Masterstroke

Masterstroke

War clouds loom over Iraq.But USA hadn't counted on Saddam's master plan

HAIL SAYEDI !

HAIL SAYEDI !

Cheers went around the tables as the terrified members of the Cabinet hailed their feared leader . Nerves were at their highest as war clouds hovered over Iraq. The members of the Iraqi Cabinet were scared stiff at the prospect of facing their dreaded leader It was hard work satisfying his demands in the best of times. With war looming over Iraq, the situation only worsened. The Presidential Guards took their place behind the throne of the self-acclaimed King of Iraq Saddam Hussein. The large portrait of Saddam with his Kalashnikov rifle was imposing enough let alone he being in person.

The State Executer as he called himself, Al Shourie, was the only man close to being relaxed in the entire cabinet with the rest close to insanity. Fears running high and uncertainty lingered nobody safe from the wrath of the man who controlled the Middle East for over a decade.

Well but none where as terrified as Omar Khalim, the Iraqi diplomat at the Embassy in USA. It was common knowledge that a confidential plot to avert the war entrusted to him had failed. None ever looked at his direction for the fear of being named traitor and die a cruel death at the hands of Saddam Hussein.

As usual Saddam strode into the room with the air of arrogance of a man who controlled destinies. Out of fear more than respect, the cabinet stood up to greet him and dared not to relax till he gave word to do so. Having done so, all took their seats with the exception of Omar who was trembling with fear. He had worked for hours trying to present his side of events though it wouldn’t have made much of a difference for Saddam who didn’t believe in second chances. However the situation overwhelmed him. It had been a foolish idea to try and send a safe with a nuclear weapon via diplomatic pouch to be detonated at the port. He didn’t like it from the very beginning and even wondered if the whole plan had been fabricated to get him out of the way. But he couldn’t do a damn about it, as it had been His Majesty’s “very own idea.” Later on he brought himself to believe that it could be pulled off with a bit of fortune. With President Bush’s firm decision to go all out against Iraq with or without UN support, Khalim hoped against hope that the plot may just work somehow, someway.

It hadn’t. That’s why Omar was here standing in front of the council fighting a losing battle. Khalim said, “ Hail Sayedi, I deeply apologize to His Excellency for I wasn’t worthy enough to carry out the duty entrusted to this poor soul and I’m as worried about this failure as everyone here is” He paused. This was the trickiest part, he had to shift the blame from him and at the same time try not to accuse the tyrant of his foolishness instead blame it on bad luck and fate .it would be here he had to use his years of diplomatic expertise to brighten up any slim chances of survival. — Your Highness, the safe was confiscated at the port as our embassy had actually been closed down and the staffers were to leave in a matter of 36 hours. Furthermore the partly destroyed safe is now lodged in the United Nations as Americans claim to have found evidence of using diplomatic relations to harbor terrorist activities. “Partially destroyed by a nuclear warhead ” sneered SaddamA lengthy pause reigned. Then Al Shourie raised the inevitable question.

“Mr. Ambassador, the safe wasn’t meant to pass any inspection. It was meant to explode immediately on reaching American soil. The detonation was supposed to be handled by you.”

“ So Your Highness it was failure on the part of the Amba ”.“

” No I did . But it wasn’t a nuclear warhead that exploded. The safe just burst open ripping apart the hull. There wasn’t enough explosive material to make a landmine out of it.“

” Your Highness, maybe the ambassador must be suggesting that it was a mistake on our part “

” No, no, no, Your Majesty, it wasn’t a mistake on the part of the Iraqi regime at all. It just wasn’t a good idea to begin with“

” I suppose then you accuse the Iraqi High Command for the blunder“

” Maybe you switched loyalties Mr. Ambassador “

”I wouldn’t even think ab’“

” Your Highness, I believe that the ambassador is no longer faithful to Iraq and is trying to blame other faithful servants of Iraq for his failures. It’s unto Your Excellency to determine his fate“

A long pause filled with suspense and tension accompanied by occasional sobs by Omar followed. Saddam Hussein appeared to be deliberating on the issue before he said ” Take him away” this was followed by a polite round of applause by the council.

Omar realized his death sentence had just been signed. Also his family would be branded traitors and the men would be hung in public and the women of the family would just disappear to appear as corpses in the desert. Resigning to the harsh reality, Omar was hauled away by the Presidential Guards. He cursed Saddam, he cursed Iraq and left praying Saddam would die a traitor’s death.

War seemed imminent that all the efforts had been thwarted. The council waited expectantly to hear the course of action only to be dismissed for the day. Each day brought Iraq closer to war. UN inspectors and all foreign nationals and embassies were closed down. Even the Kurds were encroaching Iraqi territory. But Saddam remained quiet.

Then out of the clear sky came the thunderbolt. President Bush announced war wouldn’t be a solution and UN inspections would commence without further delay.Whole of Iraq celebrated day in and day out. Saddam Hussein appeared on national television and thanked Allah for averting the war though Iraq would have won it. The Iraqi army wiped out the very day all the Kurdish invaders.

In the palace, Saddam sat celebrating the major coup with Al Shourie, the State Executer. — It was a master plan by Your Majesty. It was truly phenomenal to sneak into America the poxvirus right under their noses. And blowing the safe with it right in the port making sure it goes all around America. Truly only Your Highness could imagine such a plot. Not to forget three generations of Americans haven’t been vaccinated against the disease. Only Your Highness could pull out such an exceptional stunt. Beyond doubt you are the Messiah to save Iraq “

Saddam chuckling wickedly said ” Al Shourie, make arrangements for a showdown with Kuwait and Iran in the near future” He thoughtfully smiled at the very idea.