Scholars predict doom, gloom after Saddam<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Local Middle East researchers downplayed the importance of Saddam
\nHussein's capture for the United States-led coalition on Monday
\nand predicted that it would not end security problems in Iraq.<\/p>\n
They also warned that radicalism may rise among the people in
\nmany Middle East countries if the U.S. authorities are seen to be
\npublicly humiliating him by showing the former tyrant in a
\ndisheveled state getting poked and prodded by a U.S. Army
\nphysician.<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra explained that the widely
\nshown video images of Saddam, looking like a vagrant and being
\nexamined by an American doctor, could increase anger among the
\npeople of the Middle East who supported him or his policies.<\/p>\n
\"Many consider the scene humiliating. Should there be more
\ntreatment like that in the future, radicalism will rise around
\nthe region,\" Azyumardi told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
The rector of state-owned Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic
\nUniversity also said Saddam's arrest may boost the spirit of the
\nKurdish people, a long time foe of Saddam.<\/p>\n
\"Should the Kurds do something too bold, it will provoke
\nclashes among Iraqi people and civil war may be the next threat
\nto security in the region,\" Azyumardi said.<\/p>\n
An expert on the Middle East from the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences (LIPI), Riza Sihbudi, voiced similar concerns over the
\npossible violence after the arrest, saying that many of Saddam's
\nloyalists would continue to launch terror strikes in the country.<\/p>\n
\"This will not solve any problem, as from the place he was
\narrested he could not lead any guerrillas, which means that these
\nloyalist groups are still out there and ready to strike,\" Riza
\ndeduced.<\/p>\n
He added that if the U.S. forces considered Saddam a criminal,
\nthey should also be fair and consider Israeli Prime Minister
\nAriel Sharon a criminal as well.<\/p>\n
\"If the U.S. thinks that Saddam deserves to be arrested, then
\nthey should detain Sharon too for the killing of Palestinian
\npeople,\" Riza told the Post, referring to the Israel-Palestinian
\nconflict, in which the U.S. has been accused of siding with and
\ndefending the Israelis.<\/p>\n
The arrest of Saddam on Saturday night -- publicly announced
\non Sunday -- quickly became a hot topic in this country, the
\nworld's most populous Muslim country.<\/p>\n
Despite Saddam's capture, two bombs exploded in Baghdad on
\nMonday injuring dozens.<\/p>\n
\"The problem (terror attacks) will only end if the U.S.
\nsoldiers leave Iraq and give Iraqis their freedom to run the
\ncountry,\" Riza opined.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the government here expressed hope that Saddam's
\narrest would mark the beginning of a reconciliation process in
\nIraq after the war.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that the event will be a new momentum to ensure just
\nand comprehensive solution in Iraq,\" Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was
\nquoted by Antara as saying on Monday.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda also said that the
\narrest of Saddam would speed up the rebuilding of Iraq and its
\ntransition to a sovereign nation.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that this will lead to the revival of Iraqi people's
\nsovereignty and integrity of the country,\" Hassan was quoted as
\nsaying by Antara in Islamabad, Pakistan as the minister
\naccompanied President Megawati Soekarnoputri during her three-day
\nstate visit to Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Megawati has yet to comment publicly on the arrest of Saddam.<\/p>\n
Some media on Monday quoted Hassan as saying that President
\nMegawati would refrain from making any statement, because the
\nissue had no direct impact on Indonesia.<\/p>",
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