Opinion | Columnists
Iraq's politics of exclusion
The US will have to work with the Iraqi government to resolve the latter's de Ba'athification crisis
- By Mohammad Akef Jamal, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 February 4, 2010
- Image Credit: AP
- Al Maliki's move is inexplicable. He is shooting himself in the foot.
There is more than one indication that the ongoing political process in Iraq clashes with the intentions of those who are against national reconciliation. It is going on despite the existence of a National Dialogue Ministry.
The measures taken by the Justice and Accountability Board clearly point to a political campaign aimed at aborting any effort at national reconciliation and nullifying whatever has been achieved in this respect so far. Moreover, these procedures reflect the determination of certain powers to retain their influence.
While the board has decided to bar 15 political entities from contesting the March elections on the premise that they are Ba'athists, the whole political process is endangered. Some of those who were banned from contesting the elections occupy prominent positions in the Iraqi government.
The responsibility for this regression and the ensuing repercussions falls mainly on the three branches of the Iraqi government. However, the Iraqi parliament holds the biggest responsibility because of its failure to draft a clear Constitution or choose committee members and create executive bodies that would refrain from politicising everything.
The board is an independent entity set up to screen electoral candidates as required by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq. Its job is to approve or reject candidates. Frankly, the board has failed to take into consideration the complicated and explosive political situation in the country.
Those interested in Iraq's political history will note that, throughout its history, certain parties have been excluded from contesting elections. This phenomenon reached its peak during the reign of the Ba'athist regime. Moreover, the policy of exclusion failed to establish a strong nation and national identity.
Most Iraqis were happy that the monarchy was abolished following the July 14, 1958, revolution. But within a few months after the revolution, former allies resorted to bloody coups against each other to win power. Later, the Ba'athists took over and excluded all other parties from the political process.
After the Ba'athist regime was toppled in April 2003, another form of exclusion started. But this time it was more dangerous than before because it was done in the name of the Constitution.
Why weren't those who are now being excluded banned from taking part in the political process during the last elections? Was US influence stronger then? Or have exclusionary tactics somehow become more acceptable?
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has recently expressed his doubts about the constitutionality of the board. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has announced that the procedures followed by the board have been insufficient to keep Ba'athists out of the political process. Theoretically, democracy contradicts the policy of exclusion.
The Constitution and subsequent legislation passed by the Iraqi parliament are subject to different interpretations. The UN has expressed its apprehensions regarding the issue, while the European Union has also voiced its concerns. The US has done more, sending Vice President Joe Biden to Baghdad.
Biden stressed the importance of respecting Iraq's sovereign decisions and reminded the Iraqis that the country was still subject to Chapter VII of the UN's Charter, which authorises the world body to take military and nonmilitary action to restore peace and security.
Biden stated that the US is continuing its efforts to release Iraq from the restrictions of the UN's Chapter VII by going ahead with the withdrawal of US troops. The US has come to realise that the threat posed by the forces that are a part of the political process itself are no less dangerous than the threats posed by Al Qaida or the former regime's supporters.
A while ago, the US expressed major reservations with the Iraqi election law, which was passed by the parliament in the nick of time, and gave the Kurdish coalition a number of guarantees to persuade them to withdraw their objections.
What new deal will the US present to overcome the new de-Ba'athification crisis?
Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.
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