Editorial
The
Future of Iraq and the Middle East
by Roar Bjonnes
The war
against Iraq was driven by vested rather than moral and humanitarian
interests. The US-led forces should therefore leave Iraq as soon as possible.
Given the absence of a World Government and a World Militia, the next
best alternative is that a coalition of forces, led by the UN, will restore
law and order in Iraq. In addition, the UN should help guide the Iraqi
people on their difficult path toward political and economic democracy.
It should
be noted that the UN does not have a very successful track record in
nation-building or peacekeeping in the region, but if it is to be effective
in Iraq, such a path must include the following:
1. The immediate
end of all economic sanctions against Iraq.
2. A large-scale
economic aid packet must immediately start to flow in to Iraq from the
global community of nations.
3. The Iraqi
oil industry should be allowed to continue as a nationalized enterprise
Profits from the oil industry should be used to help build up Iraq's
infrastructure, including government, schools, hospitals, roads, police,
etc.
4. The oil
industry is a high profit but low labor intensive industry. It is therefore
important that profits from the nationalized oil industry will benefit
other high labor intensive sectors of the Iraqi economy, such as farming
and industry.
5. All peoples,
including the Iraqis, need economic democracy to secure their fundamental
economic and educational needs. Thus no foreign nation or interests should
be allowed to dictate the exploitation of the natural resources of Iraq.
6. The model
for political democracy in Iraq should be based on Iraqi interests and
conditions, not US interests, nor any other Western interests. While
Iraq may learn from other countries, the West should not be allowed to
dictate a political model for Iraq, be it the "Japanese post-WW2
model," or the Turkish "secular Muslim model."
7. Religious
freedom and tolerance is a prerequisite for peace and a successful democracy.
Thus, while political dialogues continue to flourish within the Mosque-system,
it is paramount that no religious dogma or faction of Islam is allowed
to dominate the political discourse in Iraq.
8. A federation
of autonomous Kurdish areas should be set up in the four neighboring
states, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, without splitting these countries
up. In that way, the Kurds could both have a Kurdish passport and a passport
from the country in which they would belong. If, at a later stage, the
Kurds would opt for independence, it should be granted.
9. Economic,
political and cultural cooperation between Syria, Lebanon, Palestine,
Israel, Jordan and Egypt, with open borders for tourism, trade, culture
and economy is a must for the future peace of the region. Iraq could
be an associated partner of this cooperation.
10. Conflicts
in the region should be handled in a constructive way, with equal respect
and cooperation, not with treats and attacks.
