´What Iraq Needs Now´ - Kurd OP-ED

Abu Afak, Donnerstag, 10. Juli 2003, 22:28 (vor 7810 Tagen)

What Iraq Needs Now
By JALAL TALABANI and MASSOUD BARZANI
July 9, 2003

ERBIL, Iraq


Some day, we Iraqis hope to celebrate an
Independence Day like the one Americans have just
observed. But for the near future we face the
challenge of translating liberation into democracy
— a goal we Kurds will push for even more
diligently now that we have agreed to join the
interim Iraqi administration that will be formed
this month. To that end, we will work closely with
the United States to establish security, revive
the economy and build a democratic culture.

Our aims may appear optimistic with American and
British forces struggling to establish order and
restore public services in some areas of Iraq. Yet
the picture is not quite as grim as some claim.
The assaults on American soldiers are not
"resistance to foreign occupation." Rather, they
are acts of terrorism by the Baathist remnants of
the Saddam Hussein regime. These remnants are so
reviled in Iraq that they have had to resort to
foreign volunteers, for few Iraqis will take up
arms on their behalf.

Since they lack the support of the people, the
Baathists will be defeated — a process that can be
accelerated if we establish a national security
force. That would be one major step toward making
Iraq safer.

But another security problem, widespread looting,
requires more than just better policing. The
looting has its roots in economic problems. Iraq´s
economy is largely moribund. The wages paid by the
coalition are often not enough to make ends meet.
Exporting oil will help, but what Iraq really
needs is comprehensive economic reforms to
encourage investment. We applaud the moves,
announced this week by American officials, to
create a new Iraqi currency and restructure the
central bank, as a welcome start to such
reforms....

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