Iraq needs more help from US
As Iraqis wind down the war and rebuild their economy, their challenges can be America’s opportunities
Over the past few years, military advisers from the US and other coalition countries have helped Iraqis turn around our armed forces so that we can fight and win our battles ourselves. Now, we ask Americans to assist us as we restore our infrastructure and diversity and partially privatise our economy. We need US investment to rebuild our housing, hospitals, schools, sanitation facilities, roads, highways and bridges. We can also benefit from America’s technical expertise as we improve and expand our telecommunications, information technology and health-care sectors. Iraq needs US financiers and corporate partners to help us develop agriculture, petrochemicals and other industries.
As Iraqis wind down the war and rebuild our communities and our economy, our challenges can be America’s opportunities. But, ultimately, we ourselves will write a new chapter in our history.
A diverse nation
For more than half a century, we have endured a tyrannical dictatorship, international isolation, three wars and ceaseless, senseless violence. When former president Saddam Hussain was overthrown, Iraqis resolved never to allow one man, one political party or one segment of society to dominate our diverse nation. Now we have the opportunity to build an Iraq worthy of what we are: A pluralist people, steeped in history, striving to build one nation in peace and mutual respect.
As prime minister, I have seen that most Iraqis want Iraq to succeed. First, we must finish the job of defeating Daesh militarily. With more than 200,000 Mosul residents displaced, along with more than three million other Iraqis, we must restore public services and rebuild our infrastructure. We must reconcile our society across sectarian and ethnic lines. Houses of worship must be safe and sanctified. When all our citizens know that their voices are heard, their dignity is respected and their needs are recognised, we can then be sure that they will not turn to violence.
In a region whose sectarian divisions our own society strives to resist, Iraq must maintain friendly relations with all our neighbours, while preserving our sovereignty and ensuring that no neighbour exercises outside influence within our country.
That is why we welcome America’s continued engagement, consistent with the Strategic Framework Agreement, and have strengthened our ties with our neighbours, as exemplified by the recent visit to Baghdad by leaders and diplomats from throughout the Middle East.
We cannot stop senseless violence without the rule of law and security forces that represent and respect every segment of society. Our government strives to create an independent and impartial judiciary that applies the law without bias or favouritism. But for our citizens to fight for the government, they need a government worth fighting for. In the midst of the war against Daesh, we have also waged war on corruption in civil and military institutions. Now that our nation is returning to peacetime, we need to resume the work of reducing the bloated bureaucracy, eliminating ethnic quotas and ceremonial positions, recruiting qualified professionals and devolving decision-making and the delivery of services to local communities.
Iraqis don’t want to kill each other, to get blown up when they walk outside their doors or to be taught to hate their neighbours because of who they are or how they worship. Instead, we want what most of the world takes for granted: The opportunity to live in dignity and build better lives for our children.
Together with our international partners, we are working to build a new Iraq, advancing this age-old dream. Americans have built that kind of country. With their help and goodwill, so will we.