He wondered “what kind of partnership is it, [when] Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi is accused of terrorism, Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi is being prosecuted and thousands of the Iraqiya List’s supporters are subjected to de-Baathification [laws] or remain in prison on unfounded charges.”
Allawi said he had suggested to his Sunni partners that they work as the opposition in parliament, and do not take part in the Maliki government. Yet, he said, “they were not convinced, because their masses want to be represented in the government.”
Allawi said that he has information showing that Maliki intends to pressure the [Independent High] Electoral Commission to postpone the legislative elections, scheduled in March 2014, for six months, to address the damage — which was revealed in the recent local elections — inflicted to his popularity.
Allawi believes that the recent local election results are a clear message to the State of Law Coalition, led by Maliki, expressing “popular anger with his performance.”
The Iraqiya leader believes that the next stage will produce new political alliances. He praised the performance of the movement led by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and the progress made by the Islamic Supreme Council, led by Ammar al-Hakim, in local elections.
On the US decision to invade Iraq, Allawi said that from the beginning, he was not with this decision, and he tried to convince Washington of the need to adopt a different policy — one based on communication with Iraqi army officers and local politicians — to achieve change in Iraq.
“We told them that even if you decide to invade, you need to prune and preserve the state institutions," he said. "Yet, they dismissed the military and allowed the de-Baathification [to happen].”
Ali Abel Sadah is a Baghdad-based writer for both Iraqi and Arab media. He has been a managing editor for local newspapers as well as a political and cultural reporter for more than 10 years.
There is no smoke without a fire.
The Sunnis are obviously discriminated and obviously have a dream of getting things better for them, perhaps coming back to good old days, or?
Why no trying a federal state approach like the KRG is doing for El-Anbar and Ninewa?
In principle any major region could become a self ruling region if fair engagement rules were created between the central and the regional governments. If it is working in so many other countries like Switzerland, Germany and the USA. Is democracy in Iraq so difficult to accept?
Unfortunately, Iraq is the Ali Baba country with so many thieves but there is no reason why things should continue the way they are. Changes no matter in which name, the Iraqi spring or the other spring are major challenges for all rulers of Iraq but the citizens have a voice and should stop thinking that it is useless, there is no hope unless we become a part of the theft to other less fortunate Iraqis citizens.
All is about your family, children, grandchildren and what you want to leave after you to them. An Ali-Baba thieve society or something better than you ever had? Is it worth a try?