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Questions On Maliki’s Leadership Linger
20/01/2012 02:50:00 By JASIM ALSABAWI
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Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki delivers a speech during a Iraq Day ceremony to mark the end of a pact allowing US forces to stay in the country. Photo AFP
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqis are divided over Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s policies, with some expressing optimism while others saying he has gone too far in his tough rule.
Najah Ali al-Lami, a political science major at Baghdad University, said, “Maliki succeeded in enforcing the law and fighting and forcing the political parties that reject the political process into submission or excluding them. This is a step toward stability that gives hope for a new Iraqi future.”
Lami added, "Maliki was able to restore independence to Iraq whereas all of those who claim to have chosen resistance failed to achieve this. Not allowing the Baathists to participate in the political process does not mean dictatorship, but it is necessary for the country’s protection and security."
Others maintain that Maliki’s tough positions are reactions to his political opponents’ unwillingness to work with him, and believe that he is shouldering the country’s issues alone.
However, Maliki’s critics argue that the prime minister is too suspicious of his allies and that he sees them as opponents as a result.
Political analyst Qahtan Abulrahim maintained that Maliki did not want to resort to autocratic rule.
Abdulrahim told Rudaw, “I think that Maliki has no choice but to veer toward dictatorship because the Kurds have stopped supporting Maliki for their political interests, while the Sunni groups will always remain rivals (with Maliki and Shias) due to the historic disagreements and the lack of trust and differences in perspective and doctrine.”
Abdulrahim said Maliki’s failure to solve corruption played into the hands of his Sunni rivals who now seem to await his downfall.
“Also, Maliki’s repeated attempts to deal with some issues single-handedly made him commit many mistakes. Perhaps, however, he will be successful in security and he can capitalize on that,” Abdulrahim said.
The US troop withdrawal from Iraq was welcomed by many Iraqis who were opposed to the occupation, though now many fear unstable security and the resurgence of sectarian and party alliances.
Fahad Abdullah, a former Iraqi army officer, said, “We are sensing a grave danger as the Iraqi government heads toward a one-party majority declared by Maliki himself. This means a declaration of autocracy and dictatorship. Maliki should have used the opportunity after the withdrawal of the US forces to begin a new era for the rise of Iraq and embrace everyone under one Iraq.”
Abdullah maintained that Maliki’s rule has forced some Iraqis push for more autonomy from the central government because “Maliki failed to become a leader of all the Iraqis.”
Abdullah said he understands why the country’s Sunni leaders brand Maliki as a dictator.
“The proof is his autocratic rule and concentrating all of the power and political decisions that concern the future of the country in his hands,” he said. “He monopolized control of the security ministries and doesn’t believe in the philosophy of national partnership to run the state. He thinks all of that ended with the pullout of the occupation forces.”
A flurry of accusations are being lobbed between the leaders of Iraqiya bloc led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and Maliki’s State of Law Coalition.
In an interview with CNN prior to the US troop withdrawal, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq said the United States was leaving Iraq the "with a dictator."
Meanwhile State of Law coalition MP Khalid Al-Assadi called Mutlaq’s statement “unfounded.”
Assadi added, “The actual democratic practice in Iraq shows that these accusations are worthless. The Council of Ministers follow democratic procedures in decision-making, including voting and majority-rule. These accusations might be an internal struggle among the various Iraqiya bloc leaders intended to win public sympathy.”
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20/01/2012 02:50:00 By JASIM ALSABAWI
Font size:
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki delivers a speech during a Iraq Day ceremony to mark the end of a pact allowing US forces to stay in the country. Photo AFP
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqis are divided over Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s policies, with some expressing optimism while others saying he has gone too far in his tough rule.
Najah Ali al-Lami, a political science major at Baghdad University, said, “Maliki succeeded in enforcing the law and fighting and forcing the political parties that reject the political process into submission or excluding them. This is a step toward stability that gives hope for a new Iraqi future.”
Lami added, "Maliki was able to restore independence to Iraq whereas all of those who claim to have chosen resistance failed to achieve this. Not allowing the Baathists to participate in the political process does not mean dictatorship, but it is necessary for the country’s protection and security."
Others maintain that Maliki’s tough positions are reactions to his political opponents’ unwillingness to work with him, and believe that he is shouldering the country’s issues alone.
However, Maliki’s critics argue that the prime minister is too suspicious of his allies and that he sees them as opponents as a result.
Political analyst Qahtan Abulrahim maintained that Maliki did not want to resort to autocratic rule.
Abdulrahim told Rudaw, “I think that Maliki has no choice but to veer toward dictatorship because the Kurds have stopped supporting Maliki for their political interests, while the Sunni groups will always remain rivals (with Maliki and Shias) due to the historic disagreements and the lack of trust and differences in perspective and doctrine.”
Abdulrahim said Maliki’s failure to solve corruption played into the hands of his Sunni rivals who now seem to await his downfall.
“Also, Maliki’s repeated attempts to deal with some issues single-handedly made him commit many mistakes. Perhaps, however, he will be successful in security and he can capitalize on that,” Abdulrahim said.
The US troop withdrawal from Iraq was welcomed by many Iraqis who were opposed to the occupation, though now many fear unstable security and the resurgence of sectarian and party alliances.
Fahad Abdullah, a former Iraqi army officer, said, “We are sensing a grave danger as the Iraqi government heads toward a one-party majority declared by Maliki himself. This means a declaration of autocracy and dictatorship. Maliki should have used the opportunity after the withdrawal of the US forces to begin a new era for the rise of Iraq and embrace everyone under one Iraq.”
Abdullah maintained that Maliki’s rule has forced some Iraqis push for more autonomy from the central government because “Maliki failed to become a leader of all the Iraqis.”
Abdullah said he understands why the country’s Sunni leaders brand Maliki as a dictator.
“The proof is his autocratic rule and concentrating all of the power and political decisions that concern the future of the country in his hands,” he said. “He monopolized control of the security ministries and doesn’t believe in the philosophy of national partnership to run the state. He thinks all of that ended with the pullout of the occupation forces.”
A flurry of accusations are being lobbed between the leaders of Iraqiya bloc led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and Maliki’s State of Law Coalition.
In an interview with CNN prior to the US troop withdrawal, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq said the United States was leaving Iraq the "with a dictator."
Meanwhile State of Law coalition MP Khalid Al-Assadi called Mutlaq’s statement “unfounded.”
Assadi added, “The actual democratic practice in Iraq shows that these accusations are worthless. The Council of Ministers follow democratic procedures in decision-making, including voting and majority-rule. These accusations might be an internal struggle among the various Iraqiya bloc leaders intended to win public sympathy.”
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