Middle East News

US ambassador to Iraq says country needs a "Mandela"

Sep 10, 2007, 18:43 GMT

Washington - Iraq's political reconciliation is seriously handicapped by the lack of an Iraqi personality such as South Africa's Nelson Mandela, a top US diplomat said Monday. In long-awaited testimony before the US Congress, the US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, described the 'animosity and suspicions' which have fed violent insecurity in Iraq over the past 18 months. During the decades of oppression by the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, and in the aftermath since his ouster in 2003, 'no Nelson Mandela emerged,' Crocker noted, adding he 'would not have survived.' The former apartheid government in South Africa imprisoned Mandela for 27 years, but he was released in 1990 to oversee one of the most successful political transformations in world history. During his presidency from 1994 to 2000, Mandela led the reconciliation efforts to restrain black majority anger against the minority whites who had oppressed them. Much of the process was supported by Bishop Desmond Tutu's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In Iraq, long-oppressed majority Shiites are now in control of the government, and minority Sunnis who were once in charge complain that they are left out of the new power structure. Sunnis are blamed for carrying out the violent insurgency that makes day-to-day life dangerous in Iraq. One sceptical Democratic congressman, Tom Lantos, on Monday worried that the United States was funding both sides of Iraq's 'religious civil war' by arming and funding Sunni tribes in places like Anbar. 'Instead of acting as a leader for Iraq as a whole, (Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-) Maliki has operated as a front man for Shiite partisans and presided over a Shiite coalition that includes ... notorious ... death squads and sectarian thugs,' Lantos charged. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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RogérSep 10th, 2007 - 21:24:39

Before Iraq can think about a Mandela, they first need to get the bunch of US war-criminals out of the country. Americans need to understand that they have no credit of trust left in the world (The Brits have a grasp on that already).

Iraqis, don't sign the oil law -- the US/UK cabal wants to rip you off. Go to China for a fair deal.

American goons should leave Iraq immediately. Europe should sent them packing, too.

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Malong MalualSep 10th, 2007 - 23:14:26

The people of Irag should know that violence is not the only solution to bring back the stability and peace in their country. They should try unity among themselves or working together to restore the stability in Iraq.

When Mandella fought for freedom in South Africa, his people were well united and that is why it was eassy for him to do what he did. Also, when Lysistrata of ancient Greece stood up for the live of the people of Greece by forcing men from Sparta and Athen to make peace, she was supported almost by all women in Geece. My point is that I do not want to does agree with what is written in this article but Iraqis people do need unity in the first place before they need some one like Mandella or Lysistrata to lead them to the road.

Thanks

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Malong MalualSep 10th, 2007 - 23:16:24

The people of Irag should know that violence is not the only solution to bring back the stability and peace in their country. They should try unity among themselves or working together to restore the stability in Iraq.

When Mandella fought for freedom in South Africa, his people were well united and that is why it was eassy for him to do what he did. Also, when Lysistrata of ancient Greece stood up for the live of the people of Greece by forcing men from Sparta and Athen to make peace, she was supported almost by all women in Geece. My point is that I do not want to disagree with what is written in this article but Iraqis people do need unity in the first place before they need some one like Mandella or Lysistrata to lead them to the road.

Thanks

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shut your stinky cheese hole you queer pansySep 20th, 2007 - 23:46:56

'American goons should leave Iraq immediately. Europe should sent them packing, too.'

Like 'europe' has a say in the matter.... or anything we don't give them a say in.

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