Iraq – Partial Troop Withdrawal

By Padmini Arhant

Congratulations! To President Barack Obama, the United States Military and the coalition forces in the decision on the estimated 50,000 troop withdrawal from combat position in Iraq.

The President fulfilling the campaign commitment on timeline troop withdrawal is praiseworthy with the remaining forces to be withdrawn at the end of the year 2011.

However, the Iraqi national security is directly related to the political stability that remains unresolved.

The incumbent Prime Minister Nouri-Al-Maliki refusal to honor the Iraqi electorates’ will is contributing to the perpetual violence claiming innocent lives and enabling the insurgents’ establishment in the exhausted and war torn Iraq.

Perhaps, if Prime Minister Maliki were to prioritize his country’s interest over personal political ambitions by allowing the electorate mandate to prevail and that being,

The secular government comprising the Shi‘ite, Sunni and other minorities representing Iraq led by Prime Minister-elect Ayad Allawi, then Iraq would be debating on the economic issues rather than dealing with incessant bombings and explosions.

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Padmini Arhant

Iraq's Election Results Favor Secular Government by leader Ayad Allawi

By Padmini Arhant

On May 16, 2010, Iraq’s electoral commission affirmation of a Sunni backed bloc led by the secular, Shiite leader, Ayad Allawi victory over the former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is a clear public mandate in the democratic election held on March 7, 2010.

Further, the election commission ruled out the voter fraud charges by the Shiite leader and the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after recount in the districts suspected of the alleged inaccuracy.

Hence, the new government with the Prime Minister Ayad Allawi to resume power in office is the electorates’ final decision in the prolonged electoral process that has contributed to sectarian violence due to partisanship sought by the homogenous Shiite party under the then Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

The political standoff by the previous administration refusing to accept the democratic will has claimed many innocent lives of the Shiites and Sunni population through militants’ orchestrated bombings and explosions until now.

People of Iraq deserve peace and normal existence in a secular society.

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Padmini Arhant

Iraq’s New Government – Imperative for National and Regional Stability

By Padmini Arhant

Following the article titled “Iraq’s Political Stalemate – Solution to a Promising Future,” published on the website May 14, 2010,

The topic is continued to lay emphasis on the serious ramifications for a nation without the republic approved political power in office.

According to the latest reports, the Iraqi election results declare the secular Shiite leader – Ayad Allawi, the winner with strong Sunni and other minority party support for having secured the most parliament seats.

The former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s undemocratic stance by excluding the Sunnis and forming a coalition with religious Shiites to challenge the electoral outcome is worthy of condemnation.

Further, the election commission has confirmed in response to vote verification demand for inaccuracy that:

“A full recount in Baghdad province showed no fraud or major irregularities.”

Thus invalidating the ex- Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki’s claim against the winning party on voter fraud.

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Padmini Arhant

Iraq’s Political Stalemate and Solution to a Promising Future

By Padmini Arhant

It has been over two months for the parliamentary elections in Iraq and the nation is without a new government thus far.

Since there is no absolute majority winner, the political parties have been scrambling to form a coalition unsuccessfully.

The situation has created a void in the absence of ruling government allowing the insurgency to re-emerge that claimed 119 civilian lives on Monday 10, 2010.

Further, the U.S. troop withdrawal with August 31 deadline and the complete pull out from Iraq by the end of 2011 is contingent on the political stability.

The military perspective is “to hold as many forces on the ground until the need to redeploy them.”

Even though, the security agreement between Iraq and the United States requires the U.S. exit by the end of 2011, that now appears to be improbable from the military officials’ statements.

If this is not a wake up call to the elected officials in Iraq, then nothing can revive democracy in the war torn nation.

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Padmini Arhant

The Iraqi Parliamentary Elections - 2010

By Padmini Arhant

After prolonged war and foreign troops still on the ground, the Iraqi population went to the polls on March 7, 2010.

Despite explosions in and around Baghdad and elsewhere, the election marks a great period for the Iraqi population.

Like most democratic elections, the Iraqi electoral process is faced with the ballot counting errors and fraud allegations.

Nevertheless, it’s a unique opportunity for the Iraqi people to embrace democracy having been persecuted previously,

Followed by an on-going war that has forced the government to deal with the anti-war insurgency within the country,

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Padmini Arhant