King Hussein’s Criticism Of Baghdad Airs On Iraq TV

In an unusual broadcast, Iraq’s state-controlled television aired a speech by Jordan’s King Hussein blaming the Baghdad regime for hardship in Iraq.

The speech, which never mentioned Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, was broadcast in full Wednesday night on the two main channels.

An announcer prefaced the broadcast only by telling viewers they were smart enough to draw their own conclusions and noted “the great and dear confidence we have in our great people. …”

Iraq maintained its silence Thursday on the speech.

In his address, King Hussein claimed he had been deceived by Iraq and suggested he was throwing his support behind Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamel al-Majid, who defected to Jordan Aug. 8. Al-Majid is Saddam’s son-in-law and a former confidant.

King Hussein said that the Iraqi people’s suffering stemmed not just from the devastating U.N. trade sanctions imposed on that country after Saddam invaded Kuwait in August 1990, “but also from the practices that have deprived Iraqi citizens of the most basic human rights.”

Although not unprecedented, it is highly unusual for Iraqi media to broadcast criticism of the government. Speaking out against the regime is punishable by more than 10 years in prison.

However, the king aimed his criticism not at Saddam but at “Iraq.” He also vowed to reject outside pressure to cut off trade with and oil purchases from Iraq, which are vital to both countries.

Baghdad may have been counting on Iraqis to interpret the speech as an implicit show of sympathy and reassurance for them.