Global Policy Forum

By Naguib Mahfouz

I had lost touch with the developments of the Iraqi crisis during my illness. Now that I am following things again, they worry and upset me tremendously. The fact that so many people are out on the streets demonstrating -- in 600 cities around the world -- may provide some encouragement in itself -- but it guarantees nothing.

In the past, people have often demonstrated against war, but those protests happened, most often, after a war began. The protests would be about the consequences of the war. Vietnam is an example that comes to mind: demonstrations intensified as the number of victims increased over the years. But for the public to demonstrate before a war starts, that's a different thing altogether; it amounts to participating in the decision not to go to war. Sometimes the public is more in tune with reality than politicians.

My own position is very clear. I am opposed to the war. I am opposed to Saddam. The war in its expected dimensions will generate a vast amount of destruction -- not only in Iraq, but in the entire Arab region. This is something that, not to put too fine a point on it, we do not need. At the same time, Saddam's regime is such an unequivocal embodiment of all that is negative about Arab politics -- oppressive, autocratic and unthinking.

How I wish to wake up one day and find that both the shadow of war and Saddam have disappeared.

Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy

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