Iraqi
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki with Vice President Joe
Biden
in Baghdad, Jan. 23. Despite efforts to de-emphasize
the
issue of "de-Baathification," most observers see this as
the
main reason from the vice president's brief visit.
Azzaman, Iraq
Iraqi Leaders
Can't Hide Purpose of Biden's Visit
"Why has such political timidity
suddenly descended on Iraqi officials? Is it simply shame over implementing an
American decision in regard to a political process that has already cost so
much blood?"
Vice President Joe Biden and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani try their best to downplay the the issue of de-Baathification at a press conference in Baghdad, Jan. 23. Iraqis are senstitive about the perception of American meddling in their electoral process.
This is the fourth visit of to
Baghdad of Joe Biden, Barack Obama's Vice President, but it was unlike any of his
previous ones. It was a tumultuous visit, despite his attempt to paint it as quiet
and avoid the irksome issue of the eligibility of some of the candidates
running in the upcoming elections. It's easy to understand why U.S. and Iraqi
authorities would want to justify Biden's trip with something other that the
crisis over de-Baathification - particularly considering that Iraq is a
sovereign country with its own government, parliament, prime minister and
president, and above all, despite the attempts by surrounding countries to
appear disinterested.
[Editor's Note: Sunnis, particularly those connected with the Awakening
Councils, are angry over aballot purge
of hundreds of candidates suspected of links to the regime of Saddam Hussein,
considering it a sectarian attack on them. The Washington
Post reports that, "Iraq's
Shiite-led government has banned about 450 candidates with suspected links to
Saddam's now-outlawed Baath Party. At stake in the March election is 325 seats
and control of Iraq's National Assembly as the country prepares to stand alone
when the U.S. military leaves at the end of 2011]."
Why has such political timidity
[over Biden's visit] suddenly descended on Iraqi officials? U.S. forces remain
in Mesopotamia, fully equipped and prepared, so it's only natural that an
American official would enter the country as they always have since the
occupation began in 2003: without a question, a whisper or opposition.
Nor is this the only failure
that highlights the shortcomings of those who stand at the forefront of Iraq's
political process, and who are charged with solving local political, economic, security
or public utility problems. Is it simply shame over implementing an American
decision in regard to a political process that has already cost so much blood?
[Editor's Note: According to The New York
Times, negotiations on Baathist disqualification have centered on an
idea proposed by Mr. Biden. "The idea is that disqualified candidates
would appeal the verdict, but still be allowed to take part in the election. If
they lost their appeals after the vote, they would then lose their seats. The Author
suggests the Iraqi government is reluctant to own up to this U.S. influence].
As the years have passed, things
in Iraq have only gotten worse - a fact perceived first by Iraqi residents and
then by expatriates. The security situation is no better than it was two or
three years ago, except for measures put in place by the government or U.S.
officials to determine security successes, as it was with the creation of the “Sahwat”
(Awakening Councils).
Nevertheless, cars bombings,
assassinations and unidentified corpses in the street are still the main subjects
of any reports on security, few of which make it into the media.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
One mustn't forget the
sequence of events. American officials have made similar visits during every crisis
that has plagued the Iraqi political landscape. I won't say ravaged the Iraqi
landscape, because what has ravaged the landscape is the war that was
led by the United States itself.
