From Dictatorship to Democracy: An Insider's Account of the Iraqi Opposition to Saddam

Iraqi ambassador to the U.N., al-Bayati spent many years in the Iraqi opposition, undergoing imprisonment, torture, and exile to London in his efforts to unseat Saddam Hussein. He traveled the world, meeting with world leaders, legislators, and activists, calling international attention to the egregious human rights abuses under Saddam, juggling the often conflicting demands of other opposition movements and his own (once called the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, SCIRI, now called the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, or ISCI), and dealing with the Americans in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion. It should be a fascinating tale—but oddly and unfortunately, the recounting proves a slog. Based on years of reconstituted notes, meeting minutes, and personal and professional correspondence, al-Bayati's text fails to inject life or urgency into what quickly devolves into a tedious recitation of facts. Historians will no doubt be grateful to have access to his recollection of events, but al-Bayati's flat style makes it very hard for readers to sustain interest. (Dec.)