This would lead to a spread of violence and extremism, as is happening today. We oppose the alternative, if this is going to be al-Qaeda and Jabhat al-Nusra. We do not oppose the choice of the people, national unity and the participation of all components; we announced at the outbreak of the crisis that a military option will lead to a deadlock.
We want change based on dialogue, understanding and safe, controlled political solutions, built on the basis of electoral democracy. If we support violence and armament, it will open the door to chaos, civil war and extremism, making Syria a safe haven for terrorist and extremist organizations. We are afraid Syria will turn into a hotbed for terrorist activity, and it is wrong to believe that armament will solve the problem.
In my visit [to the US] around two years ago, I told President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden that the situation in Syria is complicated and that the conflict would not end in a few months, as they expected. I told them that the matter would not be resolved in two years, or even more, and that the social situation, the political and population structure and the sensitive region make it difficult to predict the end of an armed conflict of such cruelty and ferocity.
Thus, Iraq is not opposed to change, and has no interest in things staying as they are, but we oppose resorting to the use of force. We believe that this would open the door to strife, violence and extremism in the region.
Al-Monitor: Relations with Iran are still problematic. Do you think that today relations with Iran are balanced? Are relations with Iran different from those with Turkey or the Arab [Gulf] states, for example? What are your suggestions for balanced Iraqi relations with everyone?
Maliki: We want good relations with all countries, especially neighboring countries. But we are doing what we can to form such relations based on shared interests, mutual respect and noninterference in internal affairs. When we find a country that has shared principles, our relationship grows and develops. This is how our relations begin with all countries of the world, including Iran and Turkey.
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.