That era – where one group would threaten another – is over now. Now it is the era of dialogue and a time when people look to see which group will best serve their own interests.
NIQASH: So do you worry that there will be war between Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan?
Bashir Adel Gli: The possibility of war is very remote. Anyway a war between Erbil and Baghdad would be far from easy – and for many reasons. For one thing, war would wreck any economic gains made in Iraq and for another thing, Shiite Muslim religious leaders wouldn’t allow it to happen.
Anyway, in today’s Iraq power does not rest in the hands of one man, who can then do as he likes. Al-Maliki can't make decisions alone. And there are many important Shiite Muslim personalities who don’t want to see the Iraqi-Kurdish relationship destroyed.
And it is the same here in Iraqi Kurdistan. There are a lot of Iraqi Kurdish politicians who have said to me that they don’t want a war with Baghdad and that they’re opposed to the idea.
NIQASH: After all war would put politicians’ business interests at risk. And they won’t want that. Is that what you’re saying?
Basheer Adel Gli: Yes.
NIQASH: Despite all this though, it seems that both sides are sending more military into the disputed areas every day. People here in Iraqi Kurdistan are frightened, they think that war is inevitable.
Intelligent opinion or very clever. But make a reality check first. Who is the master and who is the slave in Iraq? The Cabinet or the Parliament?
What about law enforcement? What does matters if Parliament legislates laws and the Cabinet do not support, nor implement them?
Does democracy a chance in Iraq with Maliki?
No pain, no gain.