Superpower conflict

On the former our position was firmly that "we hope for a peaceful solution" - the logic for this response being that while recognising that Iraq does have legitimate claims to much of the disputed territory -notably the Shatt-al Arab and Karun River enclaves previously annexed by the Shah, we saw that in attacking Iran, the Iraqis were aggravating an already extremely volatile situation and increasing the prospects of superpower conflict in the area - a disquieting prospect.

In the latter question of advances made under the Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party, achievements are evident, despite obvious wide disparity in wealth between the bureaucrats and the small shopkeepers, workers and peasants.

National independence, and the nationalisation of oil under the present Government have provided for an overall rise in the standard of living, an extensive social welfare and education system and rapid advances in technology and construction. Education is free and compulsory with generous grants to tertiary students. Illiteracy is being eradicated reasonably quickly, and there is a current campaign run by the students to rebuild peasants' houses.

Women's position overall has improved. Most of the better-off women especially no longer wear the chador. Tertiary education is encouraged, notably in industrial, mechanical, and technological fields. (40% of the Engineering University of 10,000 students I visited were women). When one considers the low position in Islamic society of women generally, these improvements are considerable.

However, it is clearly more the wives of the bureaucrats and factory managers that are being reached, and even they are still victims of a stereotype - this time the western wall-flower type with high heels, heavy cosmetics and a quiet, timid voice.

Interestingly strip-tease is considered "art", and while child-care centres and nurseries are widespread, the complete denial of abortions alongside an almost fanatical drive to have more children (with financial and material incentives for each extra one) and an emphasis on family care tends to suggest that many women are still quite tied to the home.