3 June 2010 Iraq’s hour of action
It’s time to get decisive in Iraq. The prolonged wait and anxiety have come to an end. The country’s Supreme Court has ruled that Iyad Allawi’s coalition has won the maximum number of seats. With this pronouncement, the electoral fuss too should come to an end.
Now it should be all about government formation and blessing the country with the much-desired political stability and good governance. In fact, all this precious time that was wasted in trading accusations and seeking a vote count shouldn’t have happened. The war-weary country’s obsession for democracy and ballot culture should not be lost. This standoff hasn’t contributed to the ongoing process of nation building and strengthening communal harmony. Which is why it is incumbent upon the politicians to gear Iraq towards pluralism and prosperity, and get rid of all the quibbling.
The new government will have to face a nose-diving law-and-order situation, coupled with heightened sectarian divisions. But the problem is that it will again take at least a month or so for the 325-member newly elected parliament to see a new prime minister. Before that, Iraq will again be going through a tedious process to nominate and then elect the new president. This will not only consume a lot of state synergies, but also push and pull the politicians to lose sight of the real objectives at hand.
Now it should be all about government formation and blessing the country with the much-desired political stability and good governance. In fact, all this precious time that was wasted in trading accusations and seeking a vote count shouldn’t have happened. The war-weary country’s obsession for democracy and ballot culture should not be lost. This standoff hasn’t contributed to the ongoing process of nation building and strengthening communal harmony. Which is why it is incumbent upon the politicians to gear Iraq towards pluralism and prosperity, and get rid of all the quibbling.
The new government will have to face a nose-diving law-and-order situation, coupled with heightened sectarian divisions. But the problem is that it will again take at least a month or so for the 325-member newly elected parliament to see a new prime minister. Before that, Iraq will again be going through a tedious process to nominate and then elect the new president. This will not only consume a lot of state synergies, but also push and pull the politicians to lose sight of the real objectives at hand.
Allawi, who will now be called in to form the government, faces a daunting task. His strength comes from the fact that he has been able to cobble an alliance with the Sunni minority, and also take along a large number of independent members from across the divide.
Yet he will be better advised to share power with the second largest coalition of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki so that a dispensation of national consensus gets down to work.
We have been here. This political and administrative vacuum should not impact the withdrawal schedule of foreign troops, come what may. It needs to be ensured that the Iraqis take control of their destiny with renewed determination to come out of the trauma of invasion and destruction at the earliest. Political bickering has provided an opportunity to Al Qaeda and the likes to stage a comeback. Moreover, it has buoyed thugs and criminals to go on a spree and indulge in kidnappings, extortion and black marketing. As a result of which, social security has hit its lowest ebb, and people are longing to see the writ of government come into force.
We have been here. This political and administrative vacuum should not impact the withdrawal schedule of foreign troops, come what may. It needs to be ensured that the Iraqis take control of their destiny with renewed determination to come out of the trauma of invasion and destruction at the earliest. Political bickering has provided an opportunity to Al Qaeda and the likes to stage a comeback. Moreover, it has buoyed thugs and criminals to go on a spree and indulge in kidnappings, extortion and black marketing. As a result of which, social security has hit its lowest ebb, and people are longing to see the writ of government come into force.
The extent to which Iraqis have suffered as a result of an imposed war and occupation is incredible. Politicians can do a noble service by ushering in peace and prosperity, rather than keep an enterprising Arab nation on tenterhooks. Let national interests take precedence over the politics of exigency. That will help make a difference between dictatorship and democracy.
