This legendary 12th century warrior-king is a familiar figure to every Muslim around the world, and his name resonates deeply as a symbol of valour, chivalry and compassion.
It is true that Arabs have been waiting for a second Saladin for centuries of humiliation and despair. As a dominant and aggressive West carved up and exploited a weak and backward Middle East, Arabs fell back on recalling their glorious past and praying for a second Saladin. Working on this legend, pan-Arab leaders who have sought to achieve the unity Saladin actually managed to attain have invoked his name: Nasser, Hafiz Assad, and Qadhafi are only some of those who have used the famous name to try and rally support.
The Palestinians in particular, with no state of their own and subjected to daily persecution by the hated Israelis, venerate the memory of Saladin in their desperate struggle. The ‘Saladin Brigades’ have been named after their hero, and his portrait hangs in many homes. Westerners do not understand how the forces of the Crusade have been transformed into the Israeli army in the mind of the Arab world.
In this context, Saladin has acquired a special significance as he is the one who united the Arabs and threw out the invading armies of the West. Seen in this light, one can understand why many Arabs feel it is just a matter of time before Israelis meet the same fate. After all, it took the Arabs 80 years to finally eject European forces from Jerusalem; Israel has only been around for 55 years.
Although understandable, this ‘waiting for Saladin’ syndrome has cost the Arabs very dear. Instead of depending on their own strength and unity in the face of a common enemy, they have frittered away much time in dreaming of another era and hoping it will miraculously return one day. Unfortunately, history seldom repeats itself.
The thing to remember is that during the crusades, there was very little military or technological difference between the two sides: perhaps the Arab cavalry was fleeter and more manoeuvrable while the Europeans, wearing heavier armour, used larger, slower horses. The Arab armies were more numerous while the crusaders were more disciplined. But there was none of the current imbalance of forces. The present disparity in Iraq is of a magnitude that makes the conflict a complete mismatch.
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/mazdak/20030405.htm
Salahuddin Ayubi :k: indeed!
The writer of the article advocates both sides and neither side at the same time although most of what he says does make alot of sense if you take a moment to ponder the content of what he is saying.