.The Waiting Game
"The government situation continues to be a riddle. Today we again got conflicting reports. One television station says the Kurdish alliance would never ever support another term for Nouri Al Maliki. The other station says the Kurds have no problem with Maliki and do not rule out any candidates for the prime minister's job. Whoever becomes prime minister, the politicians promise to set up a government before Thursday. Inshallah.
Friends expressed their frustration during a conversation over tea and cigarettes, which are the staples of the Iraqi diet. One guy said it has become a joke. The year is nearly over, which means a year is gone from the four-year term that a prime minister serves. "Look how much time they've wasted!" Another friend agreed. "Yeah, now whoever becomes prime minister will claim he doesn't have enough time to fix the electricity and water."
"I swear," said another guy. "If the electricity isn't fixed soon the country will commit mass suicide."
It's not just that the heat is unbearable without air conditioning. The food spoils in the fridge, and there are no lights. Any number of things people take for granted are not possible without power.
"There is no hope for Iraq," said one of the guys. "It's over."
I said no, with all the oil and natural gas, Iraq can be like Saudi Arabia and the Emirates.
"Curses on the oil!" the guy said. "If it weren't for the oil, the politicians wouldn't fight over the oil profits!"
"Come on!" said another friend. "You know very well if it weren't for the oil, they'd find something else to fight about."
"No. He's right. Nothing destroyed Iraq as much as the oil did."
"What about Saddam?" I asked. "Didn't he destory Iraq?"
"I'll tell you the difference between Saddam's era and now," said one guy.
"During Saddam's time, everyone was frightened. We couldn't talk because the government was listening." Everyone nodded. "Now," the guy said to an attentive group, "now everyone talks but the government doesn't listen.""
IraqPundit
Friends expressed their frustration during a conversation over tea and cigarettes, which are the staples of the Iraqi diet. One guy said it has become a joke. The year is nearly over, which means a year is gone from the four-year term that a prime minister serves. "Look how much time they've wasted!" Another friend agreed. "Yeah, now whoever becomes prime minister will claim he doesn't have enough time to fix the electricity and water."
"I swear," said another guy. "If the electricity isn't fixed soon the country will commit mass suicide."
It's not just that the heat is unbearable without air conditioning. The food spoils in the fridge, and there are no lights. Any number of things people take for granted are not possible without power.
"There is no hope for Iraq," said one of the guys. "It's over."
I said no, with all the oil and natural gas, Iraq can be like Saudi Arabia and the Emirates.
"Curses on the oil!" the guy said. "If it weren't for the oil, the politicians wouldn't fight over the oil profits!"
"Come on!" said another friend. "You know very well if it weren't for the oil, they'd find something else to fight about."
"No. He's right. Nothing destroyed Iraq as much as the oil did."
"What about Saddam?" I asked. "Didn't he destory Iraq?"
"I'll tell you the difference between Saddam's era and now," said one guy.
"During Saddam's time, everyone was frightened. We couldn't talk because the government was listening." Everyone nodded. "Now," the guy said to an attentive group, "now everyone talks but the government doesn't listen.""
IraqPundit
posted by madtom at 11:58 PM
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