Memorandum from The Free Iraqi Council
LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE FROM
THE EDITOR OF THE "FREE IRAQ" NEWSPAPER, 15 NOVEMBER
2003
On 4 November 2003, I watch with interest your
discussion about the situation in Iraq and recent developments
of the war on terrorism. I am pleased to enclose with this letter
a modest account of what has happened there during the last few
months hoping that this report would help you to have a clear
picture about these events.
Needless to say that Great Britain should take
an active role to help Iraqi people in rebuilding their future
without foreign interference which has increased dramatically
after the last war. I have recently written twice to the Prime
Minister about this development but unfortunately I have not received
any acknowledgment from his office let alone a proper reply.
I am still thinking that United Kingdom can
play a major role in helping Iraqi people to get out of this mess
especially when there are decent people like you who have expressed
real concerns about what happening in that part of the world.
Qassim Ghali,
Editor of the "Free Iraq" newspaper,
November 2003
THE SITUATION
IN IRAQ
AND BRITAIN
POLITICAL AND
MORAL OBLIGATIONS
TOWARDS ITS
PEOPLE
1. In the end of 2002, United States and
Great Britain had promised Iraqis who opposed Saddam regime in
London Conference that they would immediately after the war, help
them to convene a national conference in Baghdad to elect National
Assembly from which an interim government would be established.
This has not happened despite all efforts and pledges to both
sides.
2. In July 2003, three months after the
war, United States together with Great Britain agreed to form
a sort of Iraqi Authority. This move came about as result to pressure
from Iraqis and the demand by the international community. Through
intensive discussion with main Iraqi factions they established
the Governing Council to work along side with the Coalition Provisional
Authority. This development has been seen as a positive sign and
the first step towards the transferring of power to Iraqis. Most
of Iraqis welcomed this move. I must also mention that progress
has been made during the last few months but security is still
a challenging problem and terrorist attacks continue to increase.
WHY IS
THE SITUATION
DETERIORATING?
3. The invasion of Iraq has turned the country
into a battle-field for some terrorist groups in the region. These
groups, mainly Islamic Organisation, find this situation as an
opportunity to fight against the Americans and have allied with
the remnants of the previous Iraqi regime. The political vacuum
also attracts more and more foreign powers to interfere in Iraq
and invites terrorists to penetrate and operate freely. Iran has
got now more than (30) thousand fighters disguise in many forms
and shapes inside Iraq and it has continued its support to wide
range of Islamic groups and individuals. Syria opens its border
with Iraq to Arab fighters and now expands its support to Iraqi
national, religious and tribal groups. It has invited recently
more than (100) tribal "Leaders" most of whom are Ba'athists
among them some used to hold key positions in the previous regime.
President Assad has received some of these delegates and issued
strong statements in support of these people. In Syria as well
as in Jordan and less obvious in Yemen and the United Arab Emirates,
there are large number of Ba'athists and top officials from the
previous regime who are organising and financing attacks against
coalition forces inside Iraq.
4. These political and terrorist activities
can not succeed without the support of the population who is now
increasingly unhappy with the Americans. This has turned more
Iraqis against them and we can see images of that on television
screens when people celebrate after any attack. Iraqis were more
than happy to see the Americans toppling Saddam but now think
differently. United States and Great Britain have won the war
easily but they failed to win the hearts and minds of Iraqi people
who welcomed them at the beginning.
5. There are certain reasons for these unfortunate
developments, which should be addressed and understood, especially
by the American Administration. These reasons are:
— The American soldiers use heavy-handed
tactics and show no mercy in their attitude towards ordinary Iraqis
who are confused and not knowing how to behave.
— United States has decided to abolish
capital punishment in Iraq and then to dissolve the Ministry of
Defence.
— United States failed to treat Iraqis
fairly by supporting particular groups and giving big salaries
to some Iraqis working for the Pentagon.
— United States has excluded most talented
and experienced Iraqis in its effort to rebuild Iraq and instead
it favours some Iraqis who are neither qualified nor trusted by
the Iraq people.
— United States has not taken any measures
to deal with previous Iraqi leadership and its crimes while American
forces have helped some of them to flee Iraq and now they are
organising themselves outside the country.
— United States has recruited some
Iraqis from exile (most of them living in America) as advisors
in a very secret way and not open to all Iraqis. They are paid
very big salaries between $10,000 to $15,000 per month while the
average salary paid to other Iraqis is $50 to $150 per month.
6. Force is never the only answer to solve
this kind of problematic issue and terrorists can not be defeated
without winning the people of Iraq. Terrorists always hide among
people and can easily strike now and again if the United States
continues to ignore the wishes of the people and does not listen
to their concerns.
7. The other thing I should mention here
is the role of Arab Media, newspapers and satellite channels in
particular, which have been sending powerful messages to Iraqis
about their "National Resistance" against the occupation.
It has succeeded in comparing the humiliation of Iraqis with that
of Palestinians in the occupied territory while the Iraqi Media
which is controlled by the Americans failed to get people of Iraq
to listen or to trust.
WHAT IS
WRONG WITH
GOVERNING COUNCIL?
8. The Iraqi Governing Council, as you are
aware, a (25) member body appointed by United States and Great
Britain, roughly reflects the country's religious, ethnic makeup
and is probably the first of its kind as representative government
in Iraqi history. It includes (13) Shia (5) Sunni (5) Kurds (1)
Christian (1) Turkoman, among these members three women. This
appears to look good but the reality is somehow different.
9. The five members who represent the Supreme
Council, Aldeawa Party (two Islamic organisations supported by
Iran) then the DPK, PUK two Kurdish factions and the Communist
Party. These are the main political forces in Iraq and have substantial
support of the people with long history in opposing the Ba'athist
Regime. There are also three members represent the Islamic Party
(backed by Saudi Arabia) Turkoman Front (backed by Turkey) and
Assarian Democratic Front (Christian). These three groups have
become active after (1990) but they lack the experience and the
support of the people.
10. The eight members of Governing Council
at lease represent political groups with some platforms and ideas
about Iraq and how it should be administrated. They also exercise
religious and ethnic demands. The problem with these organisations
is that most of them are old ideological who share the authoritarian
style of government and anti-western belief. Some of these groups
had actively fought against the Ba'athist regime not for democracy
or human rights issues but because the previous regime had deprived
them from everything even the right to exist.
11. Apart from the eight, the rest of the
members are independent (individuals) with little to do with politics,
although there is an exception. This fact has paralysed the council
and prevented it from pursuing any role in helping the Coalition
Provisional Authority or protecting the Iraqi people. The council
has not been active at all and failed to engage with Iraqis who
resist the invasion and fear for their future rather than fighting
for the old regime. These beside other factors mentioned above
have driven more and more Iraqis into resistance and Saddam using
them effectively against the coalition forces.
WHO ARE
THE REST
IN THE
COUNCIL?[36]
The Council's Failure?
12. These remarks about the members would
indicate the weakness of the council which has no significant
power. Apart from the eight who are capable of looking after themselves
and their security, the rest rely heavily on the American and
British forces for their security and they have become real burden.
They have not met a single Iraqi citizen and have not engaged
in any political activities since they took the job. They have
made several visits to neighbouring countries and concentrated
their efforts on the appearance in the "Media" especially
the Arab ones and gained as much as they can from the contracts
for rebuilding Iraq.
13. The council failed to elect its chairman
by democratic means to show the Iraqi people an example of how
democracy would work and instead had appointed nine members as
monthly leaders. This is because that none of them believe in
the democratic process or practice in achieving their objectives
and none of them would accept any other person as leader. Behind
this attitude are the tribal mentality, personal considerations,
self-interest and not nation building thought.
14. The appointment of ministers based on
each member of the Governing Council to submit one name. Most
of them chose one of his relatives or friends for the job depriving
a large number of Iraqis from taking part in this process in such
a delicate and dangerous situation. Among these ministers one
is a member of American Republican Party and some businessmen
who work for many years outside Iraq and have nothing to do with
the country or politics. This is something unbelievable and unacceptable
to many Iraqis.
15. The council endorsement for the decision
taking by the American Civil Administrator to put all Iraq assets
(public property) on sale has caused outrageous responds with
the ordinary people and condemnation by almost all national, liberal
and democrat groups. This led to the belief that this council
is merely a pocket.
GREAT BRITAIN
OBLIGATIONS
16. The Arab rulers who are supported for
the last half century by the United States and a large number
of Arab intellectuals who are the only people benefited from the
West, these two groups tend to blame the American for everything
even for their quarrels with their wives. These two groups are
behind the anti-Western rhetoric and especially anti-America one
through cleverly articulated speeches and through the Arab Media.
They are the creative of antagonistic feeling against the West
and in particular against the United States because it suits their
interests and helps them to deprive others from basic rights.
Ordinary people in the Arab and Muslim world have nothing against
the West and in the contrary they believe of the benefit of having
a good relations with the West.
17. This fact should be acknowledged by
the British government and give its support to Iraqis who suffered
dearly under the previous regime. It should also help in the process
of rebuilding the country and encourage Iraqis who are British
citizen in participating in this task. Iraqis inside and outside
the country are very glad to get rid of Saddam but they are in
need for the help of the International community as well as the
Americans and the Britons. The United Nations can play a major
role in reforming the political system in Iraq and giving sort
of legitimacy to the interim government that is supposed to administrate
during transient period.
18. Great Britain is the only country, which
can persuade the United States to give the United Nations this
role for the benefit of the Iraqi people and stop the Americans
from disregarding the International Law. The United States has
an obligation to treat Iraqis fairly as an occupied power and
not interfering or changing the Iraqi Laws in favour of any community
or group. It is also vital to Iraqis that the victims of the previous
regime should have their rights restored and criminals have been
persecuted. Until now nothing has been done in this aspect which
casts doubt on all claims of freeing Iraq or achieving democracy.
19. The immediate need for Iraq now is security
and the restoration of services. Then Iraq needs the return of
normality and law and order before democracy. These issues are
the most important ones in order to win the trust of people and
to isolate the terrorists and deprive them from gaining ground
in the country. Iraqi people have now a very difficult time and
are confused with whole events and they need help. The excessive
use of military force is not helping anyone and instead of solving
the problems it will create more and complicate the already existent
ones.
20. I hope that in this modest report, I
have given you an overall account of the situation in Iraq, urging
you to do whatever you can to make the government listen to Iraqi
people rather than talk on behalf of them or in their name.
Editor of the "Free Iraq" newspaper
November 2003
36 Not printed. Back
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