POMED Notes: Iraq’s New Government:Now Comes the Hard Part
On Wednesday, the United States Institute of Peace hosted a panel discussion on the future of Iraq following December elections titled “Iraq’s New Government: Now Comes the Hard Part.” Tara Sonenshine, Executive Vice President of U.S. Institute of Peace introduced the panelists: Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, Minister of State and Spokesperson of the Iraqi Government, Dr. Wisam Al-Ubaidi, the Al-Wifaq Al-Watani Party’s representative to the United States, Qubad Talabani, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s representative to the United States, and Sean Kane, Program Officer at the U.S. Institute of Peace. The panel was moderated by Manal Omar, Director of Iraq Programs at the U.S Institute of Peace.
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Manal Omar set the frame for the discussion by stating that the real challenge is only just beginning. During months of painstaking negotiations, key strategic, political, and economic issues were pushed to the back burner. And now that a true power-sharing entity has been formed, the government can no longer defer making decisions regarding key issues such as national reconciliation, Arab-Kurdish tensions, improving service delivery and addressing corruption.
Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, who contributed to the discussion via webcam, discussed his enthusiasm on having a newly constructed unified and inclusive government in which everyone shares the responsibility and the burden for bringing about success in Iraq. He stated that the key concern for the newly formed government was to improve on domestic issues especially relating to service delivery, implementation of anti-corruption measures, disputed territories such as Kirkuk, and improving Iraq’s human rights record and national security –especially as it relates to protecting Christian and Yazidi minorities. Al-Dabbagh also discussed the need for Iraq to set up strong political and economic relations with neighboring countries and the broader international community. However, he also stressed that regional actors should not interfere with [Iraq’s] internal political affairs. He stated that foreign interference may cause tensions in the new government as certain parties or blocs may attempt to exploit relations with those countries to gain power.
Dr. Wisam Al-Ubaidi expressed his appreciation for Arab leaders and US government officials, who have supported Iraq through the elections over the last few months, and the sense of pride that he and many Iraqis felt when Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said, “Iraq is a great nation with a promising future.” He also expressed his pride in his Iraqi identity and the importance of overcoming religious and ethnic identities to form a more collective Iraqi identity.
Qubad Talabani began by stating that there needs to be a more nuanced approach when discussing Arab-Kurdish tensions. Talabani argued that the tensions have mainly been between the government and the province and not among Arabs and Kurds on the street level, a distinction which is seldom iterated. However, Sean Kane, USIP Iraq Program Officer, later alluded to reports of violence and displacement of Iraqis in Kirkuk and the North East region. Talabani also stated that the biggest challenge facing Iraq today is solving the issue of governance. The government has yet to define its policies on key issues like oil, energy, agriculture and security and how they will be implemented. Talabani also discussed the new government structure in which the most effective check on the government is going to be the government itself. He argued that if the council of ministers performs its function and strongly voices their concerns when they arise, it will prevent the Prime Minister from having too much power. He applauded the structure of the council which is inclusive and allows for a cross-section of views. Finally he iterated that it is important for Iraq to maintain a strong political, economic, and security relationship with the United States.
Sean Kane began with discussing the positive mood in Baghdad. Kane discussed Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari’s role as a facilitator and a moderator between Dr. Iyad Allawi and current Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki. Kane also pointed to federalism, oil, Kirkuk and other disputed territories as issues the new government will be tackling. When discussing the new government’s position on its military and economic relationship to the US, Kane referenced an interview with Maliki conducted by the Wall Street Journal.
In response to a question regarding women’s political involvement, Al-Ubaidi and Talabani called for women’s involvement in politics and in all sectors of society and industry. Talabani noted his disappointment that there weren’t more women in government, but pointed to the large number of women in power in the Kurdish provinces.
Both Al-Ubaidi and Talabani welcomed Muqtada Al-Sadr’s return to Iraq. It is best to have people who are interested in Iraq and want to work in Iraq and to be there and we look at it as a positive thing, Talabani said.
When the panel was asked about the actual power of the National Council on Strategic Policies, Kane stated that it was still unclear as to whether it would be an advisory body or have real power. Also speaking on this point, Talabani said that the role of the council will be in large part to lessen the mistrust, but will also have a say on key issues such as the country’s oil policy and national security. It will be a check on the government as well.
When asked about possible movement towards regionalization of Basra, Anbar and Maysan’s impact on the national government, Talabani argued that as long as it falls under what the constitution outlines, then it doesn’t need to be seen as something working against the unified Iraq. Instead, he argued, it can take the burden off the federal government and puts executive power in the hands who want to see regions develop and have the means to see their regions develop. Federalism is not a dirty word, but can be a good system that works in country which is as diverse of Iraq. He also stated that a federalist model can be especially successful in Iraq because it will diminish the prize of Baghdad. As the recent elections showed, there was a struggle and rush for Baghdad which can be lessened by having a federalist system. Kane remarked that while federalism may work in Iraq there is some ambiguity in the constitution about the rules regarding federalism which need to be addressed, especially in regards to issues of revenue.
The issue of protecting the Christian and Yazidi minorities in Iraq is also a primary concern for the new government. According to Talabani, this is a national issue, not just a regional one especially as many minorities live in disputed territories in Iraq where there are ambiguities of who holds the power and therefore responsibility. Kurdistan in the meantime has opened its doors to Christians. Al-Ubaidi stated that this issue will be addressed as soon as the security file will be closed in Iraq. Manal Omar stated that the Christians and other minorities need to protect by the federal government as their only other option is to leave the country. When asked if attacks are anti-Christian or anti-West in nature, Omar stated Iraqi ministers were clear that the attacks were not anti-western but potential ploys to undermine the Iraqi government which was the real target. Talabani noted that Al-Qaeda has targeted the Yazidis and Christians because they are unable to fight back and require the support of the federal government; alternately, when Kirkuk was attacked by Al-Qaeda in the past regional forces were able to strike back.
When addressing a question about the human rights abuses by the Iraqi security forces, Talabani urged patience: we are addressing the culture of violence in Iraq that will take place over time through education and getting people to understand that this is wrong and that will take a long time. Ubaidi also said that the Iraq government has formed a new department to address human rights in Iraq and will play a big role in taking action on human rights violations.
Finally Talabani stated that the most important thing the government must excel at is building the economic sector and improving service delivery to the people. Al-Ubaidi also said that the economy is an important concern for the government in addition to security, education, health care, and improving the standard of living for the Iraqi people. Kane stated that security, employment, and the delivery of services, especially electricity, are the most important concerns of the Iraqi people.