Al-Sahhaf -- the sequel
Egyptians eagerly anticipating former Iraqi Information Minister Mohamed Said Al-Sahhaf's small screen comeback did not quite get what they had hoped for. Sherine Bahaa gauges reactions
SMSs, e-mails, and phone calls were used to spread the news that former Iraqi Information Minister Mohamed Said Al-Sahhaf would be on the Al-Arabiya satellite news channel on 26 June. Crowds rushed to coffeeshops, homes, or anywhere with satellite TV, to watch the interview. Finally, people thought, Al-Sahhaf would provide answers for the many questions raised by the 9 April fall of Baghdad.
Where was he all this time? Why is he re-appearing now? Where is Saddam? Had treason played a role, or was the Iraqi leadership exterminated in an aerial bombing? Bets were placed about whose scenario Al-Sahhaf's reappearance would prove right.
"I invited a couple of my friends over to watch the interview while having dinner together," said 34-year-old Samir Moustafa. "We expected a great deal of revelations. But when it was over, we found that none of our questions were answered," he said.
During the interview, Al-Sahhaf's replies were mainly confined to one-word answers, while many queries were dodged, and only a few smiles were proffered. "Leave it to history," Al- Sahhaf kept repeating, "and the whole world will know the truth when the right circumstances are in place for the truth to be told."
Amina Attia, 30, described the interview as "pathetic". Attia was upset that "the once defiant official was no longer there. We saw the real man, with his mask gone, grey hair, and a lost look in his eyes."
People recalled Al-Sahhaf's final television appearance -- on 8 April -- when he reiterated that Baghdad would remain steadfast and that the "infidels will be slaughtered and their stomachs burnt." On that particular day, Al- Sahhaf was holding a press conference just opposite the Palestine Hotel while US tanks were freely roaming the fallen Iraqi capital. Despite this reality, the man in the street wanted to believe Al- Sahhaf and not what he saw on the screen.
Hala Mohamed, a 40-year-old teacher, said Al-Sahhaf played a great role in boosting Arab morale during the war. "We all enjoyed listening to his statements, and his fiery words made us optimistic that the fall of Baghdad would not be that easy, and that the coalition forces would pay a very high price."
Although Al-Sahhaf described what happened to Iraq as "an earthquake", he stopped short of blaming Saddam for turning down offers of exile from friendly states to avert war. "It was a matter between states," the former information minister diplomatically said.
Arab information ministers holding their annual meeting this week at the Cairo headquarters of the Arab League also seemed to feel the gap created by Al-Sahhaf's absence. According to an Arab official who declined to be named, one should not regard Al-Sahhaf's statements during the war as lies. "He was one of the victims of the big lie orchestrated by the Iraqi regime for the past 20 years."
A foreign diplomat said, "we cannot hold him accountable for any of the developments in his country, because he was not in charge of anything related to the war. He did, however, perform his mission as information minister in the best possible way by trying to boost the morale of his people. If he had done otherwise, he would have been condemned for treachery and could have been sentenced to death."
It turned out that Al-Sahhaf had turned himself over to coalition forces, who interrogated him then set him free. According to Hala Mohamed, "he appeared defeated, with a clear sense of bitterness in his voice. But he also seemed to be withholding secrets that he might later reveal."
Amina Attiya said it was "a bit weird for someone who is quite verbose to say so little. It seems that the only statement he was willing to make was that he is alive and free."
Al-Sahhaf actually gave two interviews, one to Al-Arabiya, and the other to Abu-Dhabi TV. In both interviews, he wore civilian clothes, and it seemed as though he had aged at least 20 years since the war. He refused to comment on the possible whereabouts of Saddam, and chose not to evaluate Iraq's performance before and during the war.
He did, however, say that he had refused to seek asylum in another country, reiterating that he would stay in Iraq. Although he said, "I do not think that my life is in real danger," many of those watching felt he did look afraid.
Al-Sahhaf is not on the US's list of 55 most wanted Iraqi officials, so he probably doesn't have that much to worry about.
