Iraq; Politics through conflict

Abdulla Hawez

The last bombings in Baghdad show how politics in Iraq has increasingly become nasty. Indeed, after the foundation of Iraq in 1923, Iraqi political system never become healthy, stabilized. That’s probably because of the Multi-ethnical complexities, as Iraqi society highly based on tribalism and sectarianism. Moreover, after the American invasion, sectarian division in political life has become more important than ever, the Americans have an important role in this division. Minority Sunnis which were ruling Iraq since its foundation felt ignored. They started the arm struggle to turn back their glory, or at least poison the political life; this struggle based on revenge. Later, when the first elections have taken place in 2005, Suuni boycotted it; they felt more isolated. Then, when their anger arrive the peak, they bombed the Shiites icon, The AlImamayn AlAskariyyan mosque, in Dyala province. By then, Shiites by return decided to revenge as the ordinary Shiites anger arrived the peak as well. Started in 2006, a bloody sectarian conflict has torn the whole country. Aftermath, the prospect of a solution seemed murky, and when the politicians disenchanted, Iraq was back to medieval. Anyways, a fragile deal has been signed between power-thirsty politicians, as the security got better. But, the tutelage of regional and international powers, and the sectarian-oriented beliefs of the Iraqi politicians may drive the country to another but worse sectarian conflict that the turn out this time might be disastrous. The already crisis-prone Iraqi political system is running by politicians that are implementing external agendas; when it needed, they are shaking the political life by bombings and turning it to a religious and ethnical conflict. The recent bombings in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq purely linked with the political standoff between Shiite Prime Minister Nuri Maliki and Sunni officials. Bombings in Iraq have become a triumph card that all politicians are using it as the easiest way to get way they want.

            The solution in Iraq is either to make three regions; Kurdish, Sunni, and Shiite regions, and “Lebanonize” the central government which means signing a formal deal regarding dividing the main posts in Baghdad, like taaif deal between Lebanese sects. Or the country will face a bloody battle that the evident consequence will be the end of a country called Iraq.