Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz. Just as the presence of Udai and Qusai, together with their father free, the continued presence of these two officials in the American administration and their counterparts in Britain means that morality in international politics will remain in danger.

It must be clear that the death of two criminals like Udai and Qusai was hardly mourned and did not stir a single tear. But the debate over publishing pictures of their bodies and the justifications that were made to cover the publication not only heightened concern, but also caused disgust. Governments that once respected themselves can no longer be counted upon remain a moral beacon. And if the Americans found it expedient, or a new "victory" in showing the bodies on American and British TV stations first, it is unexpected from other TV stations and newspapers that are expected to conceal it. But publishing the photos yesterday turned into a media carnival to which the media were invited to be entertained.

What is the difference between showing pictures of dead American soldiers on a decision taken by the former Iraqi regime and publishing the photos of Udai and Qusai on a decision taken by the Pentagon? In practice there is hardly any difference. The mentality is the same and so are the objectives. But the American mind differentiates between one person and another, and even between two rights. What the Pentagon may do no one else may do. That is why American officials and journalists objected to the extent of demanding that Arab satellite TV station be penalized, perhaps by bombing them. But yesterday, they were as if in a wedding, celebrating and dancing on the bodies. They ignored the Geneva Conventions, which, thanks to many, mainly the Israelis, had been depleted of their value as a modern moral accord.

The first to dance was the American president. An American comedian began his daily show by informing the audience that the two sons of the Iraqi president have been killed. "But the third, George Jr. emerged safe and sound." George W. and Blair found in the two bodies salvation from their mounting domestic problems because of the "war lies." They are still obliged to justify that war to their public opinion. The massive win of the war did them little good, and the public was not persuaded by the argument that a tyrannical regime had to be ousted with such war. Most important is that both men count on confirming the lies, and even to make them appear as facts in order not to lose the needed tools for a coming war.

The most ridiculous argument that was offered by Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Paul Bremer for publishing the photos is that the Iraqi public opinion needed "proof." Bremer claimed that there are always programs of disinformation presented by others. As if the three of them had unwillingly recognized that the American credibility had diminished. They unwillingly admitted that the aim for publishing the pictures is to reduce the security threats to the American troops. In fact, without knowing, the Americans were emulating an old tradition that had been established by Iraqi military coup of dragging bodies through the streets.

Before the Iraqi ruling council took over the "evidence", which is before publishing the photos of Udai and Qusai, it had already maintained that the killing of the two men was "divine justice." And while the council was not wrong in that they deserved the death penalty, but it was gravely mistaken in deciding what is "divine." It would have been more appropriate for them to leave it to Bush and Blair to make such determination since they believe that their war was an "act of faith" that was revealed to them by the All Mighty. Before the pictures were published, an opinion poll in the U.S. concluded that Islam instigates violence.