Walid Al-Zubaidi is a well-known Iraqi by many Arab and foreign broadcasting channels. Al-Zubaidi talked to al-Basair Newspaper the official newspaper of AMSI clarifying many important points, aspects and matters related to Iraq.  

Al-Zubaidi is political author and analyst, he has several published books such as (Fires on The Rivers Shore, The political dimensions of water crises); (Rain of the centuries and the Jewish influence on the Turkish political resolution), (The Jewish of Iraq), his literature publications are (dust – poetry), (wall-stories), (third son – short story is not published yet.

Al-Basair Newspaper has met him in Jordanian capital Amman and made this dialogue:

The war that came over everything in Iraq

* First we want to wait on your book (Baghdad Wall) to know and understand the war that came over everything in Iraq, why is this war?

·         I think that I have answered this question which I consider the most important question of this era not in Iraq only but also in Arab Islamic and humanity nations.

I showed evidences and realities that assure this war is not done upon an emergency condition or a certain moment or a political resolution as some try to show it so, as well as this war does not aim for economics and petroleum as some want to focus on and turn it to a belief. Because such thesis will effect the others not to think about the real aim of the war on Iraq, we find them once they say mass destruction weapons the others say the petroleum is the reason some others say to settle the democracy and others say to get rid of the dictatorship. However, I definitely believe that this is a wide planned project aiming Iraq for many reasons such as being Iraq an important Arabian and Islamic suspension ring.

The American project, which the conservatives are clearly connected to Zionist project had plotted is planned to start the point of big collapse from Iraq followed by other collapses similar to Domino game. The Arab and Islamic countries will collapse as they watch the war in Iraq and its terrible result.

Israel is direct enemy

* For whom is the benefit of this war?

·         Who is the first direct enemy for Arabs and Islam in the region? The direct enemy is Israel. Israel worked for more than half a century to separate the Arab nation and wanted to destroy the good manner support point if a social structure has solved through lots of means. But the plans continued on to be made against the nation in general and against Iraq in particular. Once they wanted to destroy it by Iraq – Iran war then the war of 1991 has started. They could destroy the sub-construction. The most dangerous war prior to the big war was the sanction to Iraq. This was as if terminating all Iraq supported powers, war against education, and war against scientists. A plan was done to siege the knowledge, then the last scene of war was on the stage to destroy Iraq, that is the plan of invading Iraq which is executed on spring 2003 with occupying Iraq.

What can Saddam do?

*Do you think that the Former Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein has mistaken in his account and evaluations?

There is tactics and strategy, probably a mistake was done in the tactics, mistakes could be done anywhere, but what can Saddam Hussein do to avoid the war is planned by super power in world? What could he do to avoid such war?

·         In the first instance they said that the obstinacy of former Iraqi leader to permit the inspectors to enter Iraq will cause the destruction of Iraq. The American Administration had given the permission to start the war on Iraq, upon this Iraq had permit to the inspectors to enter Iraq and when Saddam Hussein refused the inspectors to enter the commanders places. The pressure was increased from everywhere saying that this will push Iraq into destruction. In that time specifically in 1998 UN General Secretary Coffi Annan has visited Iraq and had an agreement with Iraqi leader that permits the inspectors to enter all sensitive regions. The inspectors had entered inspecting for mass destruction weapons even in Saddam’s bedroom. What can Saddam do against this position?

In 1998 the inspectors started to use much more sophisticated spy equipments such as hearing aids, following plotters and controllers and many more. They investigated Iraq from upper North down to Southern region, but they didn’t find any weapons. what could Iraq do? If you keep anyone in that position what could be done more, in spite of opening all doors to the American Administration has made the 1998 crises up, they cold it “the Desert Fox”. They made up false crises in order to pull the inspectors out of Iraq because the invasion and destruction of Iraq has not completed. In this point the Iraqi Administration has mistaken when the inspectors left Iraq.

Americans started the war on Iraq for three days and it was the first day of Holy Month of Ramadhan. That time Iraqis has announced that they will not leave the inspectors to enter Iraq again; here they were trapped, why? Because if the inspection operations had continued till 2000 (for more one year) and did not find anything they came for, the world’s public opinion could be reached to one matter that is “the American’s are clearly lying and performing the condition in order to destroy Iraq.” This situation was continued till 2002, in this year the same international pressure increased on Iraq. Iraq has said that time the problem is not the weapons but the target is Iraq itself. the inspectors has returned back to Iraq and they had done complete renewal of all information about every single place in Iraq, there is an important point that the inspectors had added new condition that is destroy all Iraqi missiles even if the range of these missiles is less than those prohibited by resolutions of UN.

Here they want to be assure of many things:

One: There are no missiles which can be set forth from West desert against Israel. Two: Assured that there are no weapons produced within the passed period capable to attack Israel or American bases.

Three: Assured that their plans their forces route is clear and known without any changes. So who follows the events and its developments will see that the last missile (Sumud 2) in Taji was destroyed before two days prior to inspectors leave and preparations were completed to invade Iraq on 19/03/2003. According to these information and realities the war on Iraq is definite what ever Iraqi Administration has done. Therefore it is not possible to avoid the planned war before 20 years.

Saddam is convinced the war is definite

* The Iraqi commander especially the former president as you mentioned in your book (Baghdad Wall) was before a short time of the war inspecting the development of Alzawraa project in Baghdad. His secretary Abid Hamud was with him as a family short trip in Habbania; do you think that Saddam Hussein has never thought America or the war will dethrone him?

·         I suppose Saddam Hussein was convinced that the war in coming up but he has other way. That’s the condition of the armed forces, that’s the condition of the equipments. That’s the condition of Iraqi people, I will quote the word of one commander, he said: “a short time before the war there was a meeting of High Military Commanders, Saddam Hussein has said : “The war is coming and America will start the war on Iraq. If America occupies Iraq that means the God’s will, the victory is God’s victory, but in any case if America occupies Iraq a new youth resistance with new names will appear.” He specified that the new resistance will appear in Falluja, Baghdad, Mousul, Diyala, Basrah and all Iraqi regions. After these resistance are set forth the American’s will fall down from the summit down to the edges and this is we are observing today.

Death sentence of Saddam

* Do you think the execution of Saddam Hussein was from inside or from outside?

·         The same enemy with the same identity with same target. It is obviously known that in every country of the world – specially the countries with lack of settlement – there are groups, positions or parties work to weaken the government or drop it. If the measures of the enemy are the practice with the American occupation before and after the invasion it obvious for the positions to assist American forces to perform the projects after the invasion. All Saddam’s enemy or even all Iraq’s enemy could not affect the national unity by any means. after the American tank power has came and stared to control Iraq those people appeared to fulfill what the occupation want.

*Do you believe that Saddam’s colleagues have left him alone?

·         No, definitely not. There are information and many stories. There are high ranked military commanders who have get into fight on the day of 08/04/2003. They were fighting against the American forces and had faced them in green squire but the military and security systems were collapsed because the American invasion was not expected to be so fast.

Getting in Baghdad – when the American forces get in Baghdad airport on 03/04/2003 it was a real shock for everyone and all means of connections with headquarters were almost vanished. The shock was very effective, who was living in Baghdad will remember - I also was in Baghdad that time- the volume of the fighters’ bombardment and rockets were incredible. The bombardment was concentrated especially in the vicinity of Baghdad where the Republic Guards were available to protect Baghdad from the Americans. The scene has not happened in any history, the military superiority is clear, the air sovereignty is definite. There was no ability to resist that’s why the occupation forces could reach heart of Baghdad on 09/04/2003.

The reality of airport combat

* The airport was one of strongest combat, what really happened on airport ground, did the occupation forces had really used the phosphor in the combat?

·         In fact the combat was not airport fighting and so on you can consider it Baghdad combat. But what was happened is that the American forces have entered into the airport from the high way coming from the south. They entered as infantry forces not by air carriers. That could be a shock effect to the military command so they try to get rid of these forces.

The geography of airport is formed of a vast uncovered area. If we observe this matter from the military stand point you can see that the armored vehicles were concentrated in the middle of the airport which is the connection point from the end of airport road till airport heart, about 5 Km. and uncovered. It was impossible to reach the road on foot; the said strong combat was executed by forces of rocket brigade of Republic Guard. They had launched the rockets from Abu Ghraib region against the American forces.

* Who informed you all these?

·         In the time when I was preparing the book (Baghdad Wall) I have met with several military personalities and officers in order to gather the information and the details of the war. However the reality of the main war had performed inside the presidential palases in Al-Ruzwania. The American forces had filled this place and opposite to them the Republic guard and Special Forces were transferred to this place. They could expel the American forces and numbers of them were killed. There was a connection between Saddam and Iraqi military commander. When Saddam was asking the commander “where did you reach” the commander was telling him the places were they are and which palace were they are reached.

The American’s understood there was a combat, then they had reinforced the forces and also the American air-force started to bomb the place. The Iraqi forces obliged to return and withdraw, this was happened. There are different stories, but in fact I didn’t hear other than this from a nearest source to Saddam. But surely the Americans had used various types of weapons in case to settle in airport area.

* Was Saddam Hussein in one of these castles when Baghdad was under attack?

·         No, he wasn’t in any of these palaces; he was in Al-Ameeria in the conjunction of airport road. He was in connection with a group of fighters whom were pushed to the presidential palace in Alruzwania.

Iraq after four years

* Over four years has passed since the occupation, how do you see Iraq’s condition today that holds lots of unpleasant and sad pictures; killing for identity, kidnap in midday and so on of such pictures appeared in Iraq after the occupation?

·         The conditions in Iraq have two faces, one face is full of sadness, destruction, murderer and damages, these pictures are made by the Americans and its partners. Over 3 millions outside and over 4 millions inside Iraq have no shelter as a result of this destruction, kidnap and disgusting daily carcass. These are so big for a country living this tragedy.

The second face is appeared as brilliant rays to prove the Iraqis existence that is the Iraqi resistance. They regenerated the hopefulness in our hearts. We are inspecting the performance of this force which could realize – God blessed – too big aims. I can say or can explain these aims that the resistance could fulfill the biggest aims in the wars through the history, why? Because the enemy in Iraq is USA which is known as the owner of a huge military possibilities, technology and technological weapons. America has mobilized and put its economical possibilities to this war. United States has put forward puppets and trained them and came with all its controlling aspects. But when such power appears and defeats America in every day action, which the US Administration is confessing, they living in chaos and confusion, I think this is a big victory that has not realized in the history that the human being done. That is the pleasant face of the Iraq’s situation.

Failure of USA in Iraq

* America succeeded in Iraq is clear. Why is this American arrogance and why they did not confess for its defeat in Iraq, why it does not withdraw its forces from the country and leave it to its people?

·         The Americans are really started to withdraw from Iraq since two months, but there is fear and anxious among the White House commanders and the Pentagon. The US forces are exceeding 360 thousand spread to a vast area of Iraq. They knew that if they announce the sudden withdrawal, the following will be happened :

o         The US soldier is completely hopeless and in fear, panic and anxious. They are facing the danger of how the resistance will kill the soldiers either by explosives or rocket attacks on their bases and camps. Moreover they are staying without any aim, what is the aim of the existence of the American soldier in Iraq?

o         USA wanted to realize the so-called Democracy in order to occupy the world in the name and example of Iraqi Democracy. Now the Americans say that we imagined this project. So why the American soldier is fighting in Iraq? They arefighting to protect his life only; the Newsweek papers has published a long article of the famous American Journalist (Seymour Hersh) saying that he has chatted with soldiers and said: “when we pass through a region there are marksman of the resistance, so we show some of our bodies such as feet and hands that we may have shot and have injured in order to be sent back to the States.”

 I have met some translators whom had worked with Americans they said: since two years patrol is moved unless having drugs (narcotic) even the translators are also having these drugs. Therefore, this condition is hopelessness and fear, so if the US Administration announced the sudden withdrawal what will be happened to those soldiers? They will completely descended and fall.

The other point is that they know the resistance in Iraq is getting more powerful and many young men are participating with the resistance in conflict. In case of a sudden withdrawal, the American bases will be completely looted and the Americans inside these bases will be killed by Iraqis why? Because whereever the American base is the more rancor’s to the Americans are.

* Why?

·         Because they insulted the people, arrested men and women, insulted the families and executed various kinds of torture against the people. They are occupiers, what will be the attitude of the people against them? I am sure the withdrawal has started since two months ago.

Permanent bases in Iraq

*Do you think that the US occupation forces will keep permanent bases in Iraq in case of withdrawal?

·         Americans wanted to turn every Iraqi to an American, but I it is obvious that the Iraqi resistance - as I read their letters- are the direction that decides what are happening on the Iraqi territory. Everyone knew that what is going on in Iraq is only a cruel and savage war. One side of the war is occupation forces the other side is the resistance forces. The Iraqi resistance is definitely rejecting any American existence, bases, investors and even experts or any similar subjects.

The reality of the American lose in Iraq

* Do you think that the numbers of loses of US military in Iraq announced by the Pentagon are the true numbers?

·         The American lies have reached to a level that no other country in the world has reached. I can tell you for instance they were confessed that the daily attacks have reached to 177 in June against the occupation. These numbers are given by the occupation forces. This means how many attacks are in one month.

      Everyone knows as Iraqis we see that bombs are   exploding when the occupation forces passes; the explosions are against Hammer or tanks. If we suppose that the number of the daily attacks which targeting the armoured vehicles and hammers are 177 and if we also suppose that half people are killed in armoured vehicle it means that the average of daily death is not less than 40 to 50 American. This is a reality, if it not so, then why the President Bush bans to show or picture of the coffins that carried to USA? Why do they carry them at late nights? Why the American people are protesting this situation? Why there is a complete limitation on the American bases in Germany which is a connection point with USA? We know and the Iraqis know that the death among the American soldiers reaches tens every day. They hide the coffins, the Pentagon is anxious and their soldiers knew these stories and they live in panic.

Do you know that there are big numbers of crazy Americans that the Pentagon has explained them as touched in head – the touched in head seen in those persons hasn’t died when their tanks are bombed, the strong strokes and the shakes causes for their madness. There are over 3 biggest hospitals in USA dealing with such diseases. There are not less than 30 thousand in the American military who are suffering from this disease. These persons were caught to this by the action of Iraqi resistance. Before ten months ago the Pentagon has officially announced that the number of this illness reached to be 18 thousand.

Those persons need care until they die because they are mad. The money that will be spend to18 thousand is about 112 billion dollars until the end of their lives. Last year the attacks were increased, also the explosive techniques that targets the occupation forces has increased. So the numbers of the dead Americans have increased too much but the American Administration does not say the truth. The number of wounded people exceeded 50 thousand; those persons are not mad but are disabled.

 End of Al-Maliki government

* Do you believe that playing card of Al-Maliki government is finished?

·         From the start point it was finished. I believe the evaluation of this government has started early because its route is far of the nation and this route would not reach to a result in order to keep it to continue on. Since the beginning, this government has served in favor of the occupation. It is trying to silence the national voices everywhere. I would not determine a certain region that the national voices had struggle in, the national powers in the South in the North and in the mid country and everywhere. Therefore the government would not be succeeded because the political operation has basically depended on sharing. It was understood that this share was not the share of giving a percentage to the Sunnis, Shiites and the Kurds; but it was the share of robbing the Iraq’s wealth. So you can see that even the people who participated in the election are asking a very simple question that is: “we went to the elections in order to realize  three aspects: 1- providing security, 2- providing the necessary services, 3- the occupation forces must leave and the sovereignty returns to the country”.

            In the Maliki’s government the security conditions have gone worse as it was in the previous governments; the security has reached its ugliest situation. They wanted to insert mischief-making among the sects of the Iraqi people. The shady dead bodies were thrown during curfew times where there were only the security forces around. There is also kidnapping of women, killing and murdering people according to the identity. A group of this sect kills others from the opposite sect and so on. All are criminals and had connected to the occupation.

Maliki Government has started impetuously, I don’t think that they realized something which can serve to the occupation, serve to their party or to serve Iraq. They realized only the following; their appearance as persons and as authorized people which represent a certain position. It is obvious that they are not capable of managing anything. It has proved that US did not determine even one good stage and it has also proved that the Iraqi situation would not develop at all. Because the political mechanism has been installed on the shade of the occupation and all their efforts are to make the occupation exists in Iraq. The real resolution is a complete cancellation of this political operation and to end the occupation with expelling from the country in any method; to get rid of its ugly and bad intentions that tried to separate Iraq’s people.

The Iranian intervention after occupation withdrawal

* There are some people telling – I am one of them – that if USA has withdrawn the Iranians would interfere from the South. What is your opinion?

·         This scenario is the opinion of most of people; however, we should study the map very carefully. If the Turkish forces invaded Iraq and reached for instance to Baghdad or Musul, would the Turkish forces own the same techniques as American forces have like strong economics and secret agents? Their fate would be worse than the occupation forces, because the resistance power that defeated American forces will defeat any other military forces. Let’s suppose that Iran will have been pushed and reached to Baghdad, would Iran carry on occupation of Iraq and resistance there? I reckon if Iran has entered Iraqi territory the people of southern region will face them first before reaching Baghdad.

* As you know the structure of the the Iraqi people is an Arabic and tribal nation, if such the occupation forces withdrawn from Iraq, will the revenge occur between the groups of different tribes that may be the ignition for internal war?

·         If the withdraw really happens and the occupation defeat; in this case the Iraqis should be furthermore careful to this point. The Iraqis should know that the Americans – and its allies – wanted to insert strife and ignite internal war among the sects and ethnics of Iraq trying to tear the unity of the Iraqis among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds; but they failed. If someone’s son was killed by a certain militia, certain army or certain groups the family should know that this was not a personal revenge, but he killed to serve the occupiers so if we continue on bloodshed we will not succeed to build Iraq. But I think that the national project and every nationalist Iraqi have to observe this point, and also are well studied by the tribes, lawful men and by the leaders with great care. The bloodshed, the blind and random revenge has to be ended and everyone should resort their problems before legal establishments. However before that the wounds must be wrapped and tolerance with all.

Iran the Big Devil

* The Iranian interference seems obvious, as it is known to everyone Iran has assisted Iraqi opposition in the passed. Do you think that Iran by its interference to Iraqi affairs want a response for the protection and shelter prepared to the opposition?

·         Iran has behaved as a country that evaluates any chances to invest; Iran has a sectarian project and a political project in the region. Iran wished the political project runs towards the direction that serves its sect, therefore, Iran did not hesitated to support the political operation made by the big devil.

It is also known that the Iranian declaration that addressed was against America.  When the American tanks reached to the region after 3 months in July 2003, Bremer has formed Administrative Council. Everyone knows that this is an American plan –Big devil plan- Iran has hurried up to send an official delegate to congratulate and support the new Council. Iran has supported Ayad Allawi and Al-Jafari’s Governments and blessed the elections and new constitution. Although, Iran knows very well that this was an American plan. Therefore, Iran wanted to realize its project through the political process in spite of the clashes between the political and religious official declaration and the action practiced with Americans in Iraq. All talks are about the questions of how does Iran stand against America in Lebanon and stand beside America in Iraq? There are many things occurring between Washington and Tehran and I think these things are circling in a narrow frame work of benefits.

The example resolution in Iraq

* Assume the resolution of Iraqi issue has been borne on you, how can you imagine this resolution would be?

 

·         Most of coherent in Iraq are much more intelligent with wisdom and experience. But I think it is not so difficult to solve the problems in Iraq. in point of my view, the matter is not hard, the most important proposals have been realized;

First Proposal: the Iraqis have discovered that everyone who talks especially about sects and ethnics, it means that the efforts to kill Iraq. I am sure if we were before the occupation our talks about sects would be jokes and dialogues only. This is the nature of Iraqis. They talk about the sects not more than simple discussions. I believe that after the occupation leaves the country, the Iraqis will reach to satisfaction – from the tragedy they lived – they would not accept anybody to talk or propose ideas about sects. This is a positive sorting out and very important that we should build our ideas over it. We don’t want to talk about this matter and we should lay the foundation of the national unity. Thanks Allah, Iraq has not been passed through sectarian dissension because the good and strong foundations protected the Iraq’s real unity.

Second Proposal: all evils are from the occupation. I believe that the occupation is completely defeated, so if this evil has left together with those of the same kind, then subject matter is not difficult.

In Iraq we are facing with three dangerous matters; these are the danger of the occupation danger; the danger of the political operation and the danger of the security. So if the occupation leaves the country we then will get rid of one danger. If the occupation is failed it means that the political operation will be ended with the occupation. There remains only one problem that is the problem of the security. The security is consisted of the Iraqi nation sons, most of them worked in after the Iraqis and their families had starved for food. I am sure 80% of those – whatever said about them – will protect the citizen instead of being against them in case of a real nationalist government take the administration up. Here the resolution imaginations will appear, then there should be a temporary military government, the county’s affairs and transactions should be performed in accordance to the laws that will be legislated in this stage. There should also be real national efforts to build Iraq.  The steps are easy starts with removal of the ugliness of the occupation; the shops and house owners will start returning back and the development will start gradually.

The stability of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI)?

* How do you evaluate the AMSI performance?

·         In fact after the occupation, many powers, parties and groups had appeared, as I am independent person, I was observing most of these powers and groups.  The measurement of this is: where the compass of this or that group will show? The compass showed that most of them are in the direction of the occupation. Some were moderated then they turned over and started to talk other than what they had said yesterday. But indeed as I am following the statements, declarations and attitudes of AMSI I would say that I am participating with them into a national project.

The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) did not made any changes in its attitude, and its statements which are very carefully worded and real knowledge. What may happen in the future, early diagnosis and recognition in the AMSI statements, attitude and declarations are clear. The interviews of the Secretary General Dr. Harith Al-Dhari are also clear and precise assuring that the basic evil is the occupation and the political operation will drive Iraq to the destruction and dissensions. This is the truth. The only resolution is expelling the occupation from Iraq by the power of resistance; so these aspects that the AMSI has adapted to itself clearly assures its truthfulness.

The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) has characterized the reality of the dangers and had given the successful resolution. Therefore I believe that AMSI had realized many things from the point of diagnosis the conditions and its future.

The effect of AMSI has showed its results in the Iraqi streets to convince some hesitated citizens to return to the national line. This is not my personal idea but it is the opinion of a big group of political and intellectual Arabs.

The Iraqi resistance has decreased the age of the occupation

* Walid Al-Zubaidi as national author and political analyst what can you say to the Iraqi nation and to the Iraqi resistance?

·         I say to Iraqi nation: a big slice has gone and finished. Lots of tragedy has occurred. They wanted to make from Iraq a river of blood, but they did not succeed. The resolution is in the near future with Allah willing, I suppose we are in the last half time. We should be patient and tolerant. We should not look at the wounds; rather we have to look on how we can build the future of this country and the future of our children. We should benefit from the gaps that they tried to get in, especially the sectarian matter, we should cover such gap.

I say to the Iraqi resistance: This resistance had the ability to reduce the occupation age from 30 to 20 and at last to 4 years. The Iraqi Resistance has succeeded with best military stand point, but there is one demand facing them. As it is known the resistance has been exposed to anti-propaganda by the American, Iraqi and Arab establishments, they should declare their program according to the following articles:

How is the form of the state after the occupation?

They have to announce clearly its attitude from all sectarian and ethnical points of the Iraqi people. How they could protect the national unity?

The most important subject – as I reckon – is that the resistance has to assure to the general opinion. When the resistance approaches to the liberation of Iraq is drawing back keeping the appropriate persons to command and do not require any governmental positions or any price. Because the resistance is a noble duty it can not be compared with any values or so. I am sure that the resistant idea – who well acted causing the project to fail and who sacrificed themselves and their families for the sake of the country - is in the same line as we think, most of the people are thinking so.

I believe that they will draw a pure picture for the benefit of human being about the brave resistance that got in the battle with the occupiers of Iraq not for self benefit or a position rank.

AMSI Net