Kirkuk Again

I just felt that I should write again about the Kirkuk issue. The July 22 vote by the Parliament and the consequent Veto of the presidential council or whatever they call it was point that is worth stopping at. This is another reminder of how the political parties currently in "real" power in Iraq have sold Iraq and are now literally splitting the winnings. Iraq is a source of renewable power and income and they are not going to give it away full stop.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, back in 2005, the Shi'a and Kurds (and I'm talking about the political parties not the ordinary Iraqis forming the segments of the Iraqi society and there is a big difference) as major political forces in post-Saddam Iraq got into a strategic alliance against the Sunnis. The Shi'a (strongly backed by Iran) wanted to make sure that the Sunnis stay as weak as can be for good and the Kurds (who really don't give a rats a$$ about Iraq and are systematically working towards and independent Kurdistan) cleverly understood that and got into this alliance with the Shi'a for a price (as always) and this time it's Kirkuk, the oil capital of the North. That's why we saw the persistent efforts by the Shi'a led by the Islamic Supreme Council (Al Hakim gang) to make sure that Lirkuk goes to the Kurds as per their old arrangement.

On the other hand, the Sunnis (particularly the Islamic Party) are literally lost! they are not respected and are not treated as partners in the political process as they would like to show themselves. They just want to be part of the show but the Shi'a and Kurds keep reminding them that they are not part of the show/game. They don't know what to do! They participated in the political process under few conditions that were never met by the Shi'a-Kurdish alliance and will never be (remember the constitutional changes!). Al Hashimi and his comrades have lost their base amongst the Arab Sunnis and they know that. His absence during the debates of local elections law was not a coincidence. It was planned and I don't buy the surgery claims cause a sinus surgery is not something that you can't postpone when your country is about to be split apart. Al Hashimi just wanted to keep his relationship with his "partners" in the political process safe and the hell with Iraq. On another note, the Awakening councils are getting their ducks in a row and I expect that they will cause a lot of damage to the Islamic Party's chances in the next elections. Not that they are definitely gonna be better than the Islamic party but at least we can give them the benefit of the doubt for the time being! So Mr Al Hashimi, enjoy while it last, I don't think you'll be there after the next elections. I know I won't vote for you.

As for the recent "relative" peace and calmness that Iraq has enjoyed, I expect it will end soon. The reason is that the political parties in power now need to remind the ordinary Iraqis that they are not safe and will do anything to ensure that and that the fight has to go on to protect them from the terrorist and along the way, they will make sure that people's fear will make them vote for them again, like last time.

As for the minorities and all ordinary Iraqis from all religions and sects, God be with you. In fact, You are on your own. Just make sure you remember that upon the next elections.