While March 20 will mark 20 years of the illegal invasion and destruction of Iraq by western hegemons, it is also important to not forget that heinous crimes were perpetrated in Iraq against innocent civilians.
The easy part for the collective west was to overthrow the regime of dictator Saddam Husain. The invasion unleashed forces that have shaken the very foundations of the western-crafted world order. A multipolar world order is in the making.
Together with Bagram and Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib revealed the true nature of American policy against Muslims. Torture is part of the American system even if they deny it vehemently.
Moqtada Sadr is known as the maverick of Iraqi politics. While he earned much praise for taking on the Americans, his subsequent somersaults have created many problems. He enjoys widespread support among the masses but his unorthodox political tactics have caused him to lose credibility.
Iraq continues to reel under political instability because the various political factions cannot agree to work with each other. Muqtada al-Sadr seems to be at the heart of the political impasse because of his sudden shifts in what he wants. The people of Iraq suffer.
The announcement that former British prime minister Tony Blair would be knighted in the New Year’s honors list aroused worldwide loathing and disgust. More than one million people signed a petition demanding this war criminal not be knighted. He was instrumental in unleashing the war on Iraq in 2003.
Iraq is trying to play a significant regional role to try to reduce tensions. It also serves Iraq’s interests, as the Baghdad summit showed.
Diverse political groups in Iraq are increasingly demanding the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country. Their focus is the US presence that is at the root of all of Iraq’s problems.
Iraq’s new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi seems to be a man for all seasons. As Iraq’s former spy chief, he has cultivated close links with many unsavory characters that appear to have paid off by elevating him into the prime ministerial seat in Baghdad.
