Iraq in a serious political imbroglio

TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) -- Since the United States withdrew its last troops from Iraq on December 18, the country has been engulfed in a major political crisis. Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, a prominent pro-Western figure, has been charged with ordering assassinations of government officials. Shortly after the charges were filed, a series of deadly bombings were conducted in Baghdad that left 78 people dead and many others injured. The turmoil could be interpreted as an illustration of the idea that without U.S. troops, Iraq will face major security and political crises. However, the current situation also provides the Iraqi government and nation a golden opportunity to once and for all prove that they are actually able to establish security and stability in their country. This would be the real end of the U.S.-led occupation, which began in 2003 and imposed serious economic and political hardships, as well as great suffering, on the Iraqi people. To realize this objective, the Iraqi government must deal with difficult political and security challenges. In other words, Iraq’s response to the ongoing crisis can help the country’s transition to democracy. The recent meeting between the country’s political leaders was meant to create a consensus among the various groups and factions on how to deal with the post-U.S.-led occupation crisis. Any disagreement between the groups will further destabilize the country and vindicate those who did their utmost to extend the U.S. military presence beyond 2011. Over the past few years, the opposition groups, headed by the al-Iraqiya Alliance, have been looking for an opportunity to undermine the credibility of the Iraqi government. Thus, the fact that an arrest warrant has been issued for al-Hashimi intensifies the internal dispute and could lead to a more problematic situation. The current situation could also open the door for the Baathists and other excluded groups and allow them to generate violence and foment sectarian disputes. This could be manifested in the form of new terrorist plots and separatism in the Kurdish region. The role of the maraja taqlid (Shia clerics who are regarded as sources of emulation) is extremely important at this critical juncture because they have a great deal of influence on the Iraqi people. The best policy for the Iraqi government to adopt to deal with the current crisis would be to make strenuous efforts to attract more popular support.