Saddam must go says Baghdad's former air chief

Saddam Hussein must be toppled, says the Napier-based former chief of Baghdad's air defences - but afterwards the US should let the Iraqi people choose their own Government.

Shamel Majid works for the Refugee and Migrant Service, helping about 40 Iraqi refugees settle into their new homes in Napier.

But before fleeing his homeland and arriving in New Zealand as a refugee five years ago, he was an Iraqi air force pilot.

He flew in the Iran-Iraq war and rose through the ranks, eventually commanding the Baghdad air defence centre.

"It is a good idea to topple Saddam Hussein, whatever the cost - the important thing for the Iraqi people is to live life free," he said.

But Mr Majid, who has seen Baghdad bombed several times, said any attack should be limited to military targets.

"We don't want them to bomb the Iraqi people or what's left of the civilian infrastructure - the water plants, power stations and bridges - like they did last time ... They said they won't attack Iraqi people, and we hope they are honest and serious about this."

Napier's 40-strong Iraqi community was deeply concerned about friends and family left behind, but were divided in their opinions about the impending war. Some did not want Iraq bombed, even if it meant Saddam Hussein would stay in power; others believed the attack should go ahead even if civilians died, because the Iraqi President killed people every day.

"The problem is that the Iraqi regime has always hidden weapons in civilian neighbourhoods, that's why civilians are killed by the American bombs," he said.

Once war broke out the military would abandon its command and control centres and run operations from city suburbs.

As a former high-ranking air force officer, Mr Majid had his own theories on the Americans' war plans.

"Every good military leader should use surprise, so I don't think they will attack through Kuwait."

Mr Majid believed the Iraqi Army would not defend Saddam Hussein. Morale was low and equipment was in short supply.

According to reports from inside Iraq, the Army was ready to abandon the regime and was "just waiting for a spark".

"The reason they aren't rising up now is because the Americans have disappointed them many times in the past, especially in 1991."

It was possible Saddam Hussein would escape, like Osama bin Laden, but Mr Majid preferred to see him put on trial "for his genocides, the forcible expulsions, the ethnic cleansing and many, many crimes".

But he opposed American plans to install a military ruler after the war. Instead, Mr Majid wanted an interim government representing all Iraq's religious and ethnic groups.

"The Iraqi people are the ones who should choose the government, not the Americans," Mr Majid said.

- NZPA

Herald Feature: Iraq