Iraq’s Anbar province shares US President Barack Obama’s outrage at the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (Isil) heinous murder of journalist James Foley. Foley was an innocent, brave man doing a critical, humanitarian service in showing the world the suffering of the Syrian people. We express our deepest condolences to his family and friends and to the American people.
For about a year, Anbar has been fighting a fierce war against the terrorism of the Isil. This is a war begun on the timing and terms of the forces of darkness, but we are determined to end it in a way and at a time of our choosing — once we have rid the world of this tyranny. We are fighting this war to defend the right of all humanity, and not only Iraqis, to live in peace — regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.
It is the great, ironic misfortune of the Iraqi people to be “plagued” to live in a country with an abundance of natural resources at a place where many rich cultures converge. This has made Iraq a battleground among many forces seeking to dominate and influence it. The Iraqi people have also been unfortunate to have had leaders who did not see Iraq’s wealth as God’s gift for all to share and enjoy. Iraqis have suffered a great deal because of this wealth, but they also have been too quick to blame others for their sufferings. One day the Iraqis blame the West, another day the East, but there is no one to blame but the Iraqis themselves.
Anbar has been fighting terrorism for a long time. This fight has taken it on a journey of searching and contemplation. People of Anbar have come to realise that, for them to defeat terrorists, they must first overcome the conflicts and fears within themselves and open their hearts and minds to others.
Iraqis are struggling in this war against the forces of darkness, but they are a people who can see light at the end of the tunnel — even if it is thousands of miles away. No matter how dim the light, the Iraqis hope that it will shine brighter every day.
Iraqis have the right to live in peace. The young people have the right to enjoy all the wonderful things that life has to offer. And they have a responsibility to give them hope that will empower them to live life to the fullest, to reach out to their counterparts in other nations and to turn away from death and extremism.
We Iraqis have lost so many of our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and friends, of all ages, while fighting this battle. We are proud and we are fighting because we want to live in freedom, because we want to rid the world of this cancer that has hijacked our religion, because we are concerned that a generation will be brainwashed to glorify death, suicide bombings, beheadings. History will not forgive the people of Iraq if they allow this cancer to spread. It must be stopped. And the Iraqis cannot stop it alone.
Last week, Obama declared that this group, the Isil, “has no place in the 21st century”. Mr President, we agree with you.
— Washington Post
Ahmed Khalaf Al Dulaimi is the Governor of Iraq’s Anbar province.
