How Can the United States Restore Its Image for the Iraqi People?

The United States faces an important but difficult task — namely, the restoration of its image for the Iraqi people, which is bad both for the United States and its goals in Iraq. If the U.S. wants to develop this relationship into a genuine strengthening of the bond between these two countries for the better — rather than keep the air of melancholy and tragedy that have ruled for seven years or more — it must repair its relationship through a number of steps. The war against Iraq and the occupation that had no moral or legal justification has lead this relationship to the point of tension and turmoil.

The improvement of the U.S.’ image in Iraq does not lie in the consolidation of ties with the leaders of political entities and that which swept them into power seven years ago, but instead in a quick and intensive program that will rearrange this relationship within the framework of Iraqi popular opinion. Iraqis’ opinions are marred by the memories of pain, hardship, bitterness and disappointment. The suffering and the tribulations endured by the Iraqi people are due to a brutal occupation of their county that wounded and killed millions of martyrs and dismantled the state and its components so that only the bare minimum remain. The politicians that were given the task of restoring Iraq anew instead unleashed a wave of corruption that spread to every corner, destroying the values of Iraqis and causing major disruptions in the body of Iraq, and began to destroy it from the inside. They spread it around as if it were an object that was claimed by every uninvited guest who appropriated guardianship upon Iraq’s neighbors, in particular those neighbors who have been had tense and cautious relationships with Iraq throughout the centuries. These tensions stem from various factors, but have brought hatred and infamy to Iraq and a unique role among its regional neighbors and within the international community. Added to that are attempts to rob Iraq of its civilization and way of life by a foreign order that ultimately does not have any sense of coherence. Perhaps its Arab brothers did more than hurt Iraq. However, Iran did fail in attempting to control Iraq’s destiny, as she tried to put her hand out to intervene in Iraq’s self-determination — as evident in events witnessed by the country, with blatant attempts to interfere in its affairs as it attempted to form a government.

That the Iraqis’ frustration shows in the shape of their relationship with the United States should be expected, given that the suffering endured by Iraqis was instant, catastrophic and led to the destruction of their county. The march of troops took the form of terrorism, intimidation, arrests and killings, and instilled a sense of discontent for the practices taking place in their country. Perhaps we will need many generations to correct the imbalances, such as the large rift between the U.S. and Iraq that has led to this stage of degradation, and not guilt trip those Iraqis who must deliver results to their country in these extreme times.

Surely, the generations of educated and qualified individuals in Iraq were waiting for another form of relationship with the United States, on the basis of the values being proclaimed in defense of human rights and democracy. The form these values took was dark and somber. Although many believe that the U.S. will change Iraq for the better — as they did in Japan, Germany and South Korea with regards to building citadels of democracy — the democracies that are emerging in the Gulf pale in comparison.

But what led Iraqis to deserve this democracy that is in fact much closer to dictatorship? Perhaps the most horrific form of this totalitarianism is that it creates a negative image for Iraqis, in place of the hope that was planted in their minds that the U.S. would not hurt but instead change the country for the better, as it elevates them to a level among the Gulf states; that is, if they wanted to build a real model of democracy in Iraq.

In addition to wreaking havoc on Iraq, the United States planted organizations even before the occupation, leaving terrorists in other countries to turn Iraq into a hotbed of terrorism. In fact, in addition to threatening the U.S. and hindering the achievement of any tangible progress, these organizations jumped at the chance to wage a hidden war against America. The U.S. administration not only had knowledge of this, but at their behest, allowed Iran and its organizations to impose their control over the capabilities of Iraq. The U.S. saw this as a way to distance itself from the destruction of Iraq, preferring instead to leave the task to others out of fear for the consequences brought on by Iraqis as retaliation for the sabotage and murder of their country. The claims that the U.S. and Israel were not involved fell on deaf ears for those who felt that the U.S. had taken control of their country and steered it into the deplorable situation in which it now stands.

There are a number of steps that should be taken to rectify this situation, and to rebuild the relations of these countries that I want to examine. Below are the most important of them:

1. Rebuild outlets for the financing of campaigns and for the extensive reconstruction of elements of Iraq that were destroyed by America, such as state institutions and features of urbanization and civilization.

2. End the practice of quotas in government in all forms. Adopt standards of efficiency, and integrity to support any political entity or organization that work towards this goal, not only through support for the government but through popular support of the advancement of the status of the Iraqi people economically, culturally and scientifically.

3. Abolish laws that allow cronyism and bring employees into the government in important decision-making capacities in the institutions of the state to promote accountability and justice as soon as possible. Iraq will not be able to establish democracy or state institutions without such action.

4. Support for the press and the media to elevate its functions for reporting and provide support for qualified and trained journalists that have the ability to create a more efficient media.

5. Appeal to the Arabic countries, the countries of the region and Western countries to establish investment opportunities in Iraq in order to help restore its infrastructure and to contribute to its reconstruction and the creation of a base of true democracy.

6. Cease support for those who incite sectarianism, racism and the elimination of the parameters of corruption embedded in every element of the state and its institutions, whether they are political parties or facades of political and civil life. Each state or civil body that uses propaganda to incite murder, intimidation and the targeting of other people’s money and the theft of wealth and power in any form that is hostile to Iraqi society must be opposed with all means available. Furthermore, courts must be established to bring to justice all of the subversive and corrupt bodies threatening public security. The inspection services that monitor such practices must be strengthened to put an end to these practices.

7. Support educational institutions in Iraq, provide jobs for the thousands of unemployed college graduates, and establish scientific institutions for young people to work towards the creation of peaceful civil infrastructure.

8. Rearrange the capacity of the Iraqi army and provide military capabilities that will allow it to repel external threats and to eliminate elements of terrorism and intimidation in all of its forms, so that the military or Iraqi security forces fight against human rights violations.

9. Bring attention to human rights and civic organizations, and defend and support them in every way possible in order to facilitate the development of democracy.

10. Emphasize support for youth through the establishment of numerous projects that provide them jobs, and continue to urge the Iraqi government to expand jobs and build public works to combat unemployment. Put an end to the obsolete practices and guidelines that do not correspond with development or modernization and prevent development.

11. Stop Iraq’s neighbors from interfering in Iraq’s affairs — specifically, Iran, who the U.S. strongly refuses to confront. It is a position that shows indifference and serves as an example of the contradiction in the U.S. policy to Iraq, who showed no threat to U.S. interests, and Iran who is left building nuclear reactors for military purposes and is threatening the entire world.

12. If the United States believes that Arabs will be intimidated by the fact that the U.S. is allowing Iran to develop nuclear technology for military purposes, then they are disillusioned because Iran’s possession of nuclear technology does not threaten the Arabs alone, but the United States and the Western world as well. The U.S. must understand this, because the current policy of turning a blind eye to Iran’s nuclear program will make it impossible for Iraq to ensure the security of its borders or for the U.S. to maintain its prestige in the world.