opinion

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Pilgrim, The Iraq War from a Caribbean perspective

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Reporters Without Borders, 2006 was a year of danger for journalists in the Americas

Caribbean concerns and US policy in Iraq

by Clarence E. Pilgrim

Caribbean nationals died in the 9/11 terror attack on the United States. It is therefore significant that any strategy which is aimed at combating terrorism in any part of the world, would alert the interest of the Caribbean Community, as its largest and most influential neighbor, seeks to confront the mine field of human tragedy which has become the fate of Iraq.

Since 1934, terrorism has been on the international agenda when the precursor to the United Nations, the League of Nations, took the first major step by discussing a draft convention for the prevention and punishment of terrorism. The convention was adopted in 1937, but never came into force.

It is a matter of debate, just how justifiable the US-led invasion was, from the standpoint of terrorism. History will note the premises or lack of premises which mitigated the action.

But what is of direct concern for us is the daily destruction of life and property, the deadly threats and near misses, and the continued anger (directed at one or more targets) which radiates throughout the country. This state of affairs threatens to radiate beyond its borders, to consume the interests of the United States and its allies, with the threat of spreading acts of violence, sabotage and death around the world.

President George W. Bush in his 2007 State of the Union address indicated that there would be a new strategy for Iraq. This involves the deployment of more than 20,000 additional soldiers and marines to Iraq, along with some other measures.

Any plan that involves Iraq must involve all of the power brokers in that country. With the sectarian violence and the strong religious overtones, it is more than a military operation; it goes into the very core of the dynamics of the society.

I agree that Iraq's elected government should be given sufficient support to uphold the rule of law, the rights of its people, and provide the security necessary to legitimately govern.

But going hand in hand is the need to thoroughly understand the geography, demographics, culture and religion of this diverse and splintered nation. This understanding will contribute to the overall objective of bringing stability to the region.

The United States should have as one of its immediate goals the inclusion of multinational planning technicians to assist Iraq in its long term national reconstruction plan. The present government appears to be in perpetual immediate crisis management mode from day to day. This approach is not sufficient to avoid the disintegration that the country is facing. If the United States hopes to use Iraq as an ally in the war on terror, then wishful thinking, faulty policy logic and insufficiently planned moves cannot bring about an acceptable result, either to the people of Iraq or for the international community.

 In order to make progress toward peace, the Iraqi government must give the population the confidence that it can govern the country in a fair, effective and decisive manner.

Its own forces must take on the responsibilities of maintaining peace, as opposed to the prolonged and extensive deployment of foreign troops.

 The short-term vision for the country’s continued existence is dictated by the need to restore law and order using its own manpower. This means that the United States should do a phased withdrawal of its forces before the end of 2007. UN peacekeepers must be given an opportunity to help the government to reassert its authority. Any peacekeeping force entering Iraq must be given adequate working knowledge of the environment in which they are expected to operate. Many misunderstandings in the past could have been avoided with this kind of preparation.

The mid-term vision should be a review of its constitutional power sharing arrangements, so that there would be a majority feeling of inclusion in the system of representative governance.

The long-term should focus on the economic and social development which would have a proactive plan for national economic reconstitution and social reconciliation.

According to a United Nations report, the number of people unemployed worldwide remained at an historic high of nearly 200 million in 2006, despite strong global economic growth. In Iraq, to make a significant social impact in unemployment and working poverty, priority must be given to the creation of decent and productive jobs as an alternative to dysfunctional attractions. Unemployment and poverty makes for a fertile breeding ground for manipulation and mis-direction.

The global strategy to counter terrorism that was adopted on 8 September 2006 serves to solidify the resolve of countries around the world to agree to a common strategic approach to fight terrorism. Iraq will be an important factor in this strategy, once it can stand on its own feet.

The Caribbean community, as an exposed geographic cradle, cannot afford to ignore serious developments taking place in any part of our global village.

Sometimes in the dynamics of a hostile environment, an action, however well intended, can cause a dangerous and unexpected reaction. Let us be prepared for any event.

Clarence E Pilgrim is an educator and civil servant in Antigua & Barbuda. 

Sirias, Daniel Ortega in retrospect
Jackson, The late great Molly Ivins
Bernal, About authorities
Gutman, The danger in the Middle East
Lerner, The "New Anti-Semitism"
Donovan, Uruguayan pulp fiction
Henke, Is Cuba really at a crossroads?
Pilgrim, The Iraq War from a Caribbean perspective

Silié, Fidel Castro and the Youth Revolution of the 50s and 60s

Reporters Without Borders, 2006 was a year of danger for journalists in the Americas