U.S. President Barack Obama announced that by the end of August 2010, the war in Iraq will draw to a close. … This signifies that Iraq can expect another battle; a battle for influence. … Iraq suffers from a lack of powerful, independent central authorities, just as the magnitude of distrust amongst Iraqis towards one another does not allow for the formation of a strong central government as the country’s backbone. … Therefore, the main concern today is that Iran, Syria or Turkey will fill the vacuum that will be left behind after the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.
Iraqi MP Osama al Najafi rationally warned against this vacuum saying that it “will either be filled by the Iraqis if they are able to achieve national reconciliation and build an institutional state and a professional army that pledges allegiance to the nation state…” or “if the Iraqis do not achieve national unity and real reconciliation and address the unresolved issues of the constitution, refugees, Kirkuk, and the matter of sectarian and ethnic blocs, then I believe that Iran will fill the vacuum and Iraq will fall victim to international ambitions and misuses of power.” …
Iraq is in desperate need of reconciliation that will bring together its people of various sects and ethnicities. … To the Iraqis, the threat of division is serious and it will pave the way for gaining power through a foreign party, just like what is happening in Lebanon. Therefore, there must be more European, American and Arab communication with Iraq on all levels so that Baghdad will have choices other than Iran. Moreover, the Iraqis, Americans and Arabs must pay attention to the danger of the imminent period; it will be equivalent to a battle for the sake of influence and filling the power vacuum in Iraq. There is no doubt that it will be a difficult and ugly battle. Access the full article>>
