Iraq Plundered and Devastated

Over three years ago the Americans defied the world opinion to invade and occupy Iraq. The reasons for which this brutality was committed have proved to be wrong one by one. But the Americans stubbornly refuse to accept it. Their ridiculous argument is that while murder is an unlawful act, they were, however, right in murdering Iraq.

On the occasion of the invasion three years ago the Americans had told the world from the roof top that they would give Iraq democracy and a world class infrastructure. Today the Iraqis have got a bleeding democracy which can not survive without the support of the occupation forces. Over four months after the elections the warring factions of Iraqi politicians have at last found a president and a prime minister. The insurgents have marked the so called transition of power by killing some more American soldiers.

But the front on which the Americans have failed the most is building infrastructure in Iraq. Immediately after their victory over Baghdad, they had announced to spend over US $ 20 bn on rebuilding an Iraq which they had destroyed, first through suffocating sanctions and then by brutal carpet bombing. But only half of the promised 20 billion has been utilized in the last three years. Furthermore, much of the amount spent so far, has gone to building Iraqi forces and providing justice and the development of the badly damaged or destroyed infrastructure has been ignored, to say the least. As a result the Iraqis today have fewer facilities than they had in Saddam’s sanction-hit Iraq. We may recall the well-lit Baghdad during America’s brutal night bombardment. But today the people of Baghdad get power only a few hours a day. Even the Americans working in the so called “Green Zone” of Baghdad have to depend more on generators than the electricity supplied by the power plants. Americans have spent billions of dollars on electricity-generation but the Iraqis get far less power than they used to get during the Saddam era.

Immediately after overthrowing Saddam, the Americans launched major projects for water treatment which are yet to be completed. Today, according to the figures provided by the Americans, barely 32% Iraqis have access to clean drinking water which compares poorly with the 50% of the Saddam era. The same is the story in other important sectors as well.

After occupying Iraq, the Americans promised to build 150 state-of-the-art heath clinics but only 15 have so far been completed. Iraq’s quota to produce oil is 2.5 million barrel a day but the average production in recent time has been just over two million barrel. This fall in production, coupled with the fear factors, is the reason behind soaring oil prices. Initially the Iraqi insurgents had targeted some oil and gas pipelines but soon they stopped it as it was hurting the Iraqis more than the occupation forces. The reason why Iraq is unable to produce its quota of oil, which is 2.5 million barrel a day, is that America’s projects for reconstructing Iraq’s oil industry are running way behind the scheduled time.

The Americans usually blame the insurgents for all their failures. The fact, however, is that it is they who have failed on every front. They thought it was possible to pursue the old fashioned imperialism of 19^th century in the modern Iraqi theatre of 21^st century. As a result they are paying dearly for their miscalculation. They are killing and are getting killed without knowing when this vicious cycle will stop. They have brought to power people who can not manage the show without their support.

The Americans are trying Saddam Husain for the crime he committed against humanity. That he eliminated his opponents and therefore deserves to be hanged. Today many Americans as well as American-supported Iraqi politicians have blood on their hands. But who will try and punish the murderer-judge?

Iraq is bleeding today because of the wrongs committed by both Saddam Husain and USA. When Saddam Husain had power, he misused it as Americans are doing today. It is the folly of some megalomaniac leaders, Iraqis as well as Americans, because of which the Iraqi people have been subjected to unbearable sufferings.

The sadest aspect of the panorama unfolding in Iraq is that the world is a mute witness to what is happening in Iraq. It is a world that reacts to small-scale violence in Nepal and Sri Lanka but keeps almost a criminal silence on what is going on in Iraq. Just over three years ago, when the Americans invaded Iraq illegally, the entire world was up in protest. But that very world seems to be approving of what ever Americans are doing in Iraq including the crime against humanity. It is America’s double standard, coupled with the world’s indifference to Euro-American and Israeli imperialism which breed anger in the Muslim world. And the anger of the helpless often assumes what they arrogantly call “terrorism”. What needs to be emphasized is that not only terrorists but also the creators of terrorists deserve condemnation and befitting punishments.

[April, 2006]