Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 24, 2003

The massive American propaganda about the killing of Uday and Qusay, Saddam Hussein's sons, shows how much America needs an achievement in Iraq. Some naively predict that this incident could end the resistance of the Iraqi people; however, it might have the opposite effect. Because the concern of other segments of the Iraqi people about the return of Saddam's regime is itself a factor in their lessening opposition to the continued American presence, and if their minds are put at ease on this front, they will unite for the expulsion of the occupiers. On the other hand, the question arises as to why no effort was made to capture them alive, as was done with Barzan al-Tikriti.

The fourth audio tape of Saddam Hussein was released today on Al-Arabiya network, in which he calls on the people to continue the fight against the occupiers. It appears that the tape was recorded two days before the killing of Uday and Qusay. In another tape that was also broadcast, he said that the fate of his children was to be killed by the enemy.

At home and at the Kushk office, I was working. I spent a lot of time writing a response to a letter from the Hezbollah Student Association, which contained criticisms of the policies of the Construction Crusade era. It will be an important historical document. I noted important issues and advised them.

Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, who had spent a week assessing the situation in Iraq, said upon his return to the U.S. that they had not anticipated this resistance by the Iraqis and that many difficulties lie ahead, but they are surmountable.

In Iraq, a number of Americans were killed and wounded in several operations, and several Iraqis were also killed. Disputes over Iraq continue in America and Britain.

Floods in Kahnuj have caused extensive damage, and a bus rollover in Jiroft has resulted in 16 deaths and 30 injuries. News of the birth of another set of conjoined twins sharing a heart, lungs, and liver has been published amidst the news of the deaths of Laleh and Ladan.

Fierce disputes are ongoing between Saeed Mortazavi, the Tehran prosecutor, and his opponents. The military prosecutor's office recused itself from the case of Zahra Kazemi's death, and Mr. Mohammad Niazi strongly criticized the President for interfering in the duties of the judiciary, and the case was referred to a criminal court. Iran protested Canada's behavior regarding the death of Mr. Kayvan Tabesh, which occurred on Tuesday in Canada at the hands of police, and demanded an explanation. Canadian media, in a coordinated action, are overlooking that issue, while Iranian media are fueling the case of Zahra Kazemi.