The fast deteriorating security situation in Iraq, and attendant social turmoil, is a damning testament to Washington's handling of Iraqi affairs, writes Haifa Zangana* It was supposed to be the perfect scenario, in which Paul Bremer, the American administrator, hands over "sovereignty" to a selected Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) on 28 June. All those involved were hoping for the news from Iraq to change for the better. Six weeks on the situation in Iraq has gotten worse. The United States appointed Iraqi authorities, powerless and with little control on most cities, have watched time after time US warplanes and helicopters attacking their own people. In cases of Falluja and Najaf, the newly appointed IIG called on the US marine units to protect them. The fighting between the US-led troops and Iraqi resistance has continued in Falluja, Baquba, Baghdad, Rutba, Ammara, Nasiriya, Basra, Kufa, Al-Anbar, Karbala, Najaf and Kut. Hundreds of Iraqis have been killed in the recent uprising, most of them are civilians. How does the IIG perceive Iraqis taking part in the widespread fighting? Hazim Shaalan, the interim defence minister, blamed the bloodshed on "foreign alien forces". While Prime Minister Iyad Allawi singled out "bandits and gangs trying to hide behind Moqtada Al-Sadr". Falah Al-Naqib, the interior minister, said: "We have enough power and strength to kick these people out from the country." Sabah Khadum, senior adviser to the government insisted on describing Al-Sadr and his supporters as "criminals". On the difficulty of dealing with stubborn insurgents in the city of Falluja, Mohamed Abdullah Al-Shahwani, Iraq's director of national intelligence, said: "We could take the city, but we would have to kill everyone in it." Occupying troops, on the other hand, call the Iraqi resistance "anti-Iraqi forces", a new term which include Iraqi army and police units that refuse to fight their own people. Abu Musaab Al-Zarqawi and his followers, the "Sunni triangle" terrorists and Saddam's loyalist have been forgotten temporarily. Contradictory measures have been declared by the IIG. An amnesty restricted to minor crimes and offenses had been announced. The death penalty has been reinstated and curfews declared in many Iraqi cities. Furthermore, like many other police states, a national safety law was issued. Beyond the American air strikes on residential areas, schools and mosques, beyond the heavy toll in many cities, daily life, for most Iraqis, is a tremendous struggle. Car bombs, shootings and kidnapping have become part of daily life. In the absence of law and order, women and children are the main victims. Women are kidnapped for ransom, revenge or to be sold for prostitution. Only 50 per cent of the population have fresh water compared with 60 per cent before "liberation". Electricity is intermittent with temperature reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius. The unemployment rate is 70 per cent. The systematic assassination of 250 scientists and academics has not been investigated. A recent study by the Union of Universities Lecturers warned that if the "stream of assassinations" continues, Iraqi universities will be left without qualified teaching staff. Hospitals are in urgent need of medicine. There are shortages of basic antibiotics, as well as drugs to combat cancer, diabetes and heart diseases. Children are dying of neglect in hospitals. The White House budget office report showed that the US occupation authorities had spent nothing on health-care or water and sanitation -- two of the most urgent needs for Iraqis -- while a total of $9 million was spent on administrative expenses. Fearing for their safety, doctors and consultants are leaving the country. Those are the same doctors who chose to stay in Iraq serving their own people despite Saddam's oppression and 13 years of the most comprehensive sanctions imposed on a country in modern time. Women doctors in particular say we want to get out. Prostitution, honour killing, and abortion in backstreet clinics are on the increase. Drugs are sold openly in the streets. Corruption among government officials is widespread. The UN controller chairing the International Advisory and Monitoring Board said, "it may take more than a year to establish a system to track how much oil is being produced in the country." He also cited concerns about the lack of proper control on the money being spent and an inability to get information on large non- competitive contracts, including one awarded to Halliburton. Up to 25 per cent of Iraqi factories have been destroyed during US-led bombing campaigns since the Gulf War in 1991. The rest are lacking spare parts and plagued with out-of-date equipments. Hajim Al-Hassani, industry minister, stated, "the former occupation authority made little effort to repair bombed-out factories because it believed they should be privatised first." According to Amnesty International report dated 14 July, 2004, "thousands of men, women and children are still held without charge or trial in detention facilities in Iraq, including Abu Ghraib, after the official end of the occupation on 28 June 2004. Some detainees are housed in tents, and are suffering under the intense heat of Iraq's summer. The Iraqi authority must act now to address the injustices inflicted on all those illegally detained in Iraq." The Iraqi authority itself faces allegations of brutality against its own people after US soldiers reported seeing dozens of prisoners being abused at the Interior Ministry in Baghdad. US newspaper The Oregonian published photographs claiming to be of the abused prisoners, including one of a 14-year-old boy. The incident took place on 29 June. It follows claims that Allawi shot six prisoners dead at an Iraqi police station soon after taking power. Among the remarkable blunders of the IIG is the arrest of Sattar Ghanim, editor of Al-Shiraa daily. Iraqi foreign minister accused Al-Manar TV that it works against the interests of Iraqi people. Al-Jazeera TV was the next target. It was accused of inciting violence and the IIG ordered the closure of Al-Jazeera Baghdad office for 30 days. The decision is believed to be influenced by US who has long complained about Al-Jazeera's coverage especially during the siege of Falluja. Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell also have frequently criticised the station for its coverage of the war in Iraq. We believe that Iraq is still under occupation despite the change of tags and labels. What started as a perfect scenario to install a powerful Iraqi prime minister to stabilise the country has proved to be another US policy failure. The idea of Iraq as a fountain for democracy in the Middle East, highly trumpeted by the US administration, is in tatter. The gulf between Iraqi people and US imposed "democracy" is widening. An estimated 13,000 Iraqi civilians were killed since the hand over of "sovereignty", US-led occupation troops, tanks, jet fighters, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, and 20,000 mercenaries. Marginalised Iraqi people made it clear from day one of the occupation that getting rid of a tyrant does not necessarily mean welcoming occupation forces. By resisting, they continue to do so. * The writer is a London-based Iraqi novelist.
