Iraqis see little or nothing of the flood of plans and operations

 

By Fatih Abdulsalam

 

Azzaman, June 19, 2005

 

Almost everyday there is a new plan to combat corruption and a new military operation to restore security and order but the situation gets worse and worse.

 

Despite the multitude of plans, there seems no end to the spiraling corruption in government ranks.

 

And despite the numerous military campaigns in which thousands of U.S.-led troops are employed and massive fire power used, there seems no end to mounting insecurity.

 

Iraqis only hear about these plans and operations. Their details, they know nothing about. For the government and the Untied States they are part of national security.

 

But the organizers and initiators of these plans and operations overlook a fundamental fact and hence the drastic failure of their policies.

 

The way to win the war against the insurgency and corruption starts with Iraqi hearts and minds.

 

Iraqis are hard to persuade. To win their hearts and minds the government and the United States must be as transparent as possible about their plans and operations.

 

In the absence of tangible outcomes, both the government and the Untied States are now in the eyes of many Iraqis something like the Don Quixiote who fought windmills and imaginary dragons.

 

Those claiming to fight corruption need to reveal their plans – the methods they use, the kind of corruption they have revealed and the sort of punishment meted out.

 

Iraqis know about such plans but are unaware of results, if any.

 

There are military operations all over the place but there have been no tangible results. The same place is attacked once, twice, three or more times.

 

While Iraqis have no idea of what is going on during these military operations, they are aware of one fundamental fact – the security situation is deteriorating by every passing day.