"Democracy
has been assassinated and its fiery light extinguished through what has
happened and is happening among political blocs that have imposed and set
themselves above Constitution, the law and first and foremost, the people’s
will and the results of the elections."
A secret letter said to have been sent by President Obama to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani may signal quickly-waning U.S. influence over events in the country - and a desperation.
Without quibbling or sugar
coating, the true picture of Iraq's situation can be clearly seen in the daily
lives of its citizens, who begin their days with a long series of crisis stemming
from a lack of essential services, a deteriorating security situation and corruption,
which is eating its way through Iraq's society and body politic. But most
important of all is the loss of any sense of hope that things will improve or
that the dream born on the 9th of April 2003 - that democracy and freedom would
bring Iraqis a dignified life and a promising future - will ever materialize.
The way things have gone for
the past seven years and what has happened to this stricken people is starkly
reflected by the crisis over forming a new government - a Gordian knot, not
only for the politicians and Iraqi political parties, but for the entire international
community and especially the U.S. administration, which appears to be stumbling
over its policies and decision.
The public report issued by U.N.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and submitted to the U.N. Security Council on the
responsibilities of the U.N. mission to provide assistance to Iraq, the
situation in the country and the living conditions of the Iraqi people, the
fourth such report submitted in accordance with paragraph six of U.N. Security
Council Resolution
1883, dealt with the most recent information on activities undertaken by
the U.N. in Iraq. Moon's report provided a summary of key political
developments, in addition to the regional and international events related to
Iraq. The report also provided an update on the activities undertaken U.N. Special
Representative in Iraq Ad Melkert, as well as operational and security issues.
But despite the reports great
length (61 paragraphs), it failed to address the fundamental issue - the crisis
over forming a government. Instead, the report merely expresses concern and informs
political leaders of the need to form a new government. The report demonstrates
the weakness of the U.N. role in Iraq, since instead of emphasizing the key issue
that the U.N. is supposed to be addressing - particularly since Iraq is still
under the provisions of Chapter
VII of the U.N. Charter which gives the Security Council a central role
regarding many issues in Iraq - the report instead emphasized the need for Iraq
to undertake it's obligations toward Kuwait. [regarding reparations for Iraq's 1990 invasion of
Kuwait].
The worsening situation in Iraq
was also highlighted by a secret message said to have been sent by U.S.
President Obama to Grand
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. In an attempt to break the political gridlock,
President Obama reportedly urged Sistani to convince Iraq's feuding politicians
to form a new government without delay. The fact that neither White House
officials nor Sistani's representatives will confirm or deny the existence of
such a letter shows that the U.S. administration is losing influence over
Iraq's political leaders, and has begun seeking to put leverage on other centers
of power, which the Americans think can better influence the rapidity of forming
a new government.
Between the public report of
the U.N. Secretary and Obama’s secret letter, we can see how dismal and complex
Iraq's situation has become. And this, despite the fact that the Iraqi people have
done what has been asked of them, standing up against threats, terrorism and
all the enemies of the new Iraq, having participated in their millions by
voting on the Constitution and in the first and second National Assembly elections.
Sadly, however, the political class hasn't stepped up to offer an equal measure
of sacrifice and abide by the choices made by Iraqis through their ballots.
Democracy has been
assassinated and its fiery light extinguished through what has happened and is happening
among political blocs that have imposed and set themselves above Constitution,
the law and first and foremost, the people’s will and the results of the
elections.
Is there any country in the
world, five months after the results of an election have been announced, where
its leaders are still negotiating? Meanwhile, the Iraqi people are living in
122-degree temperatures without water or electricity. Allah only knows what they
could possibly be discussing at this late hour - and what are they attempting
to agree upon.
