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"The King of Iraq" by mathoma

Harry starts a process that eventually solves all the world problems ..., sort of.

Category: Short Story

Tags: Political fantasy

You can do an inline review of this work in the review tab.

The King of Iraq

Suddenly Harry was awake, sensing something outside the blackness of his prison. He heard a whisper and then another. He crept off his sleeping mat and crawled to the door. This time he heard a distant voice yelling what sounded like ‘come out.’

Silence and then shuffling noises, followed by an explosion. His room shuddered violently. As the sound died, guns fired just outside his door and then from a distance. He heard something hit the wall. Three seconds later an explosion sent him flying across his tiny room and into unconsciousness.

Some hours later Harry was wakened by pain in his chest and shoulders and then he realized his arms and legs were restrained, and a belt pressed tightly across his chest. He struggled to get free.

“Cool it man, the boss will be here soon.”

Harry’s eyes focused on a young man standing to his left in the corner of the brightly lite room. He was tall, with blond hair, wearing the green and brown camouflage uniform of a soldier. A pistol was attached to the utility belt around his narrow midsection.

Steps outside his room drew Harry’s attention away from the gun. The blond soldier came to attention but relaxed when he saw the long white coat of a doctor; then quickly stiffened again when an army officer followed the doctor in and stomped to the foot of Harry’s bed.

The doctor took Harry’s hand and checked his pulse, then proceeded to give him a quick examination.

“What’s your name,” the officer blared.

Harry jumped at the command.

“Give me your name, now.”

Harry hesitated. Should he tell the truth? Was this the right time? For six years he had been living with a false name, hiding from his own countrymen. Two weeks ago they found him.

“What’s your name, you disgusting, scum-sucking, terrorist *****. Tell me, tell me now,” the officer screamed at him from the end of the bed.

“My name is Abdul Kassam Hafader Mustaffa, Prince of Iraq.”

The room was silent. The interrogator’s face remained fixed in an angry snarl, but for several seconds he was mute. “Shut up, you, … you lie. What were you doing with known terrorists?”

Having declared himself a prince, Harry could think of nothing else to say.

After taking a sample of blood, the doctor said Harry needed a rest.

The next day he was visited by a friendly, attractive man in casual dress who asked how he was feeling, as if he was a friend concerned about Harry’s welfare. Harry asked who he was and what he wanted.

“I’m John Postem, from the President’s office and we are interested in you, in your claim to be a prince.”

The man’s questions became more specific after that, about Harry’s history and life during the recent years when he was in hiding.

“I stayed with my political science teacher at the University of Virginia,” Harry responded, and then added impulsively, “Could I see him?”

The man agreed but two days passed before Professor David Bandura walked into the room and greeted his friend. His wife, Alice, came too, hugging and patting Harry with motherly affection.

After a few moments John Postem said he would leave and give them some privacy. He took the soldier with him which was strange because there had always been a soldier in Harry’s room, 24 hours every day.

“Professor, what are they going to do to me? I’m getting better. Will they let me leave?” Harry was desperate for information he could trust. David and Alice, a dowdy couple in their early sixties, were his only friends. They were his and mentors, like parents to whom he could speak about anything and with whom he felt safe.

“They have been questioning us for two days.” David said. “Obviously they have plans for you but they didn’t tell us what, and you can bet we asked,”

“They want you to go to Iraq and get them off the hook,” Alice said as she closed the door quietly. She came back to Harry’s bedside. “You’re the only one left of your family. You’re the legal King of Iraq.”

“She heard that from me, but, as usual, she’s oversimplified it,” David said, frowning at his wife. They want you as an ally, I believe; someone to bring the various factions together to fight the terrorists and get the people to cooperate.”

“And …,” Alice said. “Tell him the rest.”

“The ‘rest,’ as she says, is obvious,” David’s frown deepened. “They want you to keep Iraq’s oil for the US and to keep it’s neighbors at bay. Right now, if the US troops leave there will be a rush to take over the area. Iran, Russia, even China will be competing for control. Turkey may even try to seize the Kurdish north. The US has no way of stopping that if the country is still being torn apart by terrorists.”

“What can I do about the terrorists?” Harry’s voice broke. “They want to kill me. So do Saddam’s people …, and the fundamentalists. In fact, ever since my family was blown away during the Saddam's coup, just about everyone wants to kill me. That’s why I’ve been hiding out for six years.”

“Now, now, Harry, don’t excite yourself. If you don’t want to go back, you don’t have to.” Alice looked at David. “He’s a citizen or resident or something. They can’t force him, … can they?”

“Yes, they can, and they will if they think it will get them what they want. If they think the Iraqi people will follow you.”

“The people won’t follow me. They don’t know me. I’m just a kid. Why would they do that?”

“Because they may see you as their last hope too.” David sat at the foot of the bed. “You told me ounce that most people in Iraq are not terrorists or religious extremists or criminals of any sort. Like people everywhere, they just want to be left alone to live their lives.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Harry said.

“They want you to use the prestige of your royal status to get those people to work for peace and against the terrorists.”

The guard arrived at that moment and told the Banduras they must leave but could return for another visit.

They arrived the next morning. David strutted up to the end of the bed while Alice casually walked about the room.

“I know what they want,” David said. “It’s almost exactly what I predicted yesterday.”

“It was exactly what you predicted,” Alice interjected as she lifted a framed picture hanging from the wall and felt the back side with her fingers. “Don’t you think that’s a bit coincidental?”

“They talked to you? Why don’t they talk to me?” Harry was bewildered.

“They will, probably later today,” David said and then pulled up a chair close to Harry. “Remember our discussions about what kind of things might help Iraq. Remember the one ….”

“Excuse me,” Alice interrupted loudly. “I wonder where they put the bugs?”

“Bugs?” David said irritably. “What are you talking about.”

“You know, the bugs that allow ‘them’ to know what we talk about here.”

The room was silent for a full miute as Harry looked at Alice and then back at David.

“I remember one idea in particular," David finally said. "The one that would take care of all the problems of poverty and disease in Iraq and the one that would also keep it safe from it’s enemies. The one that was so strange and unlikely that we laughed and laughed about it. Do you know which one I mean?”

“Yes, oh Harry that would be something.” Alice moved quickly to the bedside. “It would focus the world’s attention on the only real solution the world has in the long term.”

“Do you think they would even consider it?” Harry asked.

“No, of course not. But think of the publicity …”

“Careful, Alice. We need to think about this,” David said. “It may be that the US government is desperate enough to consider any possibility.”

“Should I tell them about it?” Harry asked.

“First we need to find a way to talk it through, privately. We need a plan.”

The next day Harry was given a clean bill of health and invited to stay at the White house. During the next several days, he and the secretary of state and many assistants discussed the current situation in Iraq and its potential futures. The Iraqi ambassador was also present as was David and Alice Preston. Everyone objected to their involvement but Harry insisted. It was his first royal decree, and it felt good.

With the Preston’s help and expertise they hammered out a plan that felt right to Harry. He was then sent off secretly to Baghdad where for the next week he conferred with his countries political, religious and social leaders. The story of his resurrection was presented to the world during that time. At the end of the week he gave a press conference and spoke to his people for the first time as their king.

David and Alice watched from inside the palace as Harry walked out and climbed the podium. The national leaders he had been conferring with, followed and stood behind him to show their allegiance. Surrounding him on three sides, separated by ten yards of carpet, reporters from around the world waited. Beyond that was the palace grounds and a solid wall of armed Iraqi soldiers. After the soldiers a massive crowd of Iraqis filled the palace grounds and spilled into the streets of Baghdad.

Harry fumbled with his notes, as he stood unsteadily behind the podium. “My countrymen, my beloved subjects and citizens of Iraq, thank you for being here. It seems, you have accepted me back.”

Murmurs gradually grew to cheers that rippled outward to the multitude in the streets and continued for three full minutes.

“All of you know we are in serious trouble. Our enemies surround us. Some even walk among us. Terrorists want to make Iraq into something we have never been and would never want to be. Iran, Russia, Turkey and even China are waiting impatiently for the Americans to leave so that they can cut up and devour our country.

“The Americans are exhausted and cannot prevent this from happening. Nor can the United Nations. We are alone among the wolves …, but we are not without a solution.” Harry paused until there was complete silence.

“The solution, the only solution that will save us from invasion and slavery, is to do something so unpredictable, so unbelievable and so bold that the world will change forever. With one stroke our people, our country can begin a process that will eliminate war and that will focus the world’s resources so that hunger and unnecessary disease will be eliminated; so that tyranny and dictatorship will be a thing of the past …, not just in Iraq but around the world.” Harry paused again.

“I cannot do this by myself. I need your trust and your help. I need your vote to start this monumental change. If you vote yes it will only be up to the US Congress to agree. If they do so, Iraq becomes the fifty first state of the United States.

Harry stopped speaking. Murmurs came from the crowd. Some started to yell ‘no,’ ‘never’ and then ‘traitor.’ With the shout of traitor contrary voices arose and scuffles broke out. After several minutes all was silent again so Harry continued.

“We will be the first and Afghanistan will be the second. Many countries of Africa and South America will follow. When that happens it will only make sense for the rest of the world to join us. The United Nations will no longer be needed because we will no longer be nations, we will be a United World. We will not be part of the United States of America, we will be the United States of the World.”

In the weeks that followed a nation-wide information campaign saturated the people of Iraq outlining the pro’s and con’s of Harry’s plan. A similar campaign was run in the United States. Both were successful and Iraq was joined to the USA.

The rest of the world reeled, particularly the major power centers. The European Union, Russia and China all screamed foul, as if in a chorus, but could do nothing else. They couldn’t invade because Iraq was a sovereign part of the USA. The people of Iraq were suddenly pulled from poverty by the welfare benefits that were the right of all US citizens. All the stifled intellectual and entrepreneurial power of the Iraqis was suddenly released into the vast markets of continental America. The religious leaders of both countries saw the potential of huge numbers of new converts.

As Harry predicted, Afghanistan joined next and then poor, militarily weak countries from around the world joined. Dictators and oligarchies toppled one after another as the people demanded the opportunity to vote. By 2050, at the new world capital of Tavac in the Sudan, the last independent nation reluctantly joined and the world was one.

AJW


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Category Name: My Thoughts

I did not enjoy this story. I am not even sure what problem the protagonist faced. This story was okay. The story would have been better if the author had introduced the problem differently and made it feel more pressing. I really enjoyed this story. The author did a good job pulling me into the story by introducing an immediate and important problem for the protagonist.

This section is for overall comments and general ideas. The score should reflect how much you enjoyed the story.

Category Name: Character Development

The characters were not dynamic, credible, interesting, memorable or unique. I don’t care about or understand the characters because they were poorly developed. The characters were somewhat dynamic, credible, interesting, memorable and unique. I partially understood the thoughts, feelings, and actions of the characters. I somewhat connected with and care about the characters. The characters were very dynamic, credible, interesting, memorable and unique. I thoroughly understood their thoughts, feelings and actions. I felt connected with and cared about the characters.

This is act of bringing a character to life on the page. It is a combination of the author’s description of the character and the character’s dialog, action, and thoughts. Though all characters should be believable, the protagonist and antagonist are usually the most developed characters.

Category Name: Plot

I finished reading the story so the plot must have unfolded, but I am not sure what the plot was. The characters did not achieve or grow by solving the problems they faced in this story. There were definite wrinkles in the way the plot unfolded leading to the final conflict. The plot was loosely tied to the achievement and growth of the characters. The way the protagonist overcame some of the problems flowed unnaturally with the story. I could see the plot unfolding through a series of escalating problems that lead to the final conflict. The plot helped me understand the achievements and growth of the characters. The way the protagonist overcame the problems flowed naturally with the st

In fiction a plot is all the events in a story, particularly rendered towards the achievement of some particular artistic or emotional effect. In other words it's what mostly happened in the story. The plot draws the reader into the character's lives and helps the reader understand the choices that the characters make.

Category Name: Dialog

The dialog seemed like cold words on paper. I had a hard time following it. I didn’t learn very much about the characters through the dialog. Through the dialog I could sometimes see the characters learn and grow while occasionally discovering new facets of their personalities. The dialog was generally consistent with the character. Through the dialog I could see the characters learn and grow while simultaneously discovering new facets of their personalities. The dialog was true to the character and it helped me understand the characters emotions.

Category Name: Setting

The setting created a haze in my mind that detracted from the story. I am lost in time and space because I don’t know when or where this story takes place. The setting was described adequately, but not well enough to bring it to life in my mind. The setting did not add to or detract from the story. I am pretty sure I know when and where the story takes place. The author engaged all of my senses while vividly describing the setting. The setting helped me better understand the setting and plot. I know when and where this story takes place.

The setting is where a story takes place. The choice of setting and its description helps the story come alive in the mind of the reader. Appropriate setting contributes to the plot and mood of the story.

Category Name: Mechanics

The story contained so many mechanical errors that it was hard to follow the plot or understand certain sentences or paragraphs. Occasional mechanical errors were distracting, but these errors did not inhibit me from being able to understand the plot or connect with characters in the story. I rarely if ever noticed mechanical errors. As far as I could tell, the writing was clear and correct.

Mechanics includes sentence structure, verb agreement, grammar, spelling, voice, punctuation and aspects of basic style.

Note: The purpose of ReviewFuse reviews is NOT to provide comprehensive copy editing, but rather to "ignite creativity." Reviewers should not feel obliged to point out every grammar or spelling error (though they certainly can if they wish), but should focus on this area only to the degree that errors make a story hard to follow or understand.

Inline comments are the most helpful and important aspects of your review.

Click on a paragraph or highlight text from the paragraph to provide inline comments. While detailed grammar correction is welcome, the purpose of inline commenting is to spark the author's creativity. This is best done by expressing feelings, questions, and concerns you have about the story while you are reading.

1. The King of Iraq

2. Suddenly Harry was awake, sensing something outside the blackness of his prison. He heard a whisper and then another. He crept off his sleeping mat and crawled to the door. This time he heard a distant voice yelling what sounded like ‘come out.’

3. Silence and then shuffling noises, followed by an explosion. His room shuddered violently. As the sound died, guns fired just outside his door and then from a distance. He heard something hit the wall. Three seconds later an explosion sent him flying across his tiny room and into unconsciousness.

4. Some hours later Harry was wakened by pain in his chest and shoulders and then he realized his arms and legs were restrained, and a belt pressed tightly across his chest. He struggled to get free.

5. “Cool it man, the boss will be here soon.”

6. Harry’s eyes focused on a young man standing to his left in the corner of the brightly lite room. He was tall, with blond hair, wearing the green and brown camouflage uniform of a soldier. A pistol was attached to the utility belt around his narrow midsection.

7. Steps outside his room drew Harry’s attention away from the gun. The blond soldier came to attention but relaxed when he saw the long white coat of a doctor; then quickly stiffened again when an army officer followed the doctor in and stomped to the foot of Harry’s bed.

8. The doctor took Harry’s hand and checked his pulse, then proceeded to give him a quick examination.

9. “What’s your name,” the officer blared.

10. Harry jumped at the command.

11. “Give me your name, now.”

12. Harry hesitated. Should he tell the truth? Was this the right time? For six years he had been living with a false name, hiding from his own countrymen. Two weeks ago they found him.

13. “What’s your name, you disgusting, scum-sucking, terrorist *****. Tell me, tell me now,” the officer screamed at him from the end of the bed.

14. “My name is Abdul Kassam Hafader Mustaffa, Prince of Iraq.”

15. The room was silent. The interrogator’s face remained fixed in an angry snarl, but for several seconds he was mute. “Shut up, you, … you lie. What were you doing with known terrorists?”

16. Having declared himself a prince, Harry could think of nothing else to say.

17. After taking a sample of blood, the doctor said Harry needed a rest.

18. The next day he was visited by a friendly, attractive man in casual dress who asked how he was feeling, as if he was a friend concerned about Harry’s welfare. Harry asked who he was and what he wanted.

19. “I’m John Postem, from the President’s office and we are interested in you, in your claim to be a prince.”

20. The man’s questions became more specific after that, about Harry’s history and life during the recent years when he was in hiding.

21. “I stayed with my political science teacher at the University of Virginia,” Harry responded, and then added impulsively, “Could I see him?”

22. The man agreed but two days passed before Professor David Bandura walked into the room and greeted his friend. His wife, Alice, came too, hugging and patting Harry with motherly affection.

23. After a few moments John Postem said he would leave and give them some privacy. He took the soldier with him which was strange because there had always been a soldier in Harry’s room, 24 hours every day.

24. “Professor, what are they going to do to me? I’m getting better. Will they let me leave?” Harry was desperate for information he could trust. David and Alice, a dowdy couple in their early sixties, were his only friends. They were his and mentors, like parents to whom he could speak about anything and with whom he felt safe.

25. “They have been questioning us for two days.” David said. “Obviously they have plans for you but they didn’t tell us what, and you can bet we asked,”

26. “They want you to go to Iraq and get them off the hook,” Alice said as she closed the door quietly. She came back to Harry’s bedside. “You’re the only one left of your family. You’re the legal King of Iraq.”

27. “She heard that from me, but, as usual, she’s oversimplified it,” David said, frowning at his wife. They want you as an ally, I believe; someone to bring the various factions together to fight the terrorists and get the people to cooperate.”

28. “And …,” Alice said. “Tell him the rest.”

29. “The ‘rest,’ as she says, is obvious,” David’s frown deepened. “They want you to keep Iraq’s oil for the US and to keep it’s neighbors at bay. Right now, if the US troops leave there will be a rush to take over the area. Iran, Russia, even China will be competing for control. Turkey may even try to seize the Kurdish north. The US has no way of stopping that if the country is still being torn apart by terrorists.”

30. “What can I do about the terrorists?” Harry’s voice broke. “They want to kill me. So do Saddam’s people …, and the fundamentalists. In fact, ever since my family was blown away during the Saddam's coup, just about everyone wants to kill me. That’s why I’ve been hiding out for six years.”

31. “Now, now, Harry, don’t excite yourself. If you don’t want to go back, you don’t have to.” Alice looked at David. “He’s a citizen or resident or something. They can’t force him, … can they?”

32. “Yes, they can, and they will if they think it will get them what they want. If they think the Iraqi people will follow you.”

33. “The people won’t follow me. They don’t know me. I’m just a kid. Why would they do that?”

34. “Because they may see you as their last hope too.” David sat at the foot of the bed. “You told me ounce that most people in Iraq are not terrorists or religious extremists or criminals of any sort. Like people everywhere, they just want to be left alone to live their lives.”

35. “Yes, that’s right,” Harry said.

36. “They want you to use the prestige of your royal status to get those people to work for peace and against the terrorists.”

37. The guard arrived at that moment and told the Banduras they must leave but could return for another visit.

38. They arrived the next morning. David strutted up to the end of the bed while Alice casually walked about the room.

39. “I know what they want,” David said. “It’s almost exactly what I predicted yesterday.”

40. “It was exactly what you predicted,” Alice interjected as she lifted a framed picture hanging from the wall and felt the back side with her fingers. “Don’t you think that’s a bit coincidental?”

41. “They talked to you? Why don’t they talk to me?” Harry was bewildered.

42. “They will, probably later today,” David said and then pulled up a chair close to Harry. “Remember our discussions about what kind of things might help Iraq. Remember the one ….”

43. “Excuse me,” Alice interrupted loudly. “I wonder where they put the bugs?”

44. “Bugs?” David said irritably. “What are you talking about.”

45. “You know, the bugs that allow ‘them’ to know what we talk about here.”

46. The room was silent for a full miute as Harry looked at Alice and then back at David.

47. “I remember one idea in particular," David finally said. "The one that would take care of all the problems of poverty and disease in Iraq and the one that would also keep it safe from it’s enemies. The one that was so strange and unlikely that we laughed and laughed about it. Do you know which one I mean?”

48. “Yes, oh Harry that would be something.” Alice moved quickly to the bedside. “It would focus the world’s attention on the only real solution the world has in the long term.”

49. “Do you think they would even consider it?” Harry asked.

50. “No, of course not. But think of the publicity …”

51. “Careful, Alice. We need to think about this,” David said. “It may be that the US government is desperate enough to consider any possibility.”

52. “Should I tell them about it?” Harry asked.

53. “First we need to find a way to talk it through, privately. We need a plan.”

54. The next day Harry was given a clean bill of health and invited to stay at the White house. During the next several days, he and the secretary of state and many assistants discussed the current situation in Iraq and its potential futures. The Iraqi ambassador was also present as was David and Alice Preston. Everyone objected to their involvement but Harry insisted. It was his first royal decree, and it felt good.

55. With the Preston’s help and expertise they hammered out a plan that felt right to Harry. He was then sent off secretly to Baghdad where for the next week he conferred with his countries political, religious and social leaders. The story of his resurrection was presented to the world during that time. At the end of the week he gave a press conference and spoke to his people for the first time as their king.

56. David and Alice watched from inside the palace as Harry walked out and climbed the podium. The national leaders he had been conferring with, followed and stood behind him to show their allegiance. Surrounding him on three sides, separated by ten yards of carpet, reporters from around the world waited. Beyond that was the palace grounds and a solid wall of armed Iraqi soldiers. After the soldiers a massive crowd of Iraqis filled the palace grounds and spilled into the streets of Baghdad.

57. Harry fumbled with his notes, as he stood unsteadily behind the podium. “My countrymen, my beloved subjects and citizens of Iraq, thank you for being here. It seems, you have accepted me back.”

58. Murmurs gradually grew to cheers that rippled outward to the multitude in the streets and continued for three full minutes.

59. “All of you know we are in serious trouble. Our enemies surround us. Some even walk among us. Terrorists want to make Iraq into something we have never been and would never want to be. Iran, Russia, Turkey and even China are waiting impatiently for the Americans to leave so that they can cut up and devour our country.

60. “The Americans are exhausted and cannot prevent this from happening. Nor can the United Nations. We are alone among the wolves …, but we are not without a solution.” Harry paused until there was complete silence.

61. “The solution, the only solution that will save us from invasion and slavery, is to do something so unpredictable, so unbelievable and so bold that the world will change forever. With one stroke our people, our country can begin a process that will eliminate war and that will focus the world’s resources so that hunger and unnecessary disease will be eliminated; so that tyranny and dictatorship will be a thing of the past …, not just in Iraq but around the world.” Harry paused again.

62. “I cannot do this by myself. I need your trust and your help. I need your vote to start this monumental change. If you vote yes it will only be up to the US Congress to agree. If they do so, Iraq becomes the fifty first state of the United States.

63. Harry stopped speaking. Murmurs came from the crowd. Some started to yell ‘no,’ ‘never’ and then ‘traitor.’ With the shout of traitor contrary voices arose and scuffles broke out. After several minutes all was silent again so Harry continued.

64. “We will be the first and Afghanistan will be the second. Many countries of Africa and South America will follow. When that happens it will only make sense for the rest of the world to join us. The United Nations will no longer be needed because we will no longer be nations, we will be a United World. We will not be part of the United States of America, we will be the United States of the World.”

65. In the weeks that followed a nation-wide information campaign saturated the people of Iraq outlining the pro’s and con’s of Harry’s plan. A similar campaign was run in the United States. Both were successful and Iraq was joined to the USA.

66. The rest of the world reeled, particularly the major power centers. The European Union, Russia and China all screamed foul, as if in a chorus, but could do nothing else. They couldn’t invade because Iraq was a sovereign part of the USA. The people of Iraq were suddenly pulled from poverty by the welfare benefits that were the right of all US citizens. All the stifled intellectual and entrepreneurial power of the Iraqis was suddenly released into the vast markets of continental America. The religious leaders of both countries saw the potential of huge numbers of new converts.

67. As Harry predicted, Afghanistan joined next and then poor, militarily weak countries from around the world joined. Dictators and oligarchies toppled one after another as the people demanded the opportunity to vote. By 2050, at the new world capital of Tavac in the Sudan, the last independent nation reluctantly joined and the world was one.

68. AJW

69.

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