Forum on the Humanitarian Situation Facing Iraqis -
April 14, 2008
Thank you, thank you. I stand here with a heavy heart. We worked all our lives to free the Iraqi people from tyranny, from suffering, and all we got was more suffering, in some cases a great deal more suffering. Most people wonder why, why things went wrong. Why is it that the Iraqis seem to be cursed? In fact, the explanation is in their recent history. I am not going to give a lecture about that, but I’m just going to point to a few factors that at least help us to make this comprehensible. And then deal with the subject of this conference, which is the suffering of the refugees.
The Struggle for Iraq: Five Years on - April 9, 2008
Five years after the toppling of Saddam Hussein, both Iraq and the United States face important choices for their future relationship; choices that will have profound long-term ramifications for both.
Iraq, freed from a ruthless dictatorship, has chosen plurality, democracy, and federalism as a system of government. It is struggling to implement this choice against a formidable set of challenges, both internal and external. The leaders of the new Iraq must further demonstrate resolve to defend this choice and rise above parochial interests.
Progress in Baghdad - April 10, 2007
It has been four years since the fall of Saddam Hussein's statue and regime in Iraq. The rough terrain that Iraqis, Americans and our friends have traversed since then seems to be endless. With demons under every rock, the question is, can Iraq make it to the land of peace and prosperity, and how? And if abandoned by our friends, will these demons, having won a great victory, take the war to them?
Rethinking Iraq's Election - December 28, 2004
The interim Iraqi government faces a stark choice: whether to go ahead with the planned elections on Jan. 30 or postpone them. It has so far stood firm on its decision to stick to the schedule. The argument for doing so is compelling. Legally, the interim government is bound by the stipulations of the Transitional Administrative Law, which determined that elections be held before the end of January 2005, and by Security Council Resolution 1546, which confirmed the timetable and gave the commitment an international dimension.
Notes on Al-Anbar Province - June 11, 2003
Like the rest of Iraqi society, Al-Anbar is home to two cultures, co-existing in a state of conflict, namely the rural and the urban cultures. The conflict of values between these cultures represents and explains the main socio-political development of Iraqi society in the twentieth century.
Comparison of 1991 and 2003 - June 29, 2003
People cannot help make comparisons between the speed of re-construction of vital services and amenities as accomplished by Saddam’s Regime after the Gulf War of 91 and the current reconstruction being administered by the Coalition (CPA) now.
Democratic Alliance - October 1, 2003
The political scene in Iraq at present does not reflect in any balanced way the relative strengths of current strands of opinion in the population much less the expected one in a year or two. It is heavily weighed down by the historical baggage from the years of opposition, and by Kurdish nationalist and Arab Islamist reactions to Saddam’s oppression.
Letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair - September 27, 2003
On the 18th February of this year, at a time when opposition to military action in Iraq seemed formidable, I wrote to you to plead that you should not waver in your resolve and act decisively, together with the United States, to eliminate Saddam’s odious regime which paused a threat to the Iraqi people, to Iraq’s neigbours and to the world at large.
Letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair
- February 18, 2003
Let me first tell you that I appreciate you going out on a limb in your pursuit of a policy that is taking Britain (along with the USA) on a collision course with Saddam Hussain. Your speeches and attitudes reflect passionately held convictions. For that, you have my admiration. But the reason I am writing to you is not to express my admiration. It is to appeal to you not to waver, but to go through with your plans because the lives of millions depend on what you do next.
Encounter with an Assassin
- July 1, 2003
In the late afternoons and early evenings as the heat of the day abates, people (exclusively males) usually start to trickle in to see me or see one of my younger brothers. Sometimes the trickle turns into a stream. There is no possibility of making appointments beforehand even by those who are disposed to do so, and they are not many, because telephones do not work.
A Tale of Two Cities - June 17, 2003
Beyond the normal and all-pervasive complaints about lack of security, electricity and work, reality invades our personal domains in so many intrusive and disturbing ways that it is hard to keep a balanced broad perspective, in terms of geography and time. It is hard to remember that there is life beyond Iraq or that Iraq could have life other than the grinding misery it is enduring, here and now.
Why Bother? - June 29, 2003
To leave an international life-style that is relatively comfortable, convenient and rich in intellectual, cultural and artistic interests, and come to Iraq at this time must appear inexplicable. Iraq, at present is in a mess. Political and criminal violence is rife; the country is awash with weapons and ammunition, there is hardly any electricity reaching homes in Baghdad from the national grid; water, when it flows which is not always, is dangerous to drink without boiling, there is a shortage of natural gas for cooking, petrol, and all kinds of fuels; and traffic is atrocious for the lack of traffic police.
