I Support Iraq’s Independence From America

The anniversary of the Iraq war has come around again. It was not a long-awaited clash between countries with similar military might, but a war where an unprecedented military power invaded a Middle Eastern dictatorship that had only bluffed about its own power. On the morning of March 20, 2003 (Japanese standard time), U.S. forces opened fire with cruise missile attacks, easily toppling the Hussein regime.

The Bush administration, however, stepped into an endless bog. In addition to not finding weapons of mass destruction, which was the “just cause” of the war, Iraq at the very least would cost America three trillion dollars, according to the calculations of well-known economists. The enormous cost of war weakened the American economy and involved Japan and the rest of the world in a deepening “once-in-a-hundred-years” recession.

But this is truly a different time now. The difference on this year’s anniversary is that the U.S. president is not Bush, but Barack Obama, a man who opposed the Iraq War. Public order in Iraq has considerably improved. Regardless of history’s assessment of the Iraq War, I am happy that an environment where the Iraqi people can enjoy peace has been created.

The framework for the evacuation of U.S. armed forces has been arranged as well. According to the Obama administration, of the little over than 140,000 troops presently stationed Iraq, around 100,000 will withdraw by August of next year, and the remaining forces will withdraw by the end of 2011.

This is under the backdrop of the strengthening foundation of al-Maliki’s administration due to local elections. Though there are more than a few troubling factors regarding the possession of oil-producing Kirkuk, I appreciate the Obama administration’s stance on “entrusting Iraq to the Iraqis.”

The name of Prime Minister al-Maliki’s Dawa party means “Islam’s call.” Though not to the extent of the Shia branch’s Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the Dawa party has had a long and deep relationship with Iran. And it believes that the dignity of the nation should be based on the values of Islam.

On August of 2007, when Senator Clinton (presently secretary of State) sought Prime Minister al-Maliki’s dismissal, calling him a man whose goal was not national reconciliation, al-Maliki sharply retorted that she thinks of Iraq as just an American village. Independence from America should be achieved as soon as possible; it’s even stated in the Dawa party’s own platform.

Of course, in order to reach that objective, Iraq has to make its own efforts, but assistance from the international community is important as well. I’m happy that this month, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has begun its activities in Northern Iraq.

The anniversary of the start of the war is something many of its victims are likely to be grieving. According to the data gathered by the NGO Iraq Body Count, Iraqi civilian casualties since 2003 are now at the 90,000 range, and may reach 100,000.

Japan quickly supported this war at its beginning. What was this war all about? Iraq must not waste time in coming together as a nation, even if a little late.