THE NEW IRAQI FLAG (updated)

Few Days ago, the “Iraqi” parliament passed a law to change the Iraqi Flag. The presidency council ratified that law today and it will become valid starting from the day it is published in the Iraqi Gazette.

I will review with you the history of this particular flag and the reasons behind changing it and also behind my own reservation over that particular change.

If you have read previous posts on this blog , you will see that I have mentioned more than once that the Kurds refuse to raise the Iraqi flag over their “region” under the pretext that the Iraqi Army was carrying that flag when they attacked the Kurds.

The new flag, which the parliament approved, simply removed the 3 green stars from the old Iraqi flag and kept the words ( Allah Akbar) which means (God is great).

Now, first of all the only countries which has the word Allah ( or God) on their Flag in the region( if not the entire world as far as I know) are the Islamic theocracies, Iran And Saudi Arabia. Dose that mean that now we are the 3^rd Islamic theocracy in the region?

The words ( Allah Akbar) were introduce to the Iraqi flag in 1991 by Saddam Hussein when he went into war with America in the 1991 gulf war, in an attempt to win over the Islamic world. Before that, the Iraqi flag was simply red on the top, then whit and the bottom is Black and 3 green stars in the Middle .

The green stars were originally placed there for the proposed, but never-consummated, union of Iraq with Egypt and Syria (United Arab Republic), which both had flags with two stars in the middle at the time. Theirs would have presumably changed into three had the union with Iraq been accomplished. By 1961, however, the Union between Syria and Egypt had already fallen apart.

Then Saddam changed the meaning of the 3 stars to signify the three goals of the Ba’ath Party (Unity, freedom and socialism), that was when he introduced the words ( God is Great) into the Iraqi Flag in 1991, with his own hand writing.

So as you see, the Kurds are not upset because this flag was raised by the Iraqi Army when they were massacred, for thousands of Iraqis also died in order that this flag is not to be brought down, but because of its pan – Arab back ground.

The Kurds changed it because they were facing a dilemma. They will be hosting the Arab parliamentarians meeting in Arbil soon. Since the Kurds refuse to raise the Iraqi flag, and since the Arab Parliamentarians will not approve that they would not see an Iraqi flag raised in the Kurdish region of Iraq, the Kurds pressured into changing the Iraqi flag, and having a temporary Ffag for one year( just to get them through this ordeal) and this is what actually happened.

Once I heard of the new flag, which came suddenly and we were surprised to see, the first thing that came to my mind “ how could they do that?!”. If you wanted to change the flag and get rid of Saddam’s trace on the flag, then remove the words of (God is Great) from the flag and change the meanings of the 3 stars. But to remove the stars, which are the old Characteristics of the Flag, and keeping the Saddam addition of ( God is great) is really uncalled for.

My own conservation over the old Flag (with the words God is Great) is that it is significantly Islamic. No Iraqi Christian or other religious minority could relate to this flag, which is supposed to represent every Iraqi.

This is not the first attempt to change the Iraqi flag after the US led invasion of Iraq. The Governing council, which was set up by the Coalition Provincial Authority (CPA), came out with a

proposed flag in 2004 but it was immediately rejected. The Iraqi people thought that it was too similar to the Israeli flag.

Couple of Days ago, the Kurdish MP Mahmoud Uthman, said on Al-Arabyia TV that the Iraqi people, represented by the parliament members, whom they have elected, are the one who chose this one year flag. He denied what was mentioned on the web sites that the Iraqi people are not welcoming the new flag and that there has been voices coming out rejecting and not recognizing that new flag and that they are holding to the old one.

As a sign of protest and defiance, I fitted today the old Iraqi Flag (with the 3 stars and God is Great) on my car to express my rejection to the new flag and also to see what the reaction of the people would be. The first reaction was from a guy who guards a check point who gave me a thumb up. Another guy asked if it is the new flag and then he checked it and unintentionally exclaimed “oh no it is our flag”.

I got to the house after driving around Baghdad with the flag on my car. I was not alone in doing so, for many of the police cars had the old flag on it as well (one of the police cars had even 3 of them). Once I got to the house my mother saw the flag and she said that I should take it off “because it is an act against the government” My mother said. “Well the Kurds did not raise the official flag of the state and raised another one instead and they are part of the Government” I replied. Then she said “people would think that you are a Saddamist”. “This is the Flag of Iraq and not Saddam’s Flag” my reply was.

I believe if we do not do something about it, then they will change even the name of Iraq, especially now we are hearing form Fouad Ma’asom, another Kurdish member of parliament that there was not something called Iraq up until recently.

PS.

This is an update of the reactions I’m receiving on the second day of raising the Iraqi Flag.

well, there are More thumbs up today.

First of all I drove through the hot A’adhayia main street in Baghdad today, and the majority of cars, bikes, Motor cycles and trucks were doing exactly the same thing I’m doing, which is raising the old Iraqi flag. you would see it every were,on the buildings or even at the checkpoints maned by the US military backed Awakening ( or concerned citizens) and their tents.

In order to prove that the rejection of the new flag is not a strictly sonni position, a shiat guard ( I know he is shiat because he guards one of the main offices of the Shiat endowments) stopped me at a check point. Usually, since the check point is at a side street, they would ask me where I’m going. Today he immediately said “since you are raising this flag, go ahead, with God’s blessing”. Another shiat neighbor asked me when she saw the flag “ what! Are you a Sadrist Now”? Meaning that I have joined the group of the radical shiat clergyman Moqttada Al-Sadr. “No this is the Flag of Iraq not Moqttada Al-Sadr’s flag” my answer was.

The reason why my neighbor thought that I joined the Sadr movement is that, last March 15^th , Moqttada Al-Sadr ordered his followers to raise the Iraqi flag every where in Iraq, as an act of defiance and rejection to the American occupation in the 4^th anniversary of the war on Iraq. The streets of Baghdad became so glamorous when they were filled with the Iraqi flags. Yet, this dose not make the Flag exclusively Sadrist, Ba’athists, shiat, sonnies, Arabs or Kurds. It is still the Iraqi flag.

Day 8

I need not to say that I’m receiving more thumbs-up throughout my travels in the streets of Baghdad. Last Saturday, a Man, in his lat 30s, got his body out of the window of a car up to his waist and he was cheering for me when he saw the flag on my car. Couple of Days ago they raised the New Iraqi flag in front of the convention center, which houses the parliament right now, and it was done quietly. Well since the parliament is the one who passed the law so they should follow it , this is natural and a sensible thing to do, regardless of what I think of that step in the first place.

Today, the Prime minister raised the new flag over his office and gave an order that the new flag should be raised over all the Iraqi Ministries and public offices. No problem with that so far. The problem is when the Prime Minister and the official spokesperson of the Government, Dr.Ali Al-Dabagh, open their mouths to utter the most irritating things.

First the PM said that everybody should raise this new Flag and that “No other Flag should be raised”. He claimed that it is the “democratic” thing to do and this is a matter of respect for the state. Ok, I have one Question, where was Mr. tough, decisive, firm, strong and steady fast Maliki, when the Iraqi flag has no trace to be found in the three Northern Iraqi provinces. Not even when he would visit the region, they would not raise the Iraqi flag in his presence. Why was not he so firm and defended the statues of the Iraqi state??!!

Then he uttered the most stupid thing. “Those 3 stars, which represent the Unity, Freedom and Socialism, those miserable goals”Maliki Said. It is true that they were the declared goals of the Ba’ath Party, yet they as goals by themselves are far from Miserable. I do not think that we do not need Unity at the time being, Unless Mr. Maliki prefers that people remain in Iraq at each other’s throat. As for Freedom, we know where those religious parties stand from such a goal. As for socialism, well you may have the right to agree or disagree with it, depending on your political and Ideological view ….in case you have any.

Then the government spokesperson opened his mouth. “Well if they want to link themselves to the old regime, they may do so” Ali Al-Dabagh Said. So if you defend the symbol of your country, the dearest thing to any patriot, for which many people died defending, then you are from the old regime. Next we will hear that Saddam was the leader of Iraq, and then there should be no Iraq. And since Saddam used to Role the Iraqi people then there should be no Iraqi people and no one should say I’m an Iraqi, because that would mean that you are pro- Saddam. You should say that you are a shait, Sonni, Kurd, Arab, Yazidi, Muslim , Christian, Turkmen or Shebek, but not Iraqi. Unity is a “miserable goal” as you know.

Feb - 24th

Today I was walking down the Mutanabi street, the Famous open air market for books and Stationeries in Baghdad. As you go through the market and Pass by the shops, you will find a large number of Iraqi flags ( the old one) openly displayed for sell. They are in different sizes . one shop had the old Iraqi flag on the right side and the new one on the left .

Since the area is one of the areas which is jointly protected by the Iraqi Army and the Awakening ( Sahwa) forces, or what the American Military calls " the concerned citizens", you can see a large number of the old Iraqi flags hanging every where, since the Awakening forces clearly said that they do not recognize the new Flag and that they are holding to the Old one " this is the State's flag while this one is ours" Said Ali Hatem Al-Salamn the sheikh of the Big Dulaimi tribe, and the senior Figure at the Iraqi Salvation council which established the awakening forces, in a recent TV interview.

It was not a surprise to me to see the golden statue of the old nationalistic Iraqi poet, Ma'arouf Al-Russafi, holding the old Iraqi Flag on his right arm, while his Back is riddled with Bullet holes from recent clashes in the area. And you almost can hear him recite couple of verses from one of his poems, which he wrote during the English occupation of Iraq

" علم ودستور ومجلس امة = كل عن المعنى الصحيح محرف
اسماء ليس لنا سوى الفاظها =اما معانيها فليست تعرف "

"A flag, a Constitution and a Parliament, each has its meaning twisted.

Merely uttered words, while its meanings are unknown".

Reconciliation Vs Revenge

Primer Minister Maliki asked President Bush to hand over the Iraqi Government the defendants on the Anffal Case, who were sentenced to death, and who are still in the custody of the United States authorities, so that they Iraqi Government could execute them. PM Maliki is saying that, the reason behind his request is because not executing them is a Violation of the law since he is the executive authority and that he should execute the verdict within 30 days from the Verdict gets its final stage, which was a while ago. The defendants are the notorious Chemical Ali, Sultan Hashim Ahmed ( former Minister of Defense ) and Hussein Rasheed who is also a former Iraqi Army commander.

It is nice and really assuring that Prime Minster Maliki is so Keen that the law and Justice takes its coarse, we are all for it 100%, but to be selective in which verdicts and which laws should be a priority is another issue.

Do not get me wrong for I’m not defending Chemical Ali , God forbids, for he is even worst than his cousin Saddam. but to chose this verdict to execute against all the calls which are calling to pardon the former Defense Minster since he was a Military man following orders during a time of war, otherwise he would be executed without even a court marshal. Yet Mr. Maliki is so keen that this verdict must be executed.

Meanwhile, many families in Iraq have lost their houses, because they were driven out of it and many people who fled the country because of the violence returned to find that there are people who have taken over their houses. Those who were urged by the Iraqi government to return back to Iraq, and they were provided with a free ride back by buses from Syria and they were paid 600$ per family and 200$ per person. Yet this 600$ could only pay the rent for 2 months, while they figure out a way to get their houses back.

I heard of some people who were driven out of their houses and they moved to other neighborhoods and took over some of the abandoned houses in those neighborhoods. Defiantly they do not have to pay rent and this will be so convenient for them in the middle of this lawlessness.

This is not the case with individual families; there are tens if not hundreds of them. In the middle of all that, where are the police? Where are the courts and where is the entire executive authority, which is so concerned over the prevail of law and order. The Iraqi people know very well that executing people like Sultan Hashim Ahmed, who enjoys a very good reputation as a professional Military man, is just another chapter of revenge form all those who fought Iran. Many of the Iraqi fighter pilots and bombers have already been assassinated, and so many Iraqi Military commanders.

If you do not know who is Sultan Hashim Ahmed , he is the Minister of Defense who negotiated the end of the gulf war 1n 1991 with US Army general Schwatrtscof.

Such simple things give an indication to the Iraqi people, what are the priorities of the Iraqi government. Is it reconstruction? Reconciliation or is it revenge?.

I would like to ask Mr. Maliki, if you are so concerned over your statues as the executer and protector of law, why you don’t get those hundreds of house which are being looted, and burnt daily, back to their rightful owners. And one more thing Mr, Guardian of the law and order, how come that services and food ration materials were better during Saddam’s time when the price of oil was 17$ – 18$ dollars, while now it has greatly deteriorated and you are now thinking of Canceling the Food Ration, when the price of oil has went over 90$???!!!

THE IRAQI REFUGEES

Couple of Months ago I went on a trip to Syria to see my uncle, who moved there, like tens of thousands of Iraqis, because of the violence in Baghdad. One day, as we were walking in the market, we went into a store where my uncle doses his Daily shopping. Like any Iraqi man, when My uncle go for shopping he buys every thing that his family might need or like. Then the owner of the store surprised my uncle with a question. “Where do you Iraqis get all that Money from and spend it like that?” the store owner asked. My uncle turned red, and got angry. “Do you ask all your costumers, where do they get their Money from?! Do you ask the Saudis or the Kuwaitis when they come and buy stuff from your Store, where they gat there Money from????” My uncle asked as he was shaking with rage. He took that question as an insult, I knew exactly what was going on his mind, he was thinking that since we came to this country to take refuge from the Violence, then we must be considered like Beggars.

I have visited Syria Last year and I have seen it this summer, the development was so noticeable. the late 70’s Ladas, which were filling the streets of Syria, are now being replaced with band newJaguars. The living standards have been significantly improved. There are almost 1.5 Million Iraqis in Syria, and about 0.5 Million Iraqis in Jordon and the same Number in Egypt. Jordon and Syria Have been complaining because they are suffering from the large number of refugees on their countries, and that they represent a great burden on their amphora structure. Well I would not blame them on that particular point, but there are other things that they forgot to mention as well.

The Iraqis who came to Syria, or Jordon in Particular, are mostly upper middle class families, if not merchants or wealthy families. Most of them fled Iraq so that the kidnapping gangs would not kidnap any one from their families and then ask for Ransom. Many of them started their own businesses and rented or bought good apartments or houses, which made the Jordanians and Syrians complain that the Iraqis have made the prices of the real state go rocket high, beyond the capabilities of the ordinary citizens of those countries.

Most of those Iraqis have money sent to them from Iraq, either from renting their houses, salaries, pension or that one Family member is staying behind in Iraq to run some kind of Business. In my Uncle’s case, he is a retired civil servant and I send him his pension every 2 months, which is enough to pay him the rent and sustain him and his wife.

The Syrians and Jordanians forgot to mentions how much money (mostly hard currency) the Iraqis are pumping into those poor economies. One look at the apartment buildings which suddenly emerged in those countries would show you how much the Iraqis have moved those economies and how many jobs opportunities they have created.

Last Summer, the Jordanian Authorities started to put restrictions on the flow of Iraqis to Jordon, to the level that they forced people to buy return tickets from Baghdad so that if they do not let them in, they would use the same ticket to send them back with it to Baghdad. And they did send back entire plane’s load of Passengers.

Late last October I was in Amman - Jordon and one Taxi Driver surprised me when he did not complain ( like many other Taxi Drivers used to do previously Every time I visit Amman) of the Iraqis and how they raised the praises.

“you Iraqis are the ones who are moving our Economy” the Taxi Driver said and went on talking about how Taxi owners started to buy more Taxis to meet the demand created by the Iraqis and how that create more jobs for Taxi drivers. But now the business is slow because there are less Iraqis coming, which means less work for them.

Another friend of mine told me how many people invested in building new apartment buildings and taking for granted that the Iraqis gone buy or rent them, but now many of them are bankrupt because there are no more Iraqis coming to Amman and they have o Cover the loans they took from the Banks for those investments.

Also last October, the Syrian authorities started to require Visas from the Iraqis, while before they could go in for 3 months and the would have to leave to Next Door Lebanon, spend 3 days there an then return to Syria for another 3 months for merely 100$ per person, or simply drive to the Iraqi boarders, check out of Syria, drive to the Iraqi boarders, check in and then out and then return to Syria for another 3 months. While now, if your 3 months are over you should leave, that is if you do not have a residency permit.

This forced many of the Iraqis to return to Iraq in large numbers, because they no longer can stay there. And Made the Iraq Government brag that the security situation has improved (which is far from true) and now thousands of Families are returning to Iraq.

All what I want to say is that, let Egypt remember, before banning Iraqis from getting into Egypt, that for 10 years there were 2 million Egyptians working in Iraq and sending money to their Families back in Egypt to build houses and apartment buildings while the Iraqi men are fighting in the Iran – Iraq war in the 80s. And let Syria remember the Economic crisis they went through for 2 months when the war was taking place in Iraq in 2003 and they could not send their products to be sold at the Iraqi Markets. Let Jordon remember how much money they got when they were the main entry point for Iraq during the 80s and the years of Embargo. And also how much oil they used to take for free or favorable prices during Saddam’s time and how now they are welcoming the 100 000 barrel or Iraqi oil each day ( at least 18 US$ cheaper than the global market prices) while they do not welcome the Iraqis themselves.

THE FEDRAL STATE OF IRAQ

Iraq now is being identified as a "Federal State". There are many countries in the world that adopt the Federal system of ruling, like the USA, Germany and India. Even though Iraq is not as big as those countries, but the new leaders decided that Iraq ( even though it is as big as California) should be a Federal state. Regardless of what the Iraqi constitution states, I'm going to tell you what the Federal system in Iraq really means. I'm going to replace the word (Iraq) with (America), since many of the readers have never been to Iraq, and I will talk about the state (Texas) as an Example, replacing it with (Kurdistan) and not  actual Texas and the United State. So that it will be places that you may relate to.

This State of Texas has its own Flag, Parliament, president,Constitution and Army, which is Called the Guards of the State ( I know that the term used in US is the National Guards). Yet, the state of Texas dose not recognize the Flag of the United States of America, in fact they ban raising the American flag on its territories and the security forces would confiscate the American flag if any one raised it in the"Federal" state of Texas.

There are check points at the boarders of the Federal state of Texas, which would not let fellow Americans into Texas unless some one inside Texas would vouch for them, or they would send back those whom they do not want into the "Federal" State of Texas.

The Texas Federal Parliament makes its own legislation, without going back to the central Federal Government. Like they have their Own Hydrocarbon Law ( Oil and Gas), which deals with the oil and Gas investments and revenues of the oil, while the Federal Constitution, to which the Texan people voted for overwhelmingly, states that the Oil is the property of all the American people (that is the Iraqi People).and it is the Texan who hinder the drafting and Passing of a Federal oil law so that tings stay in a state oh limbo, where they can do what ever they like.  

At Each America Embassy, there is a representation office for the Federal state of Texas Government. Separate from the work of the Embassy and it is in charge of the Affairs of the Texan people and the Texas State Government......... No comment!

The American Government, when it first designed the electricity power network, it decided that the power network should be one National network and that the power plants built in Texas near the oil fields, would supply the other American States like Alaska with power. But then the Texan State Government decided not to supply other American states and leave them without power because what is produced in Texas remains in Texas.

Oh Yah one more thing, the US Army is not allowed to enter the Federal state of Texas before getting the approval of the Texas authorities. And then when they are threatened by another Neighboring country like Mexico, Texas Government would say that you are not threatening Texas but you are threatening the Entire USA. Yes, now they remembered that they are part of the USA when it is convenient. How could the poor Mexicans know that this is an American soil when there is No American flag raised over it and no American Army present there. Do not they have the right to go in till they find a place with an American flag over it to know that this is actually an American territory???

Probably by now, if you are an American, you might feel a bit upset if not outraged. Well, you know that this is not the case in Texas or the USA but it is the Case in the New Federal state of Iraq where some "regions" (not even states) are acting in this manner. And when you argue against this type of federalism, which I could only see it as separation rather than Federalism, they would argue back and say that Federalism is a good system and it is being applied in several countries in the world. Forgive my ignorance is this is how the Federal system really work in your country, if you live in a Sovereign Federal country???!!

The Lions of Mesopotamia

First I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to the Real Iraqi Team the Soccer team the only people who are carrying the Iraqi flag on their chest and really work for the sake of Iraq. They are the only people who know what it means that their flag is raised high. It means that their team Effort did not go in vain.

That is said, let us talk now on the Match's after math. First as the the Saudi people started to congratulate the Iraqi people for their win and achievement, the sectarian minded people in Iraq started to chant that " against the Wahabists ( the sonni sect in Saudi) this cup is a shiat". And they say that the others are sectarian!.

The prime minister rushed to reward this team and so did the Iraqi president and no matter what they give them it is not enough, but they have no credit in creating this team. This was the same team which got the Asia youngsters champion ships before the invasion and Uday Saddam Hussein back then decided that this will be the next Olympic team. All the players, but one, are not playing in the Iraqi local league, for they play in clubs all over the region and the world. For the Iraqi football league is now only played in the North of Iraq.

The Iraqi team and the fans who risked their lives when they went out in the streets celebrating and carrying the Iraqi flag, because they were happy for their country. While the Kurdish Security forces in their Kurdistan, confiscated the Iraqi flag and they did not allow any flag to be raised other than their Kurdish flag and not the Iraqi Flag. And then when they get threatened by Turkey they would say that you are not threatening Kurdistan you are threatening Iraq. Well I think it is shameful that they pull out the Iraq Card when ever it is convenient and put it back when it is not, especially when they are practicing a Constitutional violation by filtering those who are allowed into Kurdistan and those who are not. There are like border check points in which they would send back those whom they do not like in Kurdistan ( mostly the Arabs) unless there is some one inside who would sponsor them. This is a violation of the very the constitution that they have voted for and now raising hell against the delay of Article 140 of normalizing the situation in Kirkuk and threatening with a civil war.

Every Body said that the Iraqi Team united the Iraqi people behind them and did what the politicians failed to do which is bringing the Iraqis together. I think the Correct statement is that the Iraqi National team fixed what the politicians are trying to do which is dividing the already United Iraqi people.

Another letter

Hi. the follwoing is another Letter that I wanted to share with you. hope you find it informative . I talked about the sectarian warfare in Iraq, politics and oil. hope you like it and I would be interested to hear your comments.

" ...there are No problems among Iraqis ( as people) whither they are sonnies, shiat, Kurds or Turkmmen. the problem is that the Iraqi politics after 9/4/2003 was built on sectarian and ethnic bases. When you bring Kurdish parties and Shiat parties and Soni Parties you are building politics on sectarian and ethnic bases. They are not social parties or liberal democrat parties. So it became a matter of Rivalry between sects and when there are elections there would be winners and losers.
The Bases on which the whole political process is wrong. Iraqis were not at each other's throat before the war, but they became like that when sectarian polarizations started and each sect felt threatened by the other.
The American administration is the one who laid those bases and after the structure came up they discovered the grave mistake they made and now they have to put down that Ugly structure that they have been building and supporting for 4 years and start from the scratch, which is making them face tow options the sweetest of which is bitter. either to keep it as ugly as it is or bring it down and start all over again.
As for the Oil, in order to invest that oil you need a safe atmosphere. The Importance of the Iraqi oil lies in 3 crucial facts.1st, according to the oil excavations ( which stopped in the 70s of the last century), Iraq is the 2nd largest oil reserve in the world After Saudia Arabia ( which means it could easily be number one, once we really figure out how much oil we actually got).The point is that we have lots of oil. 2nd the Iraqi oil is cheap and easy to get out from the ground. 3rd, and most importantly, is that the Iraqi oil dose not have to be exported through the Gulf. It could be exported to Europe and the rest of the western world through the Mediterranean , through the pipe lines which gose through Turkey or any other country like Syria. Why all that is important?? because if any gulf country fell in the hand of Extremists or for example Iran wanted to stop all the oil Tankers from getting out of the region by closing the Gulf ( which can easily be done) there would be a global fuel crisis, and then Iraq would be the Safety valve with its abundant, easy to get out and deliverable oil that dose not have to go through the Gulf.
This is the strategic importance of Iraq's oil and that is why the whole world would not mind, not only thousands but even hundred of thousands die to keep that safety valve under control. but the question is HOW??!! and on what expense??

Once again .............please let it be known to you and to all the American people, the Iraqi people are not religious Fanatics, and they are not against the west, other wise you would not find millions of them leaving their dear country and escaping this sectarian and violent hell".

the American withdraw from Iraq

A friend of Mine from America asked yesterday wither I think that the American Military should leave or not and below you will find My Answer to that question

" ……As for the American army , they should stay. we do not have an Army (just some boy scouts with AK 47on Pick up trucks) no Air force what so ever (not a single fighter jet) only 4 or 6 Hewe Helicopters with no real fire power and only being used to Taxi officers to the south and the north for it is out of the question that they drive through some areas. As for the Government it is totally dysfunctional, no services what so ever and it is getting worst. No law enforcement and the real power in the street is for the insurgency and the Militias, who scares the shit out of the Army and the police . People are being killed and kidnapped in front of the police and the police are doing nothing, either because they are affiliated with them or they simply fear for their life.
Now the Americans are planning to blame it on the Iraqis and just leave. They could not do that for it will simply be punishing the Iraqi people. Those politicians who are now in the Government were brought by the Americans in the first place and now the Iraqis are paying the price and they will be the one bearing the consequences because those people who were brought by the Americans did a bad job. As I see it, they should fix what they destroyed in the first place and then we will be more than happy to see them leave. But to say sorry we have suffered too much in the mess that we have created and we will leave you to handle that mess that we created for you, this is outrageous".

we have a saying in Arabic ( the one who took the donkey up the Minatare, is the one who should brings it down)

This is what I said, and please tell me what you think about it.