Makiya takes leadership role in shaping Iraq's future

By: Jeremy Hamburgh

Posted: 1/14/03

The top headline-grabbing Brandeis professor thus far in 2003 has been Kanan Makiya (NEJS). He quickly filled the vacuum left by the top headline grabber in 2002, Robert Reich (HS), who unsuccessfully bid to become Massachusetts' governor. Unlike Reich, whose political career was confined to the national stage, Makiya has been making waves in both the Western and Arab worlds. He recently returned from the United Kingdom where he played a leading role in the Iraqi Opposition Conference, as a member of the Leadership Committee, and he met with President Bush on Jan. 10 regarding the future of the Iraqi government.

Over 400 delegates from around the world took part in the Iraqi Leadership Conference. Its major accomplishment was the release of a report entitled "Transition to Democracy," a document addressing issues such as federalism, accountability and judicial reform. It was produced by 32 Iraqis in the months preceding the conference, Makiya said.

The report was not without detractors. The delegates disagreed on major issues, dispelling any myth of a consensus among dissidents regarding the future of the country. On the issue of federalism, for example, Makiya came out in favor of the reorganization of Iraq on a federal basis, whereas he said the Democrats "came up with another idea." According to Makiya, the report was also "in essence, too complicated." Emerging out of the mess was a 60-member Coordinating Committee, of which Makiya is a member, that will meet in Northern Iraq to discuss the "nucleus of a transitional government in Iraq, post-liberation."

When asked about his self-identification as the "father of what he calls a 'non-Arab' and decentralized post-Ba'ath" Iraq, as quoted in a highly-critical article by Edward Said, author of "Orientalism" and professor of Comparative Literature at Columbia University, Makiya said, "Nothing he said there is accurate or correct. I am for a non-ethnic Iraq. It does not matter what your ethnicity is, you are treated equally before the law. An Arab is not preferred over a Kurd or an Armenian." He then aired his feelings about the controversial Said. "The man is pathetic. He is a sad case," Makiya said. "He is to intelligent rational discourse in the Arab World what the suicide bomber is to politics."

Makiya explained that Said -- and two other Iraqi intellectuals dwelling in the halls of American academia -- was furious, largely because of what was in the report that came out of the conference. The article, entitled "Misinformation About Iraq," did not receive much press in America. The major reaction was in the Arab world, where Makiya accused Said of conducting a smear campaign. Contrary to Said's intention, Makiya's reputation was enhanced by the publicity. "Seven articles have appeared in El-Shayyat in support of me," he said proudly. "The Internet is buzzing with articles." The support is not merely from Iraqis, either. Kuwaits, Lebanese and others have backed the prominent dissident.

Makiya dispelled rumors that he jumped from Brandeis to the federal government to take a position at the State Department or with the Bush Administration. He has, however, been working with the State Department on its "Future of Iraq Initiative." The initiative encompasses 10 to 12 workshops that address issues such as education and the environment in post-Saddam Iraq. He worked on the workshop dealing with democratic principles. "Iraqis, none of whom are paid, are discussing these various issues, breaking into workshops and committees," Makiya explained. "We put the political side of all of this to Congress of Iraqi Opposition." Not surprisingly, the State Department is not enamored with initiative's conclusions. "It goes too far," he said. "It commits us to a total transformation of Iraq and the
State Department does not want to be seen as being associated with it at this time."

When asked if he would join the Bush Administration in any capacity, Makiya simply laughed. "Would I join the Bush Administration?" he asked. "I'm not even an American! I hope very much to play a roll in the future of the country (Iraq), if all sorts of things don't go wrong and if the Bush Administration stays the course."

The extent of his relationship to Bush was the meeting he took part in at the Oval Office. The meeting involved three dissidents, two of whom were closely associated with the Iraqi National Congress, the New York Times reported along with the President, Vice President Cheney and National Security Adviser
Condoleeza Rice. Though the Times reported that "none of the Iraqi participants were willing to discuss precisely what Mr. Bush said," Makiya volunteered the fact that Bush was "very positive" and "genuinely aware of the scale of the undertaking he is about to take." "He comes across genuine about democracy in Iraq, which he sees as part of the democratization of the region," he said.

Makiya said he will return to Brandeis. "The NEJS department very kindly granted me leave. It's an extraordinary moment for me," he said. "The support of the president (Reinharz) and of my department for the work I'm doing on the future of Iraq was absolute and I never felt it waver for a second. I deeply appreciate it."