“Better off under Saddam”- The Iraqis admit

9/24/2005 5:07:00 PM GMT

An Iraqi expatriate living in London criticised U.S. attempts to force through Iraq’s new constitution, based on the November 2003 US-crafted illegitimate interim constitution, the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL), while the country is under illegal occupation and still suffers a surge in violence and bomb attacks.

The document, produced from the notebook of Paul Bremer, then the U.S. Proconsul in Baghdad, aims at the colonisation of Iraq and the wholesale privatisation of Iraq's economy.

Tahrir Swift says that her family had to contend with "suicide bombings, violent crimes, uncertainty and fear" in Baghdad, however they do not believe the American claims that the new constitution would improve the country's security.

Mrs Swift said: "Friends of my brother, who have themselves suffered imprisonment and torture under Saddam, are now saying the country was better off under him.

"They are trying to leave the country in order to guarantee a better education and future for their children. Anyone who has qualifications, funds and opportunity is leaving."

"Meaningless ceremony"

She also blasted U.S. attempts to "hand over sovereignty" to Iraqis, saying it is a "meaningless ceremony".

She said: "The misery of 70 per cent unemployment and lack of security is as bad as ever. My relations tell me that there has been only five hours of electricity a day in the sweltering heat of Baghdad this summer.

"My brother told me that rations have not been distributed for the last two months. My relations are lucky; they have the resources to buy petrol, their own rations and can afford to buy bottled water for their children. Others have to make do with polluted water.

"This constitution, is it edible? Is it safe to drink? Can it be used as a hat? Can you plug it in to use as a fan? Can you keep your food cool in it? Can you make into a dress or a pair of shoes for a child? Can you trade it for medicine? Can you use it as a bullet-proof vest?"

"U.S. involvement"

The United States' hands-on involvement in the drafting of Iraq's constitution was aimed to ensure that the document is friendly to big, international business.

Article 25:
"The state shall guarantee the reforming of the Iraqi economy according to modern economic bases, in a way that ensures complete investment of its resources, diversifying its sources and encouraging and developing the private sector."

Article 26:
“The country shall guarantee the encouragement of investments in the different sectors.”

Article 110:
“The federal government and the governments of the producing regions and provinces together will draw up the necessary strategic policies to develop oil and gas wealth to bring the greatest benefit for the Iraqi people, relying on the most modern techniques of market principles and encouraging investment.”

Bush’s admin has been pressuring the Iraqi "government" to agree on the draft that will lead to the further division and weakening of the Iraqi people.

If two-thirds of the voters in any three of Iraq's 18 provinces reject the constitution during the Oct. 15 national referendum, a new government must be formed and the process of writing the draft would start from the beginning. But if the draft is approved, it will pave the way for another general election in December.

Political analysts say that the U.S. pressure, orchestrated by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, makes the draft approval an important part of the U.S. imperial agenda. For Washington needs this propaganda campaign to show the world that its policy in Iraq has proved successful and that "democracy" is "spreading" in the war ravaged country.

"The constitutional process is nothing more than a placebo for U.S. voters . . . Bush must at least be able to show some success on the political field," declares the German daily, Die Tageszeitung.

Source: Bromley Express

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