Violence has escalated in Iraq in recent weeks as the deadline for handover of power approaches. Is Iraq ready to take control of their country? Esssential services have not been totally restored and the police force has not been trained. I think the answer to that question is obvious.
Mr. Bush has decided that no matter what this deadline is firm, but is Iraq ready? The biggest question still to be answered is: Will the people accept this goverment?
Basically, there are three distinct groups in this country. The Shiites who consist of about 60 % of the population and the Sunnis and Kerds who make up the bulk of the rest. The Kerds control the northern part of the country and the Shiites control the southern section and the Sunnis control the center, primarily Bagdad. These rivalries go back many, many years. It would not make sense to expect these groups to put aside all their ethnic differences to become a united Iraq. We can see that by the recent work on a constitution. The ruling council is made up of people who have not been in Iraq for a very long and were appointed by the United States. It is no wonder that these people are not trusted by the general population. Elections are scheduled for 2005 at the earliest.
There is no doubt that power will be handed over on June 30th as promished. The key is that real power and a real goverment will not be in place until elections are held. Even then there will problems for this fledgling democracy. We must remember that for more than thirty years, this country was controlled by a dictator. Democracy will not be easy. Hopefully, the United Nations will become involved and the transition will be as smooth as possible and the United States will show the Muslim world that this was worth the effort.
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