Iraqi Politicians: 'Your Time is Over'

Some Iraqi politicians see U.S. public opinion as naive and think that in general, America is weak and shallow. Those who hold such ideas would have been right five years ago, when a pack of lies prompted the White House to move armies and spend recklessly on the Iraq invasion. Naively, Iraqi politicians decided that instead of using their own capabilities to run the country, continuing to perpetuate the same pack of lies would hold the most powerful country in the world hostage indefinitely.

Perhaps there are some in the White House who would accept the idea of extortion. Iraqi politicians though they could get away with it, because it seemed that the U.S. would never give up Iraq. But ultimately, blackmail alone is not enough to keep United States troops in the country. This was a temporary circumstance that would never have bound future American Administrations.

Recent history provides vivid examples, demonstrating that eventually and despite enormous losses, Americans see the truth and change course to suit their national interests.

Americans no longer buy simplistic arguments that if the U.S. leaves, Iraq will fall into the hands of terrorists. After all, how is it that neighboring countries live without foreign troops to protect them from “terrorists.” The real question is: Why does Iraq need such a huge American military presence to protect it from “terrorism,” when these other countries do not.

Iraqi politicians also warn that Iraq will be divided if the Americans withdraw. But Iraq was a nation for hundreds of years before the American came. And then of course, there are official American statements indicating that Americans could care less if Iraq country disintegrates.

Iraqi politicians must acknowledge that their insistence on the presence of foreign troops is for their own protection and has nothing to do with safeguarding the interests of the Iraqi people.

Since these politicians steamed into Iraq on the back of U.S. tanks, the people of Iraq have seen one calamity after another. The nation is being mutilated, people are being forced to flee from one place and one country to another, and are exposed daily to unprecedented suffering.

You – Iraq’s politicians – have violated the sanctity of the nation and have taken revenge against its history. You have failed to build a single hospital for our wounded or a single house for out internally displaced, who number in the millions.

The patience of Iraq’s people is wearing thin. So is that of your protectors and sponsors – Bush and his troops. The deadline is almost here and may have already passed. Your time is over.