Shaming Democracy in Iraq

Shaming Democracy in Iraq

The election was held in Iraq according to schedule and largely without incident (yes, the Sunnis are claiming that some instances of fraud occured but this was hardly unexpected). Plastered in newspapers throughout the world were pictures of elated Iraqis basking in the freedom of their newly formed democracy; proudly raising their blue thumbs; triumphantly boasting of a historic new order in Iraq.

And now comes the letdown. The Cabinet has issued a magnificent slap to the faces of unsuspecting Iraqis by raising the price of gasoline, heating and cooking fuels by 9 times its pre-election price.

Throughout Iraq there are mass protests. Democracy is derided. The United States shoulders most of the blame with corrupt politicians such as Ahmed Chalabi justly carrying the rest.

The excuse provided to the Iraqi people is that this will help jump start the economy by pumping approximately 500 million dollars into it. But how does that help the poor Iraqi father who can no longer afford to keep his children in school. How much of that 500 million dollars is he going to see?

According to IPS news the Iraqi government has been under pressure from the World Bank (headed by none other than Paul Wolfowitz) to cut government subsidies in this area. What utter nonsense. 40% of the EUs budget goes to agriculture subsidies. Both Canada and the United States are heavily subsidizing their agricultural industries (which was a huge item of contention at the most recent WTO talks). If we are going to insist on "free market economics" in struggling countries like Iraq we had better have our own houses in order first.

Democracy has been shamed in Iraq. How can we ever expect other nations desperately in need of democratic reforms to take us seriously when we play these kind of games with peoples' lives!