Rebuild Iraq from the ruins
THE world at large has just finished presiding over the killing of tens of thousands of innocent human beings in Iraq with a mute disdain for its perpetrators. What a shame! One wonders how could we, the members of the so-called civil society, remain at a safe distance when the relics of civilization were being desecrated by the enemies of history. We have heard that when Rome was burning, Nero was playing his fiddle. The neo-Neros of today have been seen on the TV protecting with precision the plunderers of evidences of history. One really shudders at the thought of finding answers to the charges that the progeny would level against us for depriving them of the proof of their 'proud' past. We may therefore have to garnish the leftover garbage to paint a picture that may somehow enable future generations to draw the cue about how their current life and culture came to be. I have not met anyone who shied away from condemning anybody that played foul with our rights to life and liberty. That is why a broad majority of people across the globe are indignant of Bathist Iraq and its former leader Saddam Hossain. So the exit of a dictator did not evoke pain in many. What really pained most of us profoundly was whether this carnage of human beings was at all necessary to see that Sadam Hossain was pigmied. We have heard of astute politics and deft diplomacy a great deal. Why did we divorce ourselves from these options before launching the four-dimensional campaign (land, air, sea and satellite) on a nation that was ill-prepared and in economic decay due to prolonged sanctions? Does it mean that love and level-headedness have gone underground and arrogance and tyranny have taken the driving seat to chart the road map to peace? Let nobody forget that we have 'many miles to go before we can sleep' peacefully. Let us find the meaning of what is written on those milestones enroute our journey to the peaceful destination. This would entail objective soul searching. At this juncture what come to my mind are: war cannot subdue a nation for long; hatred breeds hatred; a bloodstained hand is more resolute than precision weapons; rubbles of war raises resolve for revenge while patience, harmony and a sense of accommodation are the 'sine qua non' of peace. As of now Iraq is in disarray and its economy is in an abysmal state. Although Iraqis are longing for peace, it does not seem to be getting the desired priority. One must insist on repairing the weaknesses and creating a situation of strength, as these are major requirements to overwhelm the existing climate of collapse in Iraq. I am certain that the 'power that be' in Iraq knows that "ordered change can also occur out of myriad forces of disorder". Iraqis are tired of deprivation due to western sanctions, regime generated violence and are horrified by the sound and fury of the recent war which they least deserved. A remote desire of the Iraqi for a pause from the outrageous violence is tiptoeing into the foreground. Iraqi's are now eager to voice perceptions of their future, their hopes and their demands to be heard as they now feel that nobody has the right to forfeit their right to freedom. For long they have nourished their resentment against the regime's arrogance and indifference to their needs and aspirations. Sitting on the debris of a least deserved devastating war, they are now moving from pillar to post to tell their listeners to pave a way for peace, passion and progress so that the tired doctors, grave diggers and clerics can heave a sigh of relief. The responsibility of the 'regime that be' in Iraq is to stop the backlash, put in order the civil amenities and reassure the people that Iraq will belong to Iraqis only. Numbed despair of the Iraqi's will recede gradually only if bona fide leaders are tasked to rebuild the economy. They should take concrete steps to discard the issues which caused Iraq's social fabric to be torn apart. Geopolitical environment in the ME also has to receive a fresh touch up. Essential equivalence in ME must be restored. The traditional belief of the chauvinists, that "the language of military power is the only language which disciples of power politics understand," should no longer rule the roost. World bodies should ponder about how Iraq, or for that matter ME, can be left alone to promote democracy and human rights. A conscious multilateral conclave should be formed to map a course that would firstly, curb even the slimmest possibility of the rise of Saddam's progeny; secondly, accord ascendancy to development of an ordered economy; thirdly, remove the fear that Iraq will be split into three self-governed regions/countries by forming a national government comprising representatives from all segments of religious and ethnic identities; fourthly, ensure pullout of foreign troops on a time frame acceptable to all concerned and despatch outsiders who interfere with running of the administration, and finally create an atmosphere where Iraqis will be convinced that their local perception on life, liberty and prosperity will prevail and the current rules of business are indeed a temporary phenomena. Efforts to rebuild Iraq from its ruins should continue at a faster pace so that the woe of the Iraqis is quickly remitted, lest they should think that they have fallen from the frying pan into fire. Nobody should curry favour with any country that believes in sabre rattling instead of peace and harmony. Why kill people who, like all across the world, seek love and peace? So let us open the floodgate of love and patience so that no country is invaded in future at whim. Let us hope that our future will hold promise for us and that there will be no terrorism or jingoism to threaten our efforts for global peace and progress. The author is a former Director General of BIISS.
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