Accord Front MP Nour-Iddin al-Hiyali announced his resignation from the Islamic Party and the formation of a new political body; the United National Assembly of Nineveh.
Al-Hiyali told reporters that “The Assembly consists of Arab and Kurdish political and tribal powers” adding that the goal is “to preserve the unity of Nineveh province”. He pointed out that the reason this Assembly was created was “to confront the expansionist plots of Kurdish authorities to annex parts of Nineveh to Kurdistan region”.
New points of view about the future of Iraq and the Middle East.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Kurdistan Election Results to be Verified in Baghdad
The Higher Electoral Commission in Baghdad and other election monitors will oversee the vote count for the upcoming elections for the Kurdish region's parliament.
According to Hamdiyah Husseini of the Electoral Commission, ballots from the 5369 stations will be counted in 1184 centers in the Kurdish provinces. The count from each station will be recorded on special forms in the presence of election monitors, the media, and representatives of political parties. Those forms will then be sent in secure boxes to a national counting center in Baghdad to produce and announce the final results.
Husseini added that paper ballots will be stored in secure boxes at the main electoral centers of each province. Those boxes are to be opened only under the supervision of monitors and representatives of political parties in cases of objections to the results.
According to Hamdiyah Husseini of the Electoral Commission, ballots from the 5369 stations will be counted in 1184 centers in the Kurdish provinces. The count from each station will be recorded on special forms in the presence of election monitors, the media, and representatives of political parties. Those forms will then be sent in secure boxes to a national counting center in Baghdad to produce and announce the final results.
Husseini added that paper ballots will be stored in secure boxes at the main electoral centers of each province. Those boxes are to be opened only under the supervision of monitors and representatives of political parties in cases of objections to the results.
Islamic Party MP: Political Powers to Run on Liberal, Secular Platforms
From Radio Sawa:
Of course we cannot expect parties that are founded on religious and sectarian premises to become secular and liberal overnight. However, this statement indicates that politicians realize that today, voters are less eager to buy the “Islamic” brand than before.
Leading member of the Islamic Party Omar Karbouli says he thinks political powers are inclined to form new coalitions that transcend sectarian and ethnic lines. Karbouli told Radio Sawa that “political powers are moving towards entering the general elections with a liberal, secular platform”
Of course we cannot expect parties that are founded on religious and sectarian premises to become secular and liberal overnight. However, this statement indicates that politicians realize that today, voters are less eager to buy the “Islamic” brand than before.
Northern Oilfield Boosts Iraq's Exports
Reuters:
The gas sector, however, still lags behind, Azzaman reports:
Oil production from Iraqi Kurdistan's Taq Taq oil field fluctuates between 20,000 and 40,000 barrels per day, of which exports range between 12,000 and 30,000 bpd, a senior engineer at the site said on Friday.
Iraq's finance minister this week said Iraqi oil exports, of which the majority is produced in the country's south, reached 2.1 million bpd in July so far, putting the country on track for its highest oil export volume since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
The gas sector, however, still lags behind, Azzaman reports:
Iraq’s natural gas reserves are the tenth largest in the world but its output hardly meets domestic needs, a senior government official said.
Ali Al-Dabagh said the government is not in a position to consider exporting its natural gas. “We cannot make promises as far as exporting natural gas is concerned due to rising domestic needs,” Dabagh said.
Dabagh’s the remarks come following a statement by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in which he said Iraq could commit 15,000 cubic meters of natural gas for export to Europe. “Iraq may become a good exporter of gas to Europe but there will be no exports in the foreseeable future,” Dabagh said.
Sunni Arabs in Favor of UK Security Deal
The Accord Front expressed support for a security agreement with the UK to help build the Iraqi Navy. Meanwhile Salih Mutlaq, chief of the Dialogue Front emphasized the need to protect Iraq’s territorial waters.
Accord Front spokesman Saleem Jubouri pointed out that “the lack of Iraqi forces capable of protecting national waters from external aggression means there must be an agreement [with the UK] until Iraqi forces can fill the security vacuum”.
The proposed deal between Iraq and the UK would allow 100 British military personnel to stay in Iraq to train and instruct the infant Iraqi naval force. A vote on the agreement was obstructed earlier this week when Sadrist MPs walked out of a parliament session, disrupting quorum requirements for a vote.
Accord Front spokesman Saleem Jubouri pointed out that “the lack of Iraqi forces capable of protecting national waters from external aggression means there must be an agreement [with the UK] until Iraqi forces can fill the security vacuum”.
The proposed deal between Iraq and the UK would allow 100 British military personnel to stay in Iraq to train and instruct the infant Iraqi naval force. A vote on the agreement was obstructed earlier this week when Sadrist MPs walked out of a parliament session, disrupting quorum requirements for a vote.
Police: Amarah is Ratline for Iranian Weapons
Police sources in Maysan province (200 miles southeast of Baghdad) admitted to Azzaman that the province and its capital city of Amarah have become a hub for the distribution of munitions coming from Iran. From Amarah, these weapons would later be smuggled to Baghdad and other cities to support IED and indirect fire attacks.
Iraqi List: No chance for an alliance with Maliki
Iraqi List MP Maysoun Damlouji said the group (whose leader is former PM Iyad Allawi) was unlikely to join forces with the Da’awa Party of PM Nouri al-Maliki. Damlouji asserted that the List is speaking with all political powers to negotiate future alliances, with the exception of the Da’awa Party.
Kurdistan Authorities Deny Assembly Right to Opposition Group
The Independent Elections Committee penalized the Change Slate, one of the main rivals to the two ruling parties in Kurdistan. The Slate was fined 2 million dinars (approximately $1,700) for violating campaigning rules. Meanwhile, security authorities did not permit the Change Slate to organize a demonstration that was planned from Friday in Sulaymaniyah. The Elections Committee said in a statement that Sulaymaniyah’s governor and security authorities first authorized the demonstration. However, the governor later told the Committee that a high ranking official in Kurdistan’s government that “public gatherings are not allowed on Fridays” and that security forces “would not be responsible for protecting the safety of demonstrators”.
Iran Protesters: 'Death to China, Death to Russia'
Iranian opposition took to the streets again in massive protests after Friday prayers. For a change, an angry mob in the Middle East is not chanting "Death to America"!
From AP:
From AP:
Some in the sermon and afterward chanted "death to Russia" and "death to China," referring to Ahmadinejad's alliance with both countries. Ahmadinejad has come under criticism in Iran for not criticizing Beijing over Muslim deaths in China's western Xinjiang province.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Abdul-Mahdi: Ongoing Negotiations to Reestablish the UIA
From the ISCI website:
Answering a question about reestablishing the UIA, VP Abdul-Mahdi said there is real progress, not just expectations. “There are meetings within the framework of the UIA, and the Sadr movement was there. Yesterday we finalized a paper that defines the principles and a general structure. There is progress regarding the UIA. All the founding parties are attending these meetings, except for the brothers in the Fadheela Party”
Abu Risha Sends a Stern Message to Kurdish Leaders
The chief of the Awakening Councils in Iraq Ahmed Abu Risha told the press that it was not unlikely to form an alliance with PM Nouri al-Maliki in the future because Maliki “presented a national project that transcends ethnic and sectarian lines that strengthens Iraq’s unity”.
When asked about Iran, Abu Risha called Iran’s role in Iraq “worrisome” and that “facing this [intervention] requires that Iraqis adhere to their choice of national independence and reject interference in their internal affairs”.
Abu Risha then addressed Kurdish leaders and asked them to “choose one of two options; a unified Iraq, or face isolation in three provinces (Irbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok) and give up on other dreams”.
Obviously this message is a response to Masoud Barazani’s recent statement, where he said that the Kurds are not going to give up on Kirkuk, “even if it took a thousand years”.
When asked about Iran, Abu Risha called Iran’s role in Iraq “worrisome” and that “facing this [intervention] requires that Iraqis adhere to their choice of national independence and reject interference in their internal affairs”.
Abu Risha then addressed Kurdish leaders and asked them to “choose one of two options; a unified Iraq, or face isolation in three provinces (Irbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok) and give up on other dreams”.
Obviously this message is a response to Masoud Barazani’s recent statement, where he said that the Kurds are not going to give up on Kirkuk, “even if it took a thousand years”.
Islamic Fadheela Party Rejects the UIA
Just in; a press release from the Islamic Fadheela Party:
Excerpt:
One more serious challenge for Abdul-Mahdi's efforts to put the UIA back together.
Excerpt:
Since the UIA has not changed its agenda, the Islamic Fadheela Party finds no need or incentives to join it. Anything being said about our rejoining the UIA is unfounded speculations. We continue to believe that three must be a nationalist platform and a nationalist coalition. These are the sufficient and necessary means to solve Iraq’s problems and preserve Iraq’s unity...
Dr. Basim Sherif
Media Bureau Manager
Islamic Fadheela Party
One more serious challenge for Abdul-Mahdi's efforts to put the UIA back together.
Parliament to Replace Deputy Speaker Atiyah
From Radio Sawa:
The cleaning up of the parliament continues. Many feel the legislature was struck with paralysis because of its former leadership. Now that former speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani is, well, former, it seems that it is Atiyah’s turn to be replaced. Not a day goes by without him being criticized for obstructing parliamentary scrutiny over government officials.
It’s worth mentioning that hearing session met with approval and satisfaction among the public who believe that corruption is the main root of problems.
Chief of the integrity committee in the parliament Sabah Sa’aidi said there are movements in the parliament to replace the first deputy speaker Khalid al-Atiyah. Sa’aidi called on parliamentary blocs to stand against “Atiyah’s violations of the constitution and his obstruction for the parliament’s plan to summon oil minister Hussein Shahristani for a hearing session”.
Meanwhile, Kurdish MP Sami al-Atroushi said that continued cabinet pressure on the parliament would obstruct hearing sessions for other officials.
The cleaning up of the parliament continues. Many feel the legislature was struck with paralysis because of its former leadership. Now that former speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani is, well, former, it seems that it is Atiyah’s turn to be replaced. Not a day goes by without him being criticized for obstructing parliamentary scrutiny over government officials.
It’s worth mentioning that hearing session met with approval and satisfaction among the public who believe that corruption is the main root of problems.
Abdul-Mahdi discusses UIA future with Sistani
The website of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq announced that VP Aadil Abdul-Mahdi has just arrived in Najaf to visit Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
The report adds that a source close to Abdul-Mahdi said the purpose of the visit is to discuss the “new” Shiite political alliance.
The ISCI is working tirelessly to reconstruct the UIA. Sisitani is of course an important source of support. However, he may not have the final word. Neither the Sadrists nor Maliki’s Da’awa party seem excited about reviving the UIA with the same distribution of roles under ISCI leadership.
The report adds that a source close to Abdul-Mahdi said the purpose of the visit is to discuss the “new” Shiite political alliance.
The ISCI is working tirelessly to reconstruct the UIA. Sisitani is of course an important source of support. However, he may not have the final word. Neither the Sadrists nor Maliki’s Da’awa party seem excited about reviving the UIA with the same distribution of roles under ISCI leadership.
Massive weapons cache uncovered in Thi-Qar
From Buratha News:
The weapons cache was uncovered only a few days after an attack on the convoy of U.S. ambassador Christopher Hill. Is Thi-Qar becoming the new home of Special Groups?
Security forces uncovered a massive weapons cache in the town of Rifa’ai in Thi-Qar province. A source in Thi-Qar police said a SWAT team found large amounts of weapons including 35 Katyusha rockets, 4 large warheads, 190 anti-tank mines, 23 mortar rounds, 5 rocket fuses, a box of TNT and a large amount of electronic devices used in rocket launchers.
The weapons cache was uncovered only a few days after an attack on the convoy of U.S. ambassador Christopher Hill. Is Thi-Qar becoming the new home of Special Groups?
Accordance Front to Maliki: Consult with us before going to Washington
From Elaph:
Not only Sunni Arabs are anxious these days. Many of the other political powers are afraid that Maliki will take the liberty to present only his vision to use this visit to serve his own purposes.
On another note, I think Maliki will also use the visit thank the U.S. for the services and sacrifices of its military; something he overlooked in his June 30th speech, which primarily targeted a domestic audience.
It is also expected that Maliki will try hard to get guarantees form Washington that Iraq will not be abandoned. This is after all what the Iraqi government fears most as many serious challenges remain.
Accordance Front spokesman Saleem Jubouri said the Front hopes that Maliki will consult extensively with other political powers before his planned Washington visit.
Jubouri added that the Front thinks it is necessary to "build mutual understanding and coordination among all political powers to formulate a national consensus that does not exclude any one"
Not only Sunni Arabs are anxious these days. Many of the other political powers are afraid that Maliki will take the liberty to present only his vision to use this visit to serve his own purposes.
On another note, I think Maliki will also use the visit thank the U.S. for the services and sacrifices of its military; something he overlooked in his June 30th speech, which primarily targeted a domestic audience.
It is also expected that Maliki will try hard to get guarantees form Washington that Iraq will not be abandoned. This is after all what the Iraqi government fears most as many serious challenges remain.
Former Sadr spokesman: Bloc undecided on rejoining the UIA
From Buratha News:
The interesting thing is that Obeidi still behaves as if he is still the spokesman of the Sadrist bloc in clear disregard for Moqtada’s orders.
The former spokesman of the Sadrist bloc said in a press conference that the bloc has not decided yet whether or not to rejoin the United Iraqi Alliance. The former spokesman, Salah Obeidi explained that joining any political coalition in the future will require that the coalition be pluralistic and based on a nationalistic agenda. Obeidi added that in the absence of such a national coalition, the bloc would enter elections on its own. He also denied there was a good chance for rejoining the existing UIA.
Worth mentioning that Moqtada Sadr ousted Obeidi from his position and appointed a person known by the name sheik Abu Shujaa as his replacement. Abu Shujaa was targeted in an IED attack two days after his appointment. Abu Shujaa survived the attack with some injuries while his driver was killed.
The interesting thing is that Obeidi still behaves as if he is still the spokesman of the Sadrist bloc in clear disregard for Moqtada’s orders.
Monday, July 13, 2009
And What About Those Uighurs?
After days of deadly ethnic clashes in China more than 180 individuals from the minority Muslim Uighur community located in the northwest region of Xinjiang China have been killed and thousands more injured or arrested. Rebiya Kadeer, representative of Uighur Muslims, in an interview with al-Sharq al-Awsat pleaded with Muslims across the world to support the Uighur people.
Rebiya Kadeer, whose plea was sincere, was misguided to believe that given the gravity of the situation the Muslim world would come to the rescue. Perhaps Rebiya Kadeer expected the plea for support would be answered with angry protests, mobs setting embassies on fire, a fatwa from the Mullahs, or even a declaration of Jihad against China from Bin Laden. The “war”, after all is between Islam and its enemies, or so would the radicals and dictators in the Muslim world like people to believe.
A week or so ago, Egyptian Marwa Shirbini was killed in Germany by an individual representing rightwing extremists. The killer supposedly targeted Marwa because she was veiled. This story dominated headlines and comment forums in most Arab media outlets. This solitary case received unprecedented attention that overshadowed the death of hundreds of Muslims in China at the hands of “communist infidels”. Saudi Arabia did not summon the Chinese ambassador, nor did Iran lift a finger or utter a word to support those fellow Muslims in China. Nor even when Chinese authorities shut down mosques for Friday prayers did anyone representing the Muslim world condemn the order. By contrast, I have no doubt that if the United States banned Friday prayers in one mosque there would be shockwaves of anger and condemnation throughout the world, just like when Sarkozy said the chador is unwelcome in France.
The conflicting reactions (to act or not to act) within the Muslim to these cases demonstrate the issue is not between a religion and its rivals but between systems; freedom and human rights on one side and totalitarian oppression actors on the other. The Uighrs are at a disadvantage because in their case the oppressive enemy, Government of China, happen to be an aligned with oppressive state and non-state actors in the Muslim world. This is why the regimes and media in Muslim countries have largely turned a blind eye to the Uighurs’ plight.
The Government of China is similar to those in the Middle East in their oppression of their people and human rights violations that are in defiance of international laws and norms. No wonder then that the Chinese are supportive of similar regimes such as those in North Korea, Saddam’s Iraq and Iran.
The conflicting differences in Muslim reactions to the two cases I mentioned above demonstrate that the issue is not the act itself (i.e. cartoons, veil) but the using of the situation to enable the accomplishment of the greater political and/or military goal. The angry mobs we see in the streets are the tools created by political state and non-state actors with supporting media becoming the delivery mechanism. The reactions are not guided by a moral cause, the number of victims, or the type of atrocity.
Rebiya Kadeer, whose plea was sincere, was misguided to believe that given the gravity of the situation the Muslim world would come to the rescue. Perhaps Rebiya Kadeer expected the plea for support would be answered with angry protests, mobs setting embassies on fire, a fatwa from the Mullahs, or even a declaration of Jihad against China from Bin Laden. The “war”, after all is between Islam and its enemies, or so would the radicals and dictators in the Muslim world like people to believe.
A week or so ago, Egyptian Marwa Shirbini was killed in Germany by an individual representing rightwing extremists. The killer supposedly targeted Marwa because she was veiled. This story dominated headlines and comment forums in most Arab media outlets. This solitary case received unprecedented attention that overshadowed the death of hundreds of Muslims in China at the hands of “communist infidels”. Saudi Arabia did not summon the Chinese ambassador, nor did Iran lift a finger or utter a word to support those fellow Muslims in China. Nor even when Chinese authorities shut down mosques for Friday prayers did anyone representing the Muslim world condemn the order. By contrast, I have no doubt that if the United States banned Friday prayers in one mosque there would be shockwaves of anger and condemnation throughout the world, just like when Sarkozy said the chador is unwelcome in France.
The conflicting reactions (to act or not to act) within the Muslim to these cases demonstrate the issue is not between a religion and its rivals but between systems; freedom and human rights on one side and totalitarian oppression actors on the other. The Uighrs are at a disadvantage because in their case the oppressive enemy, Government of China, happen to be an aligned with oppressive state and non-state actors in the Muslim world. This is why the regimes and media in Muslim countries have largely turned a blind eye to the Uighurs’ plight.
The Government of China is similar to those in the Middle East in their oppression of their people and human rights violations that are in defiance of international laws and norms. No wonder then that the Chinese are supportive of similar regimes such as those in North Korea, Saddam’s Iraq and Iran.
The conflicting differences in Muslim reactions to the two cases I mentioned above demonstrate that the issue is not the act itself (i.e. cartoons, veil) but the using of the situation to enable the accomplishment of the greater political and/or military goal. The angry mobs we see in the streets are the tools created by political state and non-state actors with supporting media becoming the delivery mechanism. The reactions are not guided by a moral cause, the number of victims, or the type of atrocity.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Iraq was a just war
Here's my latest article on The Australian:
THE war in Iraq is officially moving to an end. Six years after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled, several coalition members have ended their missions in Iraq - including Australia, which pulled out its troops 12 months ago - and the US is preparing to wrap up its military involvement in the country.
Many still ask: Was it worth it?
If we examine the question from an American, British or Australian perspective, then it would be difficult to present an answer that could convince all critics. For the coalition members this was a war of opportunity, not a war of necessity. Going to war or not was never an issue that could affect the existence of a coalition member, nor was winning or losing.
For Iraq and its people however, this war was the beginning of a struggle for rebirth, a very difficult but necessary one, for sure.
People of my generation who were born in democracies may take the freedom they enjoy for granted. This is certainly not the case for me or my people. I was born a decade after the murderous Ba'ath Party grabbed power in Baghdad in the sinister coup of July 1968. To us, the war brought an end to that 35-year-long nightmare and the beginning of an era of freedom, thanks to our friends in the coalition.
For me and many Iraqis, it was certainly worth it. Life is better today than it was before 2003. That is even though we were on the receiving end of this war in all its phases, from initial invasion through the bloody sectarian violence and terror that paralysed the country for years. Despite the high price in blood, today is brighter than yesterday. Above all, we have hope - something we did not have under Saddam's dictatorship - that tomorrow will be even brighter.
I would like to share two snapshots from Iraq that I hope will help you see why I believe Iraq is making solid progress towards liberty, prosperity and the rule of law. Recently, two stories dominated the media in Iraq. The first started when the ministry of trade was bombarded with allegations of rampant corruption. Corruption is a serious problem, but worse than corruption itself is if there is a lack of checks and balances that can stop it. In Iraq this used to happen all the time, but now a wind of change is blowing.
Pressure from the press, the public and partners in the Government forced the minister of trade to submit his resignation. Resignation alone was not deemed enough. The minister was arrested on Saturday as he was attempting to flee the country. He will join other corrupt officials in custody awaiting trial. The fascinating thing about this case is that the indicted minister is a member of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa Party.
Then there is the case of Kitabat, the prominent Iraqi online journal.
Kitabat, founded in 2002 by an Iraqi expatriate, has somewhat served the role of a shadow parliament in which people from across the Iraqi spectrum voice their opinions without censorship. Five months ago, Kitabat published an article in which the author accused the office of Maliki of nepotism and abuse of authority.
How did the Prime Minister respond to these, indeed unfounded, accusations? In Saddam's days the case would have been closed with a bullet to the dissident's head. It was common practice to send embassy officials on assassination missions armed with silent pistols or even axes, as was the case in the attempt on former PM Iyad Allawi's life in London in 1978. Instead, Maliki opted to go to a court of law and sue the author and the owner of Kitabat. Maliki's decision came under severe criticism from free press advocates who saw his action as an attempt to restrict freedom of speech.
Maliki ultimately yielded and dropped the case.
The economy is also making strides as violence ebbs and the country transforms into a free market economy. One striking piece of evidence in this regard is the phenomenal boom in the Iraqi stockmarket. While the market is still tiny, the rate of growth cannot be overstated. The size of transactions in April this year amounted to 105 billion dinars ($111.6million); in April 2005 that figure was only 31 billion dinars. The market index quadrupled in the past five months and skyrocketed from 67 points in January to 281 by the last session in April.
Despite all this progress in security, the rule of law and the economy, there is still anxiety about the sustainability of these gains. The question is whether Iraqis are able to maintain the progress and build on it following a US withdrawal. Of course no one can tell the future with 100 per cent certainty. The institutions of the Iraqi state are not yet fully mature and there is no shortage of threats that could undermine stability.
I believe that even though the threats are serious, a democratic Iraq will endure and prevail.
The main reason for my optimism is that most Iraqis have learned the lesson the hard way.
Sunni Arabs discovered that resisting democracy and taking the path of extremism put them on the losing side. Despite a recent government crackdown on some leaders of the Sunni Arab Awakening Councils (also known as Sons of Iraq) the co-operation between these groups with the US forces and central Government in fighting al-Qa'ida terrorists continues.
The Shia population voiced its rejection of the rule of militias and hardline religious parties loud and clear. The provincial elections earlier this year showed beyond doubt that a great majority of the Shia population wants a moderate Muslim government, not an extreme Islamist one that imposes its vision through intimidation and violence.
Iraqi Kurds, too, learned the lesson. Despite the belligerent tone of some of their leaders in addressing the outstanding issue of the so-called disputed regions in Kirkuk and Mosul, Kurds realize they can survive and protect their hard-earned freedom and autonomy only as part of the Iraqi nation. Kurds have long rejected the national Iraqi flag because they see it as a symbol of Arab chauvinism. However, when Turkey escalated operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) insurgents last year, Kurds hoisted the Iraqi flag on border outposts and went to the central Government for diplomatic support and protection.
The enemies of a prosperous and democratic Iraq no doubt will intensify their attacks as the US prepares to leave. They will try to take advantage of the anxiety associated with this transition to cultivate disunity and violence. However, they failed when they were strongest and Iraq was weakest. Today, the tide has turned. Iraqis are closer together and the prospects of a prosperous and democratic Iraq become greater day by day.
THE war in Iraq is officially moving to an end. Six years after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled, several coalition members have ended their missions in Iraq - including Australia, which pulled out its troops 12 months ago - and the US is preparing to wrap up its military involvement in the country.
Many still ask: Was it worth it?
If we examine the question from an American, British or Australian perspective, then it would be difficult to present an answer that could convince all critics. For the coalition members this was a war of opportunity, not a war of necessity. Going to war or not was never an issue that could affect the existence of a coalition member, nor was winning or losing.
For Iraq and its people however, this war was the beginning of a struggle for rebirth, a very difficult but necessary one, for sure.
People of my generation who were born in democracies may take the freedom they enjoy for granted. This is certainly not the case for me or my people. I was born a decade after the murderous Ba'ath Party grabbed power in Baghdad in the sinister coup of July 1968. To us, the war brought an end to that 35-year-long nightmare and the beginning of an era of freedom, thanks to our friends in the coalition.
For me and many Iraqis, it was certainly worth it. Life is better today than it was before 2003. That is even though we were on the receiving end of this war in all its phases, from initial invasion through the bloody sectarian violence and terror that paralysed the country for years. Despite the high price in blood, today is brighter than yesterday. Above all, we have hope - something we did not have under Saddam's dictatorship - that tomorrow will be even brighter.
I would like to share two snapshots from Iraq that I hope will help you see why I believe Iraq is making solid progress towards liberty, prosperity and the rule of law. Recently, two stories dominated the media in Iraq. The first started when the ministry of trade was bombarded with allegations of rampant corruption. Corruption is a serious problem, but worse than corruption itself is if there is a lack of checks and balances that can stop it. In Iraq this used to happen all the time, but now a wind of change is blowing.
Pressure from the press, the public and partners in the Government forced the minister of trade to submit his resignation. Resignation alone was not deemed enough. The minister was arrested on Saturday as he was attempting to flee the country. He will join other corrupt officials in custody awaiting trial. The fascinating thing about this case is that the indicted minister is a member of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa Party.
Then there is the case of Kitabat, the prominent Iraqi online journal.
Kitabat, founded in 2002 by an Iraqi expatriate, has somewhat served the role of a shadow parliament in which people from across the Iraqi spectrum voice their opinions without censorship. Five months ago, Kitabat published an article in which the author accused the office of Maliki of nepotism and abuse of authority.
How did the Prime Minister respond to these, indeed unfounded, accusations? In Saddam's days the case would have been closed with a bullet to the dissident's head. It was common practice to send embassy officials on assassination missions armed with silent pistols or even axes, as was the case in the attempt on former PM Iyad Allawi's life in London in 1978. Instead, Maliki opted to go to a court of law and sue the author and the owner of Kitabat. Maliki's decision came under severe criticism from free press advocates who saw his action as an attempt to restrict freedom of speech.
Maliki ultimately yielded and dropped the case.
The economy is also making strides as violence ebbs and the country transforms into a free market economy. One striking piece of evidence in this regard is the phenomenal boom in the Iraqi stockmarket. While the market is still tiny, the rate of growth cannot be overstated. The size of transactions in April this year amounted to 105 billion dinars ($111.6million); in April 2005 that figure was only 31 billion dinars. The market index quadrupled in the past five months and skyrocketed from 67 points in January to 281 by the last session in April.
Despite all this progress in security, the rule of law and the economy, there is still anxiety about the sustainability of these gains. The question is whether Iraqis are able to maintain the progress and build on it following a US withdrawal. Of course no one can tell the future with 100 per cent certainty. The institutions of the Iraqi state are not yet fully mature and there is no shortage of threats that could undermine stability.
I believe that even though the threats are serious, a democratic Iraq will endure and prevail.
The main reason for my optimism is that most Iraqis have learned the lesson the hard way.
Sunni Arabs discovered that resisting democracy and taking the path of extremism put them on the losing side. Despite a recent government crackdown on some leaders of the Sunni Arab Awakening Councils (also known as Sons of Iraq) the co-operation between these groups with the US forces and central Government in fighting al-Qa'ida terrorists continues.
The Shia population voiced its rejection of the rule of militias and hardline religious parties loud and clear. The provincial elections earlier this year showed beyond doubt that a great majority of the Shia population wants a moderate Muslim government, not an extreme Islamist one that imposes its vision through intimidation and violence.
Iraqi Kurds, too, learned the lesson. Despite the belligerent tone of some of their leaders in addressing the outstanding issue of the so-called disputed regions in Kirkuk and Mosul, Kurds realize they can survive and protect their hard-earned freedom and autonomy only as part of the Iraqi nation. Kurds have long rejected the national Iraqi flag because they see it as a symbol of Arab chauvinism. However, when Turkey escalated operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) insurgents last year, Kurds hoisted the Iraqi flag on border outposts and went to the central Government for diplomatic support and protection.
The enemies of a prosperous and democratic Iraq no doubt will intensify their attacks as the US prepares to leave. They will try to take advantage of the anxiety associated with this transition to cultivate disunity and violence. However, they failed when they were strongest and Iraq was weakest. Today, the tide has turned. Iraqis are closer together and the prospects of a prosperous and democratic Iraq become greater day by day.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
The ISX Phenomenon
I saw this graph on Iraq Stock Exchange and thought I should share. It represents the ISX index monthly closing figures between November 2004 and February 2009. The picture speaks for itself.
Given the direction of developments in Iraq over the last two years there is no irony at all. In fact I see that the image quite accurately reflects the ups and downs of the period represented in the graph—not just in the economy, but in every aspect of life. The irony, however, is striking if we are to compare this with markets elsewhere under the global economic crisis!
If there's only one stock market has made significant gains in 2009 then it is Iraq’s. While the size of the market and transaction taking place within it are tiny, the percentage of growth is amazing.
As you can see, between August 2008 and January 2009, the market index gained approximately 60% more points. By the end of February 2009 it had more than doubled again. Now if we add the gains made through March, the line would skyrocket beyond the limits of the chart.
Of course growth in a market where only $4-5 million worth of stocks are exchanged each session does not mean much in absolute figures. It reflects, however, the potentials of the economy and the rate at which progress can happen once conditions are favorable.
Given the direction of developments in Iraq over the last two years there is no irony at all. In fact I see that the image quite accurately reflects the ups and downs of the period represented in the graph—not just in the economy, but in every aspect of life. The irony, however, is striking if we are to compare this with markets elsewhere under the global economic crisis!
If there's only one stock market has made significant gains in 2009 then it is Iraq’s. While the size of the market and transaction taking place within it are tiny, the percentage of growth is amazing.
As you can see, between August 2008 and January 2009, the market index gained approximately 60% more points. By the end of February 2009 it had more than doubled again. Now if we add the gains made through March, the line would skyrocket beyond the limits of the chart.
Of course growth in a market where only $4-5 million worth of stocks are exchanged each session does not mean much in absolute figures. It reflects, however, the potentials of the economy and the rate at which progress can happen once conditions are favorable.
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