Democracy is an interesting theoretical term signifying the rule ("cracy") of the people ("dem"). The question of whether
this is being truly established in Iraq along with the actions of the occupying government will lead us to important conclusions
on the intentions of the war and the intended direction for Iraq’s future. A look at similar historical circumstances
will show that contrary to common belief, democracies or self-determined governments are never established under imperial
rule with the created government being nothing more than a mere puppet of the invading nation.
In the years previous Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, Sadaam was a key ally of the U.S. in the Middle East with his
record and actions of mass murder, barbarism, and torture going almost completely unreported in the mainstream news. Contrary
to claims by most, the CIA had not only backed and supported Sadaam and his regime during his reign but helped impose him
as the ruler of Iraq for corporate and military strategic interests in the Middle East. (
http://www.upi.com/inc/view.php?StoryID=20030410-070214-6557r)
This seriously calls into question the self-claimed commitment of the United States towards freedom and democracy when
they support a dictator for oil interests and back his brutal rule through a supply of biological weapons. This ultimately
not only generates the need for verification of America’s intent in Iraq but the need for a World Court investigation
into the actions of the US in Iraq and the amount of responsibility it holds for Sadaam’s massacres.
The primary purpose of Sadaam’s position as imperialist puppet was to provide as a servant for liberalization of
Iraq’s economic barriers so as to open up its vast oil and water reserves for U.S.-based multinational corporate control.
When it turned out he wasn’t producing results and cooperating with corporate interests, US attitude towards Hussein
began to slightly sour and fully turned around when he disrupted oil interests by invading Kuwait. After the war (slaughter),
in which over 200,000 were murdered, the U.S. supported genocidal sanctions by the U.N. which resulted in the deaths of over
a million people, including 500,000 children, over a 12 year period. (
http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,232986,00.htm)
Throughout history invading imperialist countries have imposed puppet governments onto the conquered who are mere servants
of their economic and political interests. No democracy, or self rule of the people, has ever been created under colonial
occupation and Iraq is not an exception. The privatization of Iraq’s oil resources to be placed under US-based corporate
control, promoted by the free-market agenda of the US, is a primary concern of the Bush administration in occupied Iraq.
The elections of 2005 were a success for the non-violent resistance in Iraq which was distorted by media propaganda as
a plan that had been consistently pushed by the U.S. government. The political resistance in Iraq forced the U.S. to abandon
its plan for a form of caucus system, in which the occupation would develop the constitution, for democratic elections but
in which the probability of fraudulency in was very high. Whether the democracy in Iraq is authentic or a smoke screen for
control of its resources, its success is highly unlikely due to sectarian differences and the threat authentic democracy in
Iraq would have to U.S. economic and political interests. This includes a Shiite majority that would most likely ally itself
with Iran and a high opposition to U.S. presence in Iraq and control of its oil.
True democracy would be a positive in Iraq over the long run regardless of the side effects but the authenticity of the
current form is highly questionable. Based on the actions taken by the U.S. and their historical context there is very little
reason to believe that the people of Iraq will be allowed to carry out self rule and determination. The people of Iraq must
build a successful alternative to the two extremes of the suicide bombing "resistance" and the puppet government of the U.S.
if they are to have control of their destiny in the future.
