Building an Iraq for All

Over the last four years, Iraq’s politicians have become more and more dominated by sectarian passion and have strayed very far from a sense of real Iraqi nationalism. They have exhausted all avenues for dialogue and lost the credibility they need, making it impossible for all sides to sit together and confront reality. The politicians are now incapable of addressing the concerns of all segments of Iraqi society. Over the past four years, we have seen that our politicians care only about their own immediate self-interest and have sought to wriggle out of their responsibilities. They have proven themselves incapable of saving what’s left of Iraq, halting the sectarian violence and stopping the shedding of blood that runs like rivers through the streets and colors the asphalt and walls of its markets and public places.

It’s beyond doubt that what we are witnessing in Iraq today are acts of revenge and ethnic cleansing. They (the politicians) are standing still and are incapable of doing anything to halt these barbaric acts of violence. To the contrary, they just stick to archaic and tribal ideologies which are resistant to change and development. This has led us into a complicated and confusing situation, which is exacerbated by the positions of Iraq’s neighbors who use their financial and media power to inflame the situation, and who under various pretences are sending fighters.

What of our politicians, who have “divorced” themselves from their seats in Parliament to go traveling to world capitals learning of news from home through TV networks, the Internet and mobile phones?

If they really had good intentions, they would not have shirked the responsibility entrusted to them, only to drink happy toasts to bloody and burning Iraq. In so doing, they have added fuel to the fires of dissention, burning all that hasn’t yet been burned. Their first priority should have been never to allow the excessive use of force in Iraq and to condemn and renounce those who are responsible for mass murder.

They should call upon all parties to meet in order to avoid slipping completely into the mud of terrorism and to get rid of the use of unauthorized deadly force. They should call for the setting aside of the persistent resort of arms, replace all closed doors with unity and transparency, and reassess the policies that have brought about nothing but ruin.

Who is responsible for the frighteningly large number of unidentified corpses that bare signs of torture? Who is responsible for the daily explosions in Baghdad and other provinces? Who is responsible for the daily kidnapping of dozens of citizens – from state agencies, from the streets, and from the universities? What happened to the investigations announced by the security services, for the capture of those responsible for these murders and abductions, and why haven’t the results of such investigations been announced? Mystery still surrounds the fate of both abductors and abductees; the media has not been briefed on the outcome of these ongoing investigations.

We hope that everyone will replant in their brothers the seeds confidence in the democratic process; bridge the widening gap between people with brotherhood, love and sacrifice; try to stop the murderers, apostates and princes of “killing for identity;” and save Iraq from disintegration, division, and lawlessness.

Our brothers in Parliament should draw up a decree to punish anyone – regardless of their position – who incites terrorism. The age of “living gods” is over and the era of democracy has begun. If our hearts unite and or intentions are pure, we will all reap the benefits.

How much longer will Iraqis continue to pay the “blood tax” that began during the “Golden Age” and has continued into the “era of liberation”?

Let our slogan be, “Iraq is for All.”