Jul 6 2012

The link between violence and politics in Iraq

By Fatih Abdulsalam

Azzaman, July 6, 2012

It is not difficult for any observer to see the link between the latest upsurge in violence in Iraq and its timing, which generally coincides with overt political interests.

One is left wondering how come that explosions and car bombings occur with such ferocity once the occasions venerated by Muslim Shiite approach.

As the holy month of Ramadan is on the horizon, there are legitimate concerns about yet another upsurge in violence, exactly contrary to expectations of what conditions should be during this sacred occasion.

This is the reality of the situation of the Iraqi scene without decoration.

The series of bombings and their escalation in the past few months have the potential of suddenly creating massive security vacuums that will undermine national peace and lead to a catastrophe in the absence of a protective national umbrella to shield the country from crises.

Almost all political forces are in agreement that the country is facing a political dilemma which is given different interpretations every day with one thing being certain that the elements consolidating this bypass have become so rooted to the extent that one can see nothing but darkness at the end of the Iraqi tunnel.

With every single step seemingly to take the country forward, new problems come to the surface.

The reason is not hard to pinpoint. The foundations for the current political structure are not strong enough.

The U.S. viceroy Paul Bremer, who governed Iraq as an absolute ruler for five years after the 2003-U.S. invasion, did more harm than good for the country.

The transformations that took place in the post-Bremer period resemble the paint that adorns a rusty vehicle.

The rust beneath the paint with its erosive function has prevented any serious attempt at reform and the country still reels under huge problems connected to the provision of basic amenities like electricity and municipal services not to mention the deteriorating living conditions.

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