Iraq is back in the news as predicted. The elections establishing a “democracy” are not a done deal and as I have said many times over, may not be something that is possible although I do hold out a glimmer of hope which I have not up to this point.
A democracy in the Middle East is anathema to many people living there. Iran prefers a THEOCRACY like it has; rule by clerics. Iran also prefers the Shiites to be in charge. Saudi Arabia prefers the Sunni to be in charge just like under Saddam Hussein? The Kurds are staying quiet and gaining military strength for when both come after them and their oil.
The election results gave a victory (2 seat edge) to AYAD ALLAWI who is a Shiite BUT is leading a SECULAR (non-religious) party of BOTH Shiites and Sunnis; how about that.
Allawi beat out NOURI al- MALIKI, the current Shiite office holder who has no support among Sunnis.
Recently there has been a lot of carnage in Baghdad and vicinity with the aim at destabilizing the whole political process because there is a power vacuum until a stable government is formed.
A little history note, most political powers crumbled specifically because they could never mount a peaceful transition from one power to another. This is where the US is not only different but that difference has made the US great; peaceful power transitions. Remember Bush and Gore? In other countries that would have led to civil war but not here – ever!
Most of the attacks are credited to the remnants of al-Qaeda who would lose out to a stable Iraq. Iran may be helping al-Qaeda try to disrupt the power struggle to get the clerics in Iraq to assume theocratic power based on the inability of the secular parties to stop the violence – get the picture?
This is pretty complicated and Iraq is at the focal point of going one way or another; stability or civil war. We know what the people want (peace and stability) but they don’t hold the power as in a true democracy; it’s the people with the guns and the bombs.
Our troops are ready to pull out by September so it is all up to the Iraqis and if they have the people’s greater good at heart and a bright future for Iraq or if it is all about personal power, religious power, control of the oil wealth, etc.
Can we guide this pivotal moment? I don’t think so. It is sink or swim for the Iraqi people and I hope the leaders in this game think of the future and not just about today!
A democracy in the Middle East is anathema to many people living there. Iran prefers a THEOCRACY like it has; rule by clerics. Iran also prefers the Shiites to be in charge. Saudi Arabia prefers the Sunni to be in charge just like under Saddam Hussein? The Kurds are staying quiet and gaining military strength for when both come after them and their oil.
The election results gave a victory (2 seat edge) to AYAD ALLAWI who is a Shiite BUT is leading a SECULAR (non-religious) party of BOTH Shiites and Sunnis; how about that.
Allawi beat out NOURI al- MALIKI, the current Shiite office holder who has no support among Sunnis.
Recently there has been a lot of carnage in Baghdad and vicinity with the aim at destabilizing the whole political process because there is a power vacuum until a stable government is formed.
A little history note, most political powers crumbled specifically because they could never mount a peaceful transition from one power to another. This is where the US is not only different but that difference has made the US great; peaceful power transitions. Remember Bush and Gore? In other countries that would have led to civil war but not here – ever!
Most of the attacks are credited to the remnants of al-Qaeda who would lose out to a stable Iraq. Iran may be helping al-Qaeda try to disrupt the power struggle to get the clerics in Iraq to assume theocratic power based on the inability of the secular parties to stop the violence – get the picture?
This is pretty complicated and Iraq is at the focal point of going one way or another; stability or civil war. We know what the people want (peace and stability) but they don’t hold the power as in a true democracy; it’s the people with the guns and the bombs.
Our troops are ready to pull out by September so it is all up to the Iraqis and if they have the people’s greater good at heart and a bright future for Iraq or if it is all about personal power, religious power, control of the oil wealth, etc.
Can we guide this pivotal moment? I don’t think so. It is sink or swim for the Iraqi people and I hope the leaders in this game think of the future and not just about today!
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