Give Us Some Real Political Leaders
By
Ali al-Fadhily
Inter Press Service
03/15/07 "BAGHDAD, Mar 15 (IPS) - Many Iraqis are now looking to
local political leadership to fill wide gaps in a fractured
government that is failing to provide security and basic needs.
"Iraqis feel lost amongst too many political currents that blew
their country away with their narrow sectarian and personal
interests," Mohammad Jaafar, a Baghdad-based politician formerly
involved in the interim government told IPS.
"I am ashamed to say that I am or even was an Iraqi politician
after all the damage to our country that we caused. It is
entirely our fault and there is no question about that."
Many politicians feel similarly.
"The only solution for the Iraqi dilemma is to change the whole
crew of politicians including myself," Thafir al-Ani, Iraqi MP
for the Sunni al-Tawafuq List told IPS earlier. "We must admit
that we have failed our people, and so we should make way for
newcomers who may improve the situation."
Iraqis have been confused by the turbulent political
machinations since Saddam Hussein was overthrown in March 2003
following a U.S.-led invasion. Saddam had been placed in
political power by a CIA-backed coup in 1968.
The Coalition Provisional Authority led by L. Paul Bremer took
over the administration of Iraq after the invasion, followed by
a U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council. This body was then
followed by an interim government led by Iyad Allawi, a former
CIA asset.
Iraqis then voted Jan. 30, 2005 to bring in a government they
expected would call for a U.S. withdrawal and bring stability
and security to the war-torn country.
Instead, the country burns in violence, with very little
reconstruction. Much of the population lives in survival mode.
This has made people angry with the current government led by
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
"Iraqis dream of a new face who will lead them to security and
prosperity -- even if he were a new dictator," Aziz Nazzal, an
Iraqi analyst based in Baghdad told IPS.
"Iraqis have tried kings, communists, Arab nationalists,
dictators and now Islamists, but have never found a system that
could tap the huge potential of Iraq in a way that fulfills
people's hopes for a developed and safe country."
Many are also frustrated with their religious leaders, most of
who find a place in the current government.
"We followed our religious leaders and trusted them for four
years thinking they would lead us ashore after our long
sufferings," Foad Hussein, a teacher now working as a taxi
driver in Baghdad told IPS. "But all we got is death and terror.
They seem interested only in protecting their personal interests
and their close family members."
What may emerge now as a grassroots movement is beginning to
call for a shift towards local politics.
"Let's go home and do something" -- that is a call often heard
now at refugee centres. Some believe the answer may lie in
tribal arrangements; others want political leaders "who did not
get their hands dirtied" in the current mess.
"Tribes in Iraq are not sectarian and our chiefs of tribes are
the best interim solution," Mukhlis al-Bahadly from the Sadr
City area of Baghdad told IPS. "They are the ones who can lead
us until this country finds its way out of this mess."
There is little hope that this can happen while Iraq is occupied
by the United States.
"We know who the good people are and we will choose them if we
ever have the chance, but they refuse to participate in any
solution under occupation," said Sheikh Jassim al- Badri, a
cleric from Baghdad. "Clean hands could not eat out of the same
plate with the occupation, but they will definitely take their
positions as soon as the occupation leaves or some acceptable
arrangement is agreed."
Rumours run of "shadow governments" being formed abroad, but
Iraqis have little faith in people who fled and left them to
face the situation.
General Nizar al-Khazraji, former chief of staff in the previous
army, former minister for foreign affairs Naji al-Hadithi and
some others are said to have formed such 'governments' abroad to
replace the current government when the time comes.
No one is sure yet what, and who, will work.
"We need a leader who really cares for us," a 55-year-old
teacher from Baghdad who asked to be referred to as Fatima told
IPS. "They all say they love us, but where is that love? All
they did was drag us into poverty and a war between our
brothers."
And some have just left it to God.
"Only God can save us by giving us a man who really cares for
us," said 35-year-old Jamal Hakki from the Ghazaliya district of
Baghdad. "All humans in other countries are either against us or
with themselves while we face our destiny on our own."
Ali al-Fadhily files in close collaboration with Dahr Jamail,
our specialist writer on Iraq and the Middle East who is based
in the U.S.Click here
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