American-style democracy unsuitable for Iraq

Edited and translated by People's Daily Online

The United States, which thought it was able to do anything, now finds itself helpless in fixing the terrible mess in Iraq.

The Iraqi war has caused many hidden problems in the Greater Middle East. The United States finds itself helpless in preventing Iraq's domestic and international social, economic, and religious disputes from escalating.

U.S. President Barack Obama said that the United States is leaving behind "a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq," but that is not the case at all. The American-style democracy is completely unsuitable for Iraq, and has obviously been rejected by the country.

Human Rights Watch said in the Iraq chapter of its annual report that Iraq's Shiite-led government has cracked down harshly on dissents, turning the country into a "budding police state." "Iraq is quickly slipping back into authoritarianism, despite U.S. government assurances that it helped create a stable democracy (in Iraq)," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director for the New York-based group.

The severe security situation in Iraq is another major headache for the United States. Shortly after the withdrawal of U.S. troops, terrorist organizations have reignited violence in Iraq. On three different days in the month since the withdrawal, the daily death toll rose past 60, and on more than a dozen days, the toll was more than 10.

In this context, the United States frequent use of UAVs over the skies of Iraq received complaints from the country. Nuland, U.S. State Department spokesman, said the move was intended to protect the U.S. diplomats, but the Baghdad officials were furious about the unauthorized reconnaissance.

Some analysis indicated that while delighted at the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, the Iraqi people are now worried about losing the hard-won sovereignty. The return of UAVs, which had long been hovering over the Baghdad skies as a sign of conquest, will be a severe blow to the pride of the Iraqi people.

Uncertainties in the evolvement of regional powers pattern after the withdrawal of the U.S. troops, notably the Iranian movement, had been a great concern to the United States. Some U.S. officials said in start terms that while Iraq and Iran are both ruled by Shiite Muslims, the former is bound to come under a stronger influence from the latter.

Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS said that how Baghdad would side on the issue of regional security will weigh heavily on the U.S.-Iraq relation. Of great concern to the United States is that Iraq would become a country that allows free passage of "bad guys" or is instrumental in easing regional tension. Some analysis went further to assert that Maliki has not earned the U.S. trust as yet.

The War of Iraq is a painful memory for the U.S. public and a wound into which salt is continuously rubbed. In the election year, the Obama administration will try to cover itself with glory from ending the War of Iraq, and to clear up the mess. However, it is in doubt whether the Iraqi government will act in total obedience to the United States.