We hope to close this file as soon as possible. Legitimate demands do not include calling for the overthrow of top figures, stopping work on the constitution, rejecting the de-Baathification law, sectarian demands, the dissolution of the security services and pardoning terrorists on the pretext that they were supporting the resistance, and so on.
Al-Monitor: Services have always been a problem in Iraq. There have been many ongoing promises to improve services — especially electricity — but they have not been achieved. Wherein lies the problem, and how can it be fixed?
Maliki: Yes, we have massive destruction and the heavy legacy of the former regime, which left us with a completely destroyed infrastructure. Everything is destroyed or in ruins. We began the difficult process of reconstruction and rebuilding all that was ruined, and at the same time we were working on imposing security and stability, and building the security services and armed forces.
We have taken great strides when it comes to providing electricity, despite a multifold increase in consumption due to increasing standards of living and displays of affluence that have begun to steadily increase. Some provinces are provided with 24 hours of electricity [per day] or a little less, [and some with] 20 hours, whereas in the past it was only an hour or two. Medical services continue to improve.
[We are] building hospitals; salaries are increasing; we have opened a lot of roads and are building universities and schools and reclaiming agricultural land and increasing agricultural production. For the first time, Iraq is nearly self-sufficient when it comes to wheat production. Furthermore, increased oil production and export has made Iraq the second [largest oil-producing country] in OPEC. Even with regard to electric power, we are now about to overcome this crisis. We hope that we will resolve it next year.
Mustafa al-Kadhimi is an editor and columnist for Al-Monitor Iraq Pulse. He is an Iraqi writer specializing in defense of democracy. He has extensive experience in documenting testimony and archiving documentaries associated with repressive practices.
Maliki: Terrorism ‘Directly Related’ to Syria | Iraq Business News http://t.co/AhNkasexpW
Terrorism in Iraq is directly related to Al-Malik's incompetence, corruption and failure to deliver. There is only one realistic option for him, step down and let the better candidates run the country.
Do not point your one finger to others as your other four fingers are pointing at you. Do fool others, Iraq have never been ruled by democracy but a strong dictator from the time 400 B.C.