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Iraq should not submit to blackmail
Let the US and its friends pack up and go on December 31 and if Iraq looks unsettled, let a UN peacekeeping force move in to sensitive areas
- By Linda S. Heard, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 23:36 October 27, 2008
- Image Credit: Illustration: Nino Jose Heredia/Gulf News
There are conflicting reports coming out of Baghdad concerning the draft Status of Forces Agreement, which allows US forces to remain in Iraq when the UN mandate runs out on December 31.
The Americans say the two parties are within a hair's breadth of a deal. However, an Iraqi politician said 'it's dead in the water'. In light of massive public opposition Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has described its acceptance as 'political suicide'.
With US elections looming on November 4, the Bush administration is doing its best to push the Iraqi government to sign on the dotted line including warning it would face 'dire consequences' if it failed to comply.
There are unconfirmed reports indicating if Al Maliki doesn't do as they wish he will lose his job. And according to Iraqi Vice-President Tariq Al Hashemi, the top US military commander in the country has warned in a letter that if the pact isn't finalised before the mandate's expiry, the US will end its support for the economy.
"It was really shocking for us. Many people are looking at this attitude as a matter of blackmail," Al Hashemi told McClatchy Newspapers. He has also accused the US of intransigence when asked to make changes to the draft.
A bilateral agreement even at the Nth-minute would be a major coup for George W. Bush, who is desperate for anything he can spin to glamourise his Iraq misadventure.
Naturally, this lame-duck president whose approval ratings are hovering around a low of 22 per cent would love Americans to believe the sacrifice of 4,186 service personnel and half a trillion US dollars weren't entirely in vain. It wouldn't do Republican presidential contender John McCain any harm either.
Poor Bush doesn't even have the Iraqi Hydrocarbon Law under his belt that could open the door to foreign oil and gas giants and please quite a few of his friends no doubt. On Sunday, his hopes were dashed when the law failed to pass the muster before the Iraqi Parliament's Oil and Gas Committee.
Justice would be served if the Bush brigade was forced to walk away from Iraq empty-handed. They lied to the world, they bombed, tortured and humiliated the Iraqi people and then they came up with the ongoing charade that Iraq is now a democratic sovereign state.
Why should they be rewarded for so much devastation? Instead of holding a victory parade clutching a lucrative oil law and the promise of strategically advantageous US bases in Iraq for some time to come, they should slink out of office heads bowed in shame.
Illegal invasion
It's easy to forget that this was an invasion declared illegal by the former UN director-general Kofi Annan and by the vast majority of international lawyers.
The perpetrators should consider themselves lucky to get away with the trail of carnage they have inflicted upon Iraq under entirely false pretences and now they are shamelessly adding blackmail to their long list of crimes.
If the Iraqis need a temporary American presence for the sake of security until such time as they can sort themselves out, then the government should do two things.
First, it should wait for the next White House tenant to be inaugurated before signing anything. Barack Obama, who is leading by nine per cent in the polls, is keen to put a lid on Iraq should he be anointed.
Secondly, it should hold a country-wide referendum so that Iraqi people can decide whether or not they require armed foreigners stomping about telling them what to do for yet more years. I know which way I'd be voting if I were an Iraqi.
Let the US and its friends pack up and go on December 31 and, if Iraq looks unsettled, let a UN peace-keeping force move in to sensitive areas blighted with sectarian strife, and leave the Iraqi Army to deal with foreign extremists.
Such UN presence should only stay as long as it is welcomed by the Iraqi government and should not be allowed to infringe on Iraq's sovereignty in any way.
UN peacekeepers moved into Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia when needed and are successfully carrying out their mandate in Lebanon, so I don't see why the UN can't sanction a similar force to help Iraq.
I have a feeling that once the Americans quit, the Arab world will be happy to show its support as regards boots on the ground and expertise.
Hang on in there, Al Maliki. Hum and haw, drag your feet, do anything you can to play for time. Do not, whatever you do, give Bush the satisfaction of seeing your signature on that pact. You need to show your people that you're in charge and that their choices count.
On the other hand, if you feel like gifting the new guy in the White House a new SOFA draft, first and foremost for the benefit of Iraq so be it. Remember! There is only one appropriate answer to blackmailers. Bah!
Linda S. Heard is a specialist writer on Middle East affairs.
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