February 13, ee .
THE MILITARY COUP Ili TRAQ
PARIS, Feb. 12 -- General Abdul Karim Kassem's regime, which was overthrown by a military coup four days ago. was a bonepertist dictatorship constantly at war on various fronts in its efforts to hang on to power, Kassem battled the pro-liasserist Anab national-ists who belong to a wing of the Ba'ath (Socialist Party of Arab Renaissance), a petty-bourgeois nationalist party influertial in Syria and Jordan as well as Iraq. He repressed the Cpmnunist party which had been decisive in keeping him in power and in helping him to put down the pro-liasserite insurrection at lisosul. He was arainst the Kurds, who are struggling to conquer national auton my. He was against the remnants of the old Nouri es-Saidrezime and the direct stooges of British imperialism among both the landlord class and the comprador bourgeoisie. Brae lee oe gt tye ae
He opened the way to his own downfall by failing to scarry for~. ward the revolution begun in 1958. Brutal repressive measures proved insufficient to make up for his loss in popularity
In the Arab world, nationalist layers hailed the overthrow of ‘the Kassem regime and the victory of Colonel Abdel Salam Aref. , Iraqi students in Britain staged a big demonstration. Yuroslavia as well as most of the Arab countries, including Algeria, at once granted recognition-to the new regime.
Emotions were somewhat mixed, however. The evident strenpthening of Nasserism caused anxiety, especially anonc reactionary forces in Syria and Jordan and among Zionist leaders in Israel. They were particularly nervous over the unsettling effect of the overturn following the opening of the revolution in Yemen only last Septem-
On the left. despite Algeria's quick recognition of the new regime, the daily newspaper Al Chaab printed a discordant note. "As for the population [in Iraq,” it reported, "it was truly is ‘stunned! by the suddenness of the coup d'etat and by its extent. Most people appear to be uneasy and dismayed. The aspect of the ‘erowd which hurried yesterday on the sidewalks of baghdad tovard the stores and markets, after two days of curfew, was far from the
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delirious enthusiasm which has marked the tone of Radio Daghdad since the beginning of the coup d'etat."
The disastrous consequences of the opportunist policy of the Communist party should now be plain to everyone. In 1950 it was the strongest party in Iraq. Instead of taking power, it preferred to oack Kassem. Jn this way it conformed to Hoscow’s policy of seexing; to maintain the status quo. Today the ranks of the Communis: party, and, in fact, anyone accused of association with "communis," however remotely, are targets of a blood purge. One of the first acts ‘of the new militarist regime was to launch a nation-wide witch-hunt of the most savage kind. Your and a half years after it had vower within reach, the Communist party of Iraq is reduced to a pathetic appeal by one of its leaders, Anwer liustapha, condemning the "counterrevolutionary pro-imperialist coup" and calling on democratic opinion throughout the world to support the Iragi people against “terror gancs not unlike the SS."
In its first public announcement, the Aref regime guaranteed the status quo of the Iraq Petroleum Company, the international con-sortium which operates the chief Iraqi oil fields. The Dritish government made quite clear that this pledge was decisive in winning recognition from Britain. Washington's quick recognition ~~ within seventy-two hours of the bloody coup -=- was based on "hope that greater stability in the Middle Last would emerge from last Friday’s revolt," as the New York Times put it. American imperialist circles expressed considerable satisfaction over the "anti-Communist" characte of the new government.
It may turn out, however, that in pursuit of popular appeal and perhaps a boost in royalties, the new regime will not hesitate latex to put a squeeze on the oil companies.
As Arab nationalists, the Aref group favor Arab unity. But to actually join the United Arab Republic in accordance with Nasser’s policy would involve sharing with Egypt the all-important royalties received from the Iraq Petroleum Company.
Aref is under pressure now to put an end to the Kurd uprising. But the army has been weakened by the split between the pro- and anti-Kassem forces. The alternative, to grant national autonomy to the Kurds, is not easily reconciled with Arab nationalism.
It would thus seem that the downfall of Kassem has sharpened contradictions in the Middle Dast and opened up a nev period of instability.
ALCERIANS BACK