"Giving up in Iraq" or "Giving Iraq up"?

The situation in Iraq is so difficult that even the criticism is becoming chaotic and hard to track. Among the many topics in current events one core issue is worthy of special focus and attention and that is "Iraqi sovereignty" or lack thereof. It maybe easier to control a country that lacks an assertive and independent government, but is keeping Iraq submissive becoming a long term US policy? When the president speaks of not wanting to "give up in Iraq" is he really saying that he doesn't want to "give Iraq up"? There is evidence of this sentiment in recent events, like the blackwater incidents and the political aftermath in both Iraq and the US.

Article 17 of the post-war Iraqi law is a directive by Paul Bremer that gives independent contractors immunity from prosecution. The Iraqi government and parliament, following the recent killing of Iraqis at the hand of security agents, are now working to pass legislation to reverse this legal provision and make all security agents subject to prosecution under Iraqi law. In separate but parallel action, the state department and the Pentagon are fighting over which agency should be supervising the independent contractors for the Iraqis. It was finally decided, according to the New York Times, that the Pentagon will take on that responsibility, implying that perhaps that the uniform code of military justice will be used to prosecute future validations by independent contractors in Iraq.

It is interesting to note the disconnect between what the Iraqis appear to want and what the US is prepared to allow them to have. It is not very hard to predict that tension will likely rise over this issue in the coming months as the Administration fails to satisfy Iraqi government's wish to assert sovereignty--This will likely widen the schism between the USA and Iraq. The question now is what will the administration do when the Iraqis do pass the new law and try to prosecute independent contractors guarding US officials in Iraq, or push for their removal from the country.

The Iraqis are already harassing the independent security contractors using excuses such as non-compliance with weapons licensing laws. It is a popular move with the public and is a way for the Iraqi government to act anti-American without getting in political trouble with the administration. It could be a sign of things to come as Iraq as whole, including its government, is turning anti-American.

One thing is for certain and that is that the administration, by denying the Iraqis authority over independent contractors, is leaving itself with only one option moving forward and that is to weaken the current Iraqi government and reduce its authority to assert sovereignty.

At this point the Iraqi government has officially revoked blackwater's license to work in Iraq but the blackwater company continues to work unimpeded. It is assumed that the US is unable to comply with this, legally non-binding, Iraqi government decree to remove blackwater from Iraq because there is nothing to replace this company with. It is the familiar "all or nothing" choice we seem to end up with in Iraq. The decision makers imply that the US government has only one choice (a bad one) and there are no other options. If all hidden agendas and lobbyists are removed from the equation, the administration maybe surprised to find that is more than capable of coming up with other options vis-à-vis oversight of independent contractors in Iraq.

Looking at the big picture it is not hard to realize that these seemingly little episodes demonstrate a lack on interest in allowing total independence for Iraq and its government. This stance, whether it is based on a hidden agendas or a full fledged policy, dooms the US presence in Iraq and puts the US on a course to becoming an enemy of Iraq and its future governments.Our politicians need to explain to us how they expect the United States to eventually give the Iraqi government full control over Iraq's oil and security forces if we can't even see our way clear to granting the Iraqis the right to prosecute foreign nationals accused of murder on their soil.

One solution to the blackwater situation is to allow the Iraqi government to enforce the revocation of the company's license; the US can then setup a mechanism by which independent contractors can be re-hired by the pentagon. This will most likely result in the bankruptcy of blackwater, despite the lobbying by its billionaire owner, but it would allow the Pentagon to employ ex-blackwater employees under new terms. The Iraqi government having saved face would probably allow the pentagon to assume the role of prosecuting contractors for future infractions. Such action would guarantee independent contractors the ability to work in Iraq while bolstering the Iraqi government's image, rendering it more relevant and legitimate. More importantly, it would set the tone for future US policy when it comes to respecting Iraqi sovereignty and building a lasting alliance based on respect and mutual interests.
Jabbar Fazeli, MD

Author, "Iraq Decoded"