Tariq Aziz and Militant Islam

The reported capture of Tariq Aziz on Apr. 24, one day after the massive Shi`ite celebration at Karbala', brings to mind my interview with Aziz in March 1994 in the Middle East Quarterly, which included this informative reply:

MEQ: And what about the fundamentalist surge that has taken place in much of the Muslim world? Is it felt in Iraq?

`Aziz: This phenomena is a widespread phenomena, and it's further developing. But in Iraq the situation is different. You have to realize that in most cases this phenomenon is developing in those countries where pro-Western regimes are in power, where regimes are corrupt, and where they don't consider the interest and even the feelings of their people. This is the main reason for the development of fundamentalist Islam.

(April 24, 2003)

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