Is there still a way out for Iraq?

AMERICA, while occupying Iraq, had the power to do anything that was needed to be done. It could require all major groups to come to a consensus as to the basic rules of power sharing as it was done in Tunisia. A commission --consisting of leaders from all three groups as well as some international or UN experts as advisers – could lay down some basic structure principles that would remain as the unchangeable foundation of the constitution to ensure partnership of all the ethnic groups: Shiia, Sunni and Kurds. This consensus should have been done before the Constituent Assembly election.

This was exactly how the most polarized groups in Tunisia – the secularists and the Islamists – came together to form the Ben Achour Commission to lay the ground rules of power sharing before electing the Constituent Assembly members to frame the constitution.  The mechanism of Proportional Representation [PR] that was agreed upon before the election played a key role in maintaining the balance.  Realizing what was at stake the Ennadha party, under the visionary leadership of Rachid Ghannouchi, compromised and accepted the terms that would compel his party-the most popular party-- to share power with others. Otherwise he realized that the secularists would boycott the election and everyone would lose. They created a win-win state of affairs. The secret of this success is inclusive politics.

If America could rebuild the defeated and devastated enemy countries – Japan and Germany – after the World War II with its Marshall Plan within only 7-years of occupation why the superpower now failed in Iraq even after 9 years? Extraordinary situations require extraordinary measures. If imposing a democratic system and building infrastructures under the military occupation helped Japan and Germany raise a stupendous speed of recovery and progress why it could not be repeated in Iraq in our time when the know-how, capacity and logistics are immensely better now than ever before.

In the absence   Ghannouchi in Iraq, if the commission would fail to come to a consensus America still had a choice of bringing in a group of political experts to help to lay the rules that would make the three groups interdependent in running the country. A similar step was taken in Kosovo to avert the strong propensity of revenge and further bloodshed by the Muslim majority against the Serb minority. The constitution itself was dictated and implemented under the leadership of Martti Ahtisaari appointed by the UN. In a very short period of time Kosovo changed and accepted peaceful coexistence.  

The proportional representation [PR], a delicate balance between the central and local governments, highest offices reserved for different ethnic representation on a rotating basis as was done in Lebanon effectively, term limits for highest offices, multi-party cabinet, among others, are some effective tools to promote a power-sharing governance. A bicameral legislative organ with the upper house based on equal representation of each group and the lower created through one-person-one-vote basis and an interdependent relationship between the two chambers could also be a power-sharing mechanism.  The system of interdependence may become slow and difficult at times but in the long run this promotes national integration, constructive engagements, conflict resolution, stability and a rich political culture of dialogue, cooperation and accountability.

America could have achieved most of its goals at the fraction of the price it paid if it could retain the trust it had six decades ago. America did not win the Cold War by pursuing the 'containment' policy and the proxy fights but by its visionary diplomatic undertakings of détente and reaching out to China in the 1970s.  After all America still fails to walk on the path its founders laid down more than two centuries ago: liberty, equality and dignity are the inalienable rights of all human beings. That was the path America could have achieved its true greatness had the fear and arrogance not robbed its spirit.

America's duty now is to create a concerted effort with the international community to pressure the present Iraqi leadership enough to undertake the radical changes that is needed in its constitution, system, and mindset to embrace inclusive political system. Three ethnic groups should feel secure and indispensable in running Iraq and sharing its oil revenues. Then Iraq still can get integrated and become a regional power. Otherwise the oil rich region could be conflagration much worse than it is now. Good governance is the most effective way to fight extremism. An integrated Iraq is the best way to defeat the Islamic State.

The writer is Executive Director; US based Justice, Peace and Progress.
E-mail: rubyamatullah@yahoo.com