Letter to a Listener

Dear Nick

Thank you for send your question sent to VTA program. In response let me make the following points.

1- There are many factions of the Iraqi society that did NOT participate in the "political process" when it started few years ago. Those are independent Nationalist groups or parties that oppose the US occupation and opposed the cooperation with the occupiers right from the beginning. They compose of Sunnis, Shies , Kurds and Turkuman. They formed the bases for the Iraq opposition to the occupation since 2003.

2- On the other hand those who accepted to cooperate with the occupation entered into the "political process". Again it included Sunnis, Shies , Kurds, Turkuman and secular parties. They formed a sectarian government that could not function properly which led to troubles within the ruling coalition. The first to leave the government (ministries) were the Shie parties, the Saderist movement and al-fadela party followed then by the Sunni parties.

3- Over the last 2-3 years America had been trying to draw people from the "nationalist" group (that were out of the "political process") to join into the political process by talking about "reconciliation conference". The First conference held in Baghdad had ALL the political parties that participated in the government. The second conference (held few months ago) was boycotted by parties that were part of the political process. In effect it showed that instead of having MORE people joining the political process now they have LESS people in the political process. At best I do not think that any significant group were added. The conference was a JOCK!!!

4 Now those who have left the government MIGHT consider rejoining the government does not change the fact that THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FIND IT APPROPRIARE join the corrupt political process. I read now that definitely Al-Sader movement will NOT join. If that is correct the we still FEWER people than we started 2005!!!! Even if they do go back then we are back to square ONE!!!!

5- Over the last few year more and more people have LOST trust in the failed political process advocated by American appointed government. This will led to some parties to leave the political process at the same time does not induce others to join.

Thank you, Nick, for your question. Please do not hesitate to write and tell me more even if it is BAD news.

Best regards

Ghazwan Al-Mukhtar

Name: Nick Thoennes

Message:SOME GOOD POLITICAL NEWS?

PERHAPS SOME OF THE DISASTER IS ENDING?

The return of the Sunnis

One of the clearest signs of victory in a counterinsurgency is when the insurgents lay down their arms to join the political process. Reuters reports that the Sunnis are formally getting set to rejoin the government.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Parties that walked out of Iraq\'s government last year have agreed to rejoin, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Thursday, in what could amount to a long-awaited political breakthrough.

The main Sunni Arab bloc, the Accordance Front, said it intended to submit a list of candidates for cabinet positions within days and could be back in Maliki\'s government soon. Its return has been a major goal of the United States.