my opinion

Okay, this is long, but this is making me mad, so I had to write it. First and foremost, let me say that this is not a slam against the military, and I think at the very beginning of this, we were right to go over there. I don’t think we were given the right reasons, but Hussein needed to be taken out of power. And I also feel that we need to finish what we started and shouldn’t be pulling out any time soon. So that said…

I am getting disgusted over all the talk of the new Iraqi constitution. Why does this anger me? Because the Iraqi’s don’t NEED a constitution yet. Has anyone else noticed all the violence?? Has anyone noticed how they talk about the constitution and then launch into how many people have been killed that day? A piece of paper will solve NOTHING. You can write as many laws as you want to, but that is not what they need right now. Don’t get me wrong, eventually, they will need a sound constitution, but now they need security. They need to be assured that they aren’t going to get killed when they step outside. This is what angers me about the whole nation-building thing. We are missing some link here. We go into a country, stabilize it and the hold elections as soon as possible. WHY? This is NOT democratic! They had elections BEFORE we were there, doesn’t mean anything. I’m not calling the Iraqi’s ignorant, but did they know what they were voting for? I get frustrated with Americans who get so excited about having elections. Elections mean absolutely nothing without the ideals behind them. They voted before we were there too. Of course, they were riddled with corruption, but an election nonetheless. But we tend to think, "okay, we've conquered the country, now...have an election, and *poof* they're democratic!" While that is one of the components of democracy, democracy is founded on more than elections and leaders. Democracy is founded on ideals before institutions.

They’ve never tasted freedom as we know it. It’s like keeping someone trapped behind bars their whole life and then letting them go. They have freedom, right? But they certainly need more than that. A lifetime of tyrannical rule can’t be obliterated by signing a constitution. I was completely floored when I read a statement today in an article by the BBC regarding the Shiia/Sunni fighting – “it is not clear what lies behind the violence.” Are you KIDDING me??? That’s absurd! Gee, why would the Sunnis and Shi’ites be fighting? They’re free, aren’t they? They have lived under oppression for so long, and no one wants to relinquish power. They don’t see themselves as a whole, so why should their government act as one? They have so many centrifugal forces working against them. They need security first and foremost.
“President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, said on Wednesday that Iraq's stability could only be ensured if consensus were reached.”
No one is worried about the leaders agreeing, they aren’t the ones blowing stuff up. Even if consensus among the leaders is reached, that will mean nothing to the people out there blowing things up. Anyone find it ironic that as they’re signing their new constitution to bring calm and stability, we’re sending over 1500 more troops?

I find this whole situation a little like Africa’s colonial experience (shout-out to ML). Hang with me here…When the colonizers pulled out of Africa, what did they leave? They left skeleton governments run by a small group of educated (mostly western educated) elite. The rulers were largely puppet rulers who did what their colonial powers told them to. But then, when they gained independence, unless you were colonized by the French, who tended to stay involved, they patted you on the head and gave you a “good luck to ya laddie” as they hightailed it out. So now what? What happens when we leave? What happens when the US isn’t looking over their shoulder or providing security?

Things always tend to get a little mixed up when another power comes in and tries to push their way of life and thinking on the indigenous culture. Although I don't think we are "pushing" our way onto the Iraqis, I do see a few parallels. Iraq has been ruled by tyrants and people have equated authoritarianism as the norm and have come to see political activity as a means of self-advancement and interest. Think about it, why would someone want to climb the political ladder in a State such as Iraq? To represent the people, or for power and control? So we (referring to all militaries represented in Iraq) come in and push for democracy. Yet our democracy, as a necessity, is coming from gunpoint, in terms of keeping order and security. Don't get me wrong, Iraq needs order and sense of security first and foremost before anything can get done. People in Iraq have to believe they have a tomorrow to save and work for. Going back to Africa’s colonial experience, who did governments represent? It represented only a fraction of the population as the peasant masses were largely unreachable. There was such a great disparity of wealth between the upper and lower class, and any type of a middle class was nonexistent. So what was government to the masses? They equated government with corruption and self-service. If you were with the government, it was to get ahead, not to represent the people. "We will call on people to say no to this constitution. This constitution was written by the powerful people, not by the people." said Kamal Hamdoun, a Sunni leader in Iraq.

As far as what they’ve lined up for their constitution (I read it today), I’m all for federalism. You are dealing with three very distinct ethnic groups and after centuries of fighting, they aren’t going to come together and hold hands now. So yes, I think federalism is the best thing for Iraq. But federation or not, they still need to have a reason for being and enough centripetal forces to bring them together. I read today that the Sunnis are protesting loudly, and rightfully so, yet the Shia are saying they won’t compromise anymore. Way to kick off your democracy! The Sunni’s SHOULD be worried about federalism and how it will work, because they’re the minority and have no reason to believe that the Kurds and Shi’ites will be fair in their dealings. But right now, I’m pretty sure these people aren’t worried about when the next election is, or what form of social security they’re going to have. They want to walk around without being shot.