How to avoid a war?
Saddam must step down to save peace

By: Harun Yahya (renowned Turkish author)

The preparations for the United States' planned military operation against Iraq are moving full-speed ahead. It seems that unless something happens to reduce the tension between the United States and Iraq, there will be war in the Middle East. Inevitably, that war will cost the lives of tens of thousands of people and will lead to the deaths of innocent civilians. Many soldiers from the U.S. and Iraqi armies will be killed, and their families will suffer terribly. Unless war is prevented, great harm will be wreaked on the economies of the countries in the region, of which Turkey is a part, and particularly that of Iraq. Poverty and all the difficulties that stem from it will increase.

There is no doubt that the prevention of this approaching disaster, the avoidance of war and the finding of a peaceful solution, is the hope and desire of every person of good conscience. In fact, many individuals and civil society organisations all over the world are today saying "No to war" and encouraging their own governments to take initiatives to prevent such a clash. A wide community and many opinion formers within the United States maintain that the problem needs to be resolved by peaceful means.

Yet all these demands for peace need to be backed up by a concrete solution. Let us first briefly examine the present situation with a view to finding such a solution.

1. It is clear that following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the United States entered a state of alarm, declared war on terrorism and those administrations it perceived as being connected to it, and is totally determined on the issue.

2. After the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the main target in this war was set out as Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. Even if there is room for debate whether Saddam Hussein really has built nuclear or chemical weapons, that regime is now firmly on the U.S. administration's black list, and it does not appear possible that this can change.

3. Unless there is a radical change in the present situation, the United States will strike at Iraq. The decision has long since been taken.

What is noteworthy here is the fact that the United States has gone on the offensive not against Iraq but against Saddam Hussein's regime in that country. As President Bush and other officials have repeatedly stressed, Saddam's administration has to come to an end. For that reason, the most realistic formula to preventing war is for Saddam's administration to end before the war starts. The only way for that to happen is for Saddam Hussein to step down before the onset of war.

A THREE-STAGE PEACE PLAN FOR IRAQ

In order for this formula to come about, the United States and the international community have to put forward a plan that is acceptable to Saddam Hussein. There is one point in particular that must not be ignored: that is the fact that Saddam Hussein has a wife and children, a family. In all probability he is not at all happy with the situation facing his country and people. Yet he may be unable to arrive at a healthy decision on account of concerns for his own and his family's safety. For that reason, if that safety is guaranteed, then it is clear that Saddam Hussein will have no wish to see a terrible slaughter that will cost tens of thousands of Arab lives. In that light, the following elements must be included in the plan that needs to be put to Saddam Hussein:

1. Saddam Hussein must be allowed to leave Iraq and settle in a friendly Arab country, in security and with certain assets, in an honourable manner and without being declared a traitor, and in such a manner as to ensure his own and his family's safety. It must be guaranteed that he will be able to spend the rest of his life in comfort, with his family, in that Arab country.

2. Following Saddam Hussein's abdication, a technocratic government consisting of moderate and independent figures must be set up in Iraq. That government must react positively to the international community's demands for disarmament, and must seek a solution to the urgent problems facing the country. The embargo and sanctions against Iraq must be lifted, and with assistance from the international community a regeneration programme must quickly be initiated. The suffering of the Iraqi people, who have lived in terrible misery and poverty ever since the 1980s, must be brought to an end as a matter of urgency.

3. The necessary legal and institutional changes must be brought in to allow Iraq to become a democratic state of law. A constitutional order that respects the rights of all ethnic and religious groups living in the country, and that allows them to live together under one roof in peace in security must be established. Later still, free elections must be held, and Iraq must take its place in the world as a respected member of the community of nations.

If Saddam Hussein takes the common sense approach and prevents war by stepping down, then he will have done the people of Iraq one of the greatest services possible, and will go down in history as a hero. We need to be aware that according to Islam, the greatest heroism lies in winning the "Great Jihad" (Jihad al-Nafs), in other words in conquering one's own desires. Power is a desire that is hard for many people to forsake. A leader who foregoes power for the sake of the safety and happiness of his people thus wins that "Great Jihad" and behaves in the most honourable manner possible.

WHAT SADDAM HUSSEIN NEEDS TO DO

If he does step down from power and leaves Iraq with honour in tact, he will have prevented a war that would cost the lives of thousands, tens of thousands of Iraqis. Babies and defenceless women and old people who would otherwise have died under the bombs will be saved, cities will not be razed and the country will not be ruined. He will prevent the people of Iraq from suffering a terrible disaster for the sake of a war that cannot possibly be won.

If he makes that sacrifice, the world will regard him not as a leader who led his people to death and suffering, but as one who gave up everything for their sake.

Even more importantly, there is no doubt that such behaviour will please God. In the Qur'an, God reveals that saving just one person from death is as much a good deed as saving all of mankind:

…If anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind... (Qur'an, 5:32)

If Saddam Hussein allows the war to be prevented, he will have saved not one life but thousands.

We must not forget that the outbreak of war on earth is displeasing to God. We are told in the Qur'an that war is a great evil, that it represents corruption, and that God does not love the corrupt.

…Each time they kindle the fire of war, God extinguishes it. They rush about the earth corrupting it. God does not love corrupters. (Qur'an, 5:64)

In another verse, God calls all people to peace:

O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you. (Qur'an, 2:208)

In short, supporting peace and bringing it about is a great duty of all Muslims.

At this point we need to make it clear that the words of the Bible, that should show the way to the American people on this issue, also oppose war. In many places the Bible advises Christians to treat others with compassion and to love even their enemies. The Americans, too, must choose to resolve the issue by peaceful means.

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