Allawi draws a bright line between visions for Iraq’s future

Last Updated: 2004-10-14 08:11:02

September 29, 2004--Iraq's Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi gave a masterful speech before the U.S. Congress last week. In his words, we see a clear, bright line between despair and hope, a dark past and a new future.

Last week’s speech to the United States Congress by Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi was both a rhetorical masterpiece and a symbolic dividing line. This courageous man--who may not survive the year--drew a clear, bright line between despair and hope, a dark past and a new future. Find the full text here.

Below are some key excerpts from that speech--but with a twist. Interspersed with Allawi’s words are snippets (shown in italics) from a speech by another prominent leader. The juxtaposition shows a stark, even chilling, contrast between two competing visions of the world, and of Iraq’s future. Allawi is quoted first. Then come bits of a Saddam Hussein speech, in all his sibalent malevolence, commemorating the the Iraqi Army anniversary in January 2003.

Allawi: “We are succeeding in Iraq. . . We are fighting for freedom and democracy, ours and yours. Every day, we strengthen the institutions that will protect our new democracy, and every day, we grow in strength and determination to defeat the terrorists and their barbarism.”

Saddam: “The [U.S. government] has been trying to divert the American people's attention from . . . the failure of U.S. policies in the world in general.”

Allawi: "From my people to yours: Thank you, America. We Iraqis know that Americans have made and continue to make enormous sacrifices."

Saddam: “One of the objectives of the enemy's continued aggression and pressure on Iraq is to. . . intimidate the people of the Middle East.”

Allawi: “Well over a million Iraqis were murdered or are missing. We estimate at least 300,000 in mass graves, which stand as monuments to the inhumanity of Saddam's regime.”

Saddam: “History is [a] record of sacrifices made in blood. . . This is going to be the doctrine of faith for our coming generations, our children and grandchildren in Iraq.”

Allawi: “Your decision to go to war in Iraq was not an easy one but it was the right one. There are no words that can express the debt of gratitude that future generations of Iraqis will owe to Americans."

Saddam: “The [American] objective is to subject the Arab Gulf area to a full, complete and physical occupation. . .with a view to securing complete control over the resources.”

Allawi: “Our hearts go to the families, every American who has given his or her life and every American who has been wounded to help us in our struggle. Now we are determined to honor your confidence and sacrifice. . . The struggle in Iraq today is not about the future of Iraq only. It's about the worldwide war between those who want to live in peace and freedom, and terrorists. . . Their agenda is no different than terrorist forces that have struck all over the world, including your own country on September 11th.”

Saddam: “The light of truth belongs to us, while our enemy has the darkness of the present and the darkness of distant horizons. . . The enemy ought to remember the terrible end of all empires that committed aggression against our people and nation in the past.”

Allawi: “Elections will occur in Iraq on time in January because Iraqis want elections on time . . . At every step of the political process to date the courage and resilience of the Iraqi people has proved the doubters wrong. . . And I pledge to you today, we'll prove them wrong again over the elections. . . We already know that terrorists and former regime elements will do all they can to disrupt these elections. Do not let them convince others that the values of freedom, of tolerance and democracy are for you in the West but not for us.”

Saddam: “Glorious and sublime are our martyrs in Palestine, Iraq and the nation as a whole. Long live Palestine, free and Arab, from the sea to the river! Long live Great Iraq and its valiant army of Mujahideen! Long live our glorious Arab nation!”

Allawi: “For the first time in our history, the Iraqi people can look forward to controlling our own destiny. . . We the people of the new Iraq will remember those who have stood by us. As generous as you have been, we will stand with you, too. As stalwart as you have been, we will stand with you, too. Neither tyranny nor terrorism has a place in our region or our world. And that is why we Iraqis will stand by you, America, in a war larger than either of our nations, the global battle to live in freedom.”

T.T.