Iraq: Civilized Coup

Coup-ridden Iraq seldom overthrows its leaders gently. In 1958, Iraqis gunned down King Feisal II and dismembered Premier Nuri as-Said's corpse. When they deposed Soldier-President Abdul Karim Kassem in 1963, the rebels tommy-gunned him, dragged his body to a television studio, then switched on the cameras to show the public the gruesome spectacle. Last week there was an other coup in Iraq, but this time it was relatively civilized.

At 3 a.m. one night, a high-ranking army officer rang up slumbering President Abdul Rahman Aref and announced: "I am speaking from the Ministry of Defense. Tanks are now proceeding...

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