The Future of Iraq
Aneka Chohan on 16, Jan 2012 | 4 Comments | in Category: Around the World
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Late March 2003, when the invasion of Iraq had begun, I remember I was fourteen, solemnly chewing my breakfast cereal as I watched American and British forces stomping across the Iraqi lands. Almost nine years later, they decided it was time to end it all. It wasn’t just the nine years – it was more than 4, 000 American forces, 197 British personnel and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians.
Just over a week since the USA pulled out of Iraq, a new atrocity arrived with the same familiarity. A bomb had exploded in the capital city of Baghdad.
When the day had ended, 72 people were killed and 217 had been injured. This time, the motivation and purpose was different. Rather than letting bombs explode to combat the foreigners destroying their country, the blast took place against the backdrop of a political crisis.
Circumstances are taking a much different tone as Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister of the Shia-dominated government accused Tariq al-Hashmi, the Sunni vice-president, of committing terrorism.
President Obama and his administration smile with pride at their military puppets, applauding them for their so-called ‘hard work’ for the past nine years and actually have commented that the mission in Iraq had achieved its goal.
Obama, think again.
The bloody nine-year war, that was supposed to ‘help’ Iraq climb back on its feet, has instead disabled Iraq of its promising future and left a deep, dark crack that separated all of the country’s ethnic identities.
Dr Lubna Naji, residing in Baghdad, said:
“Everyone is to blame when it comes to Iraq. Everyone has harmed this country really bad. The occupation made a mess, and as for our politicians, we know how they are, they just don’t stop getting it wrong. And don’t forget the Iraqi people themselves. They ate the bait, they fell into the trap.”
The case of Iraq is just a repeated episode of previous historical accounts when Britain occupied other countries. India, under the British occupation, was united as Hindus and Muslims united together to drive the British out of the country. When the British Raj eventually came to an end, the country was ripped apart with riots between Hindus and Muslims and therefore, Pakistan came into existence.
Similarly with the withdrawal of US and British troops, Iraq is now ripped apart with sectarian violence with Sunni versus Shia and Shia versus Sunni, Muslim against Christian and Christian against Muslim.
The realisation is there but yet, nobody sees it. Iraq and its uncertain future is another historical lesson we all must learn from. War and violence never stabilises a country. Obama ought to know that but the large number of barrels of Iraqi oil in his possession must prevent him from seeing that. Exploding bombs and throwing missiles on innocent families never become the foundation of a strong and solid society.
The effects of the merciless behaviour of the British occupiers are still there. Deep down, but there nevertheless. It takes a lot of effort to get rid of such effects and scars. Like Dr Naji had said, it is not only the politicians but everyone, including the Iraqi nation. Everyone must look at the situation and reflect on it and decide how they can make it better.
There is a saying that one drop of water does not make a difference. However, millions of drops of water do make a difference; they become an ocean. Similarly, one person’s efforts are, to some extent, limited and futile. However, a whole nation can make a bigger difference.
Iraq is standing at a crossroads. Now is the time to reflect on the last nine years and decide what it is best in store for them. As 2012 begins, the Iraqis must work together to establish a glowing future for their country and write a new promising chapter in the history books that forthcoming generations will read. For their sakes, Iraq must decide and choose well for its future so every man, woman, child and elderly person receives the opportunity to have a normal life with safety, security, dignity and honour.
After all, like every other human being, Iraq just wants to survive.
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