Hope, In Iraq
"For wars are occasioned by the love of money, and money has to be acquired for the sake and in the service of the body; and in consequence of all these things the time which ought to be given to philosophy is lost." Phaedo - Dialogues of PlatoOne-third of the population of Iraq, pre-invasion, has fled the country as refugees, finding refuge elsewhere, wherever they can, in the geography neighbouring their afflicted country. It is estimated by reliable sources that civilian, or innocent loss of lives number roughly a half million. As a consequence of this invasion and the resulting firestorm of sectarian warfare - added to the deadly incursions of foreign jihadists, the centuries of social acceptance between Kurds, Christians, Sunni and Shia Muslims, along with other minority groups including Jews, has been irreversibly fractured.
The extent of the country's social collapse appears to be lost on its inept government comprised as it is of self-serving religious-social-political aristocrats. The Western troops currently occupying the country as peace-makers and defenders against al-Qaeda have no real comprehension of the collapse of a once-vibrant social fabric, despite the dreadful onus of living under a totalitarian regime. Despite even the horrendous infractions against human rights visited upon minorities and dissenters.
A former ambassador of the Arab League in Iraq, Mokhtar Lamani, describes the current government as a "phantom" entity, a sham democracy, comprised of a prime minister whom he characterizes as an extremist Shiite seeking revenge, balanced against an extremist Sunni acting as speaker of the parliament. And the president is a Kurd, whom another commentator describes as a goad using the PKK as gadflies against Turkey.
Much good will come of their stated purpose - along with the other legislators, many of whom were elected by "illicit means, including fatwas", along with government ministers who revel in luxe travel to foreign capitals - to solve the problems besetting this misery of a nation. National reconciliation? As a goal, laudable, and the only thing that could possibly save the country from imploding into its natural self-governing parts, allocating one-third shares to Sunni, Shia and Kurd.
Mr. Lamani is bitter about the realities that he encountered in his mission. Realities that have transformed his life, transfixed him with true regret - let alone the lives of the millions of Iraqis who long to re-visit the bitter days of yore when security and some degree of comfort were the order of the day. The horrors that he witnessed, of one sect visiting gruesome deaths upon the other will always remain with him.
The brutal treatment meted out to the many lesser minorities living in the country, little known abroad and little cared for. The children who encountered death in the streets, seeing corpses where they should be viewing everyday streetscapes of people going about their business. Memory of ordinary people he met, bakers, drivers, people of goodwill who smilingly served him and who no longer live, victims of reprisal killings.
His unforgettable exposure to true evil; seeing a head decapitated from a hapless victim handed over to young boys for use as a soccer ball. His incredulity - as a sensate human being sent on a humanitarian mission to attempt to breach the gaps of misunderstanding and hatred between sects in the name of Arab solidarity - to view the surrounding adults watch in approval as the boys utilized the head as a soccer ball.
Mr. Lamani, in dispatching his mission purpose as best he could, without adequate support let alone protection that should have been afforded one of his stature - an emissary representing the Arab League - realized that he was on his own. He was there certainly, as a representative of the Arab League, but that body was singularly disinterested in the mission; he was a mere prop for public consumption.
Despite which he went about his business, openly dialoguing with representatives of all the principles - with the exception of al-Qaeda - whether politicians, religious and tribal leaders, and members of civil society. Members of the government, of the opposition, alike. All were open in their communication with him. Unfortunately the political will to ensure that attempts be made to solve the irresolvable would not be forthcoming from the Arab League.
They and their member states steadfastly disinterested in the outcomes, despite their loud breast-beating oratory to be heard where it counted, made no efforts to meet opportunities as they arose to offer and commit to positive outcomes. This one-time delegate of the Arab League expresses despair at the hopelessness of the situation and his helplessness to effect any kind of opportunity for hope in the future.
He acknowledges that Iran is set to become a major beneficiary of the chaotic change yet to arise to full bloom. Tehran's ascendancy in the country is on the near, slow-but-steady horizon. An ill-planned and ill-prosecuted venture. A sad failure. An assurance of the deadly spread of theocratic totalitarianism.
Labels: Middle East, Terrorism, World Crises
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, November 01, 2007
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