Qassem surprised Iraqis with a revolution

On July 14, 1958:
Author: Adnan
Date: 14-07-08 10:31

In 1918, the Iraqis sided with Christian Britain to defeat the Muslim Ottoman Empire which ruled Iraq for 500 years. It was the darkest cultural, social and political 500 years in Baghdad history; since its foundation. Instead of rewarding the Iraqis by establishing a prosperous, free and democratic national regime, the British had imported a Saudi and installed him as King Faisal I. Faithful to his masters, King Faisal I surrounded himself with British advisors and local agents allowing Britain a free hand in the country. Although no political party in Iraq, including the communists, had called for the establishment of a republic, demands for democracy and freedom were dealt with harshly by all governments during the kingdom 40 years. Up to 1958, Britain had two air bases in Habbania and Shaeba, Iraqi oil is the private property of Britain, Iraq was a member of Baghdad Military Pact, feudal system dominates the land and Sir Nuri Al-Saeed formed 13 repressive governments.

But out of the blue, on the morning of July 14, the army took over, toppled the kingdom, established a republic, freed all political prisoners, withdrew from Baghdad Pact, abolished the feudal system, secured Iraqi oil interests and gave the British forces 48 hours to leave the country. Furthermore, thousands of Iraqi exiles, including late Kurdish leader, Mullah Mustafa Al-Barzani and communists Abdul Qader Ismail were allowed to return home. It was no wonder that millions throughout Iraq cheered the victorious army officers. But it didn’t take long for those who lost power to regroup, to rally support from the outside and to strike back.

The first military attempt was on March 1959 in Mosul followed few months later by Saddam and his Baathist colleagues pumping three bullets in Qassem’s chest. Qassem survived the attack, put the Baathists on trial, sent them to death and released them shortly afterward. During this period, Qassem allowed all political parties to operate freely and planned to hold election and hand the government to an elected civilian ruler.

Fearing a leftist victory in Iraq, the CIA and the Egyptian intelligence worked closely with the Baathists and Arab nationalists to topple and assassinate Qassem on 8th February 1963. Despite decades of Baath rule and intimidation, Qassem’s memory is still fresh in the minds of many Iraqis.

It is ironic, that Saddam, who entered Baghdad on an American train to kill anti Western Qassem, is fighting now to free Iraq from British and American forces! It must be mentioned that Qassem, besides being a nationalists, had a personal vendetta against the British.

During 1948, he was an Army commander who wanted to defend the Palestinians against the attacks from Jewish Hagana, Stern and Irgun Gangs. The British commanders at the time refused him access and had to rely on clandestine night operations to plant mines and sabotage enemy supply lines. In the process he was wounded with shrapnel that left its mark on his upper lip.

On the 45th anniversary of the great July 14 revolution (military coup) no one in Iraq history has won the hearts and minds of the Iraqis the way Qassem did. While Saddam and his sons lived in palaces with billions in wealth, the unmarried Qassem, lived and died in his office with 128 Iraqi Dinars in his bank account. To add insult to injury, the Baathist propaganda at the time accused Qassem of squandering the nation’s wealth by using European WC in his office! At this moment in time, Iraqis are in a desperate need for a national leader who can unite the people, free the country from foreign occupation and build a modern, progressive, free and democratic Iraq. The longer Iraq remains occupied, the bigger is the chance for armed extremists to dominate the political arena and to dictate future course of events. There are many who want to see pro-Israeli USA bleed in Iraq.
The above article was published in Cafearabica.com on July 2003. On the fiftieth anniverasary the 14 July revolution, Iraq needs a leadership that can unfiy the people to free their country from the dirty boots of the uncivilised American cowboys.
Adnan Darwash, Iraq Occupation Times