The role of the former abroad Oppositions

Faleh Al Saadi

18.06.2005 (iraq-info.com)

The problem of Iraq leading to the difficulties we deal with nowadays is the absence of a government with strong authorities and non sectarian, non corrupt employees.

Iraq needs the educated former oppositions from the industrial countries to build up a stable, democratic and modern state. They:

are highly educated.
are less prone for sectarian influence
are less prone for corruption.
are experienced in dealing with a democratic system
are aware of the power of a constitution.
know how people can assert rights peacefully.

During the time of Saddam’s regime most of the abroad Iraqi intellectuals were not organized in political parties. This may be the reason why they were overlooked from the Allies. To ignore them totally is one of the major errors that has been occurred in the process of rebuilding Iraq. Ten thousands of those who live in industrial western countries are highly educated people. They are the technocrats who can help installing the state of authorities Iraq needs.

Through their studies, jobs, as well as their everyday experiences they have gained skills, which qualified them to help tackling the problems in Iraq.
Unlike people who lived in Iraq under the rule of Saddam’s regime or those who lived in countries like Iran or Syria, the immigrated oppositions in the western countries have lived in democratic systems. These systems are based on democratic laws which guarantee every woman / man unchangeable rights.
They have developed a sensibility to be able to judge what is right or wrong in a democratic state and know how people can assert rights peacefully (through demonstrations, press, etc.).

Many of them who have tried to work in Iraq faced obstacles such as corruption and hostility of the former Baath Party members, as well as former members of the Islamic movements. The Baath-Party still has a great impact on many Iraqis authorities and political groups. Its members regard the Iraqi experts from abroad as a real peril for their influence in the state and do their best to keep the door close for them.

No authentic efforts yet are committed to decline the influence of the Baath Party members in Iraq. The unstable security situation and the absence of well trained employees are some of the reasons for this problem. The number of non corrupt employees who can help changing this situation is still very small. At the same time, the Iraqi political Parties do not have enough highly qualified members who can fill the posts in the departments in order to organize the authorities and decline the influence of the Baath members.

The US government and the current political parties should involve as many qualified Iraqi people as possible to constitute a modern state and build up the nation.

It is impossible to rule and manage a country like Iraq, with its different ethnic and religious groups by involving only a handful of experts and technocrats.
Technocrats and high qualified Iraqis can help to stabilize the political situation and build a modern state in Iraq.

Unfortunately in this article I could only cover a few aspects concerning the important role of the former Iraqi oppositions. A public discussion needs to be opened to improve the political situation in Iraq.

Public meetings must be organized allover the western countries to discuss this subject.
They should be done together with the Iraqis and non Iraqis NGOs rather than with the political parties. The political parties can be of course involved in this process.
The meetings should discuss the kinds of problems which may occur to people who have decided to return to Iraq.

They should deal with questions like:

What do these people expect in Iraq?
Who can help in Iraq, which Authorities, which Parties?
How can the multinational Allies help?
Which Iraqi NGOs can be involved?