| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| An Interview With the Bishop of Kirkuk |
| 2003-10-30 |
| Q. The news media speak of an interminable post-war period. What is life like in Iraq now? A. âLike in a country emerging from thirty-five years of dictatorship, during which the people were deprived of everything: of oil, but even of air to breathe. Saddam Hussein had transformed Iraq into an enormous barracks. Two wars, first with Iran and then the Gulf War, and twelve years of embargo produced a massive exodus of Iraqis abroad and a million deaths. And yet, faced with such a disastrous situation, today the people are satisfied with the change, with the renewed possibility for freedom. In just a few months eighty new political parties have arisen, five of them Christian, freedom of the press has blossomed in dozens of new publishers, six of them Christian. And even some of the television stations that have sprung up in the zone of Mosul are Christian. None of this was here with Saddam! Even from the economic point of view, everything has changed: before it was not possible to make any plans, but now we can construct projects, albeit modest ones, for the future. One example: state employees receive 150-200 dollars a month, before only 3-4.â Q. But all of this was achieved through war. A. âYes, but the civilians were not the targets. The Americans did a lot of bombing, especially in Baghdad, striking government buildings, and the bombs were usually precise.â Notice how the European interviewer tries to steer the Iraqui Bishop into criticizing the U.S. The Bishop praises the American action nevertheless. (Note: I have added the Q & A signs to better identify the speaker.) Are you afraid that there are still some of Saddamâs men around? âThere arenât any more people linked to the dictator. What we have instead are Arab fighters who have entered Iraq, financed by fundamentalist movements in nearby countries, or maybe even by the governments. There are those who do not want Iraq to be open and free. Those responsible for the stream of attacks are loose cannons, without any popular support.â The bishop disagrees with George W. (who blamed recent attacks on Saddam loyalists) and agrees with the Iraqi council, who blamed the attacks on foreign Jihadists. Letâs hope W. is wrong on this one. (It is easier to destroy foreign fighters.) Q. What future do you imagine for Iraq? And what role do you see for the United Nations? A. âThe United Nations is finished; we need to think of other instruments. Europe must have a crucial role. Before the war its support was strong, but now we lack its political support. It would be an error for Europe to leave the reconstruction of the country to the Americans.â A U.N.-hating Chaldean bishop. Things are looking up! |
| Posted by:Sorge |
| #7 .com From the experience of Ken Joseph Jr. I don't think that Sadaam was generally nice to the Chaldean's (other than Tariq Aziz and the Chaldean Church in Detriot that he cut a check for $200,000 for. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-30 8:23:28 PM |
| #6 Just how long has this guy been the Bishop of Kirkuk? For example, did he have pre-no-fly-zone accomodations with Saddam? Did he "cooperate" during the last decade? Kirkuk and the north were far better off, sure, but they were not immune to Saddam - as the Kurds will tell you. To keep their power and status, thoughout history many people of position were cooperative with extremely negative (evil?) powers, such as the Vatican's "arrangements" with the Nazis. Is everyone assuming this guy's clean? And what is his agenda? Something doesn't quite smell right... He shoudn't get a pass until he's passed... |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-30 5:34:25 PM |
| #5 B-a-R: You're sorta right, I believe the Bishop was just giving the Euroreporter some diplomatic pablum for the Europublic's benefit. I think this is a more telling example of the Bishop's real view: "Before the war (Europe's) support was strong, but now we lack its political support" Yeah, that's one big elephant in the room there, boyo... |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2003-10-30 4:10:50 PM |
| #4 Notice what he said in the last paragraph: âThe United Nations is finished; we need to think of other instruments." This guy understands that an agency that has no real responsibilities, has no impetus to change, and has no accountability to anyone but itself is a dead horse. It's all 'talk-talk', do nothing unless it's to prolong an unacceptable condition (I.E., "palestinian" refugee camps - really internment camps for Arabs who once lived in the area now known as the State of Israel, and who were ordered to leave by the Mufti of Jerusalem.) I still say the Brits should 'give' the United Nations the island of Ascension, require that all members assigned to the UN or employed by it live there, and that all communication be by slow mail boat. The world would be a better place - especially New York City. As for "getting Europe involved", I think the main thrust here is to 'import' some additional Christians into Iraq. Whether that's a good move or not isn't my decision. We'd need to study this guy's background much more closely than this one article before making any real evaluation of his words. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-10-30 2:37:58 PM |
| #3 "It would be an error for Europe to leave the reconstruction of the country to the Americans.â Anyone care to speculate on this? Why would it be an "error"??? (Personally I think it's more "multilateral" bullshit, but that's just me) |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-10-30 12:55:34 PM |
| #2 I would also point this story out, coincidentially with the Jesuit article above. The Chaldean Church is in union with Rome, I believe. The Catholic Church is growing fastest in Africa in those countries where Islam meets everything else. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2003-10-30 12:32:38 PM |
| #1 --This is certainly the moment in which we have the greatest need for you Europeans: Europe should put pressure on the countries bordering Iraq. And we need to learn; U.S. democracy is not the only model; Europe also has a valuable heritage. The point now is to create a democracy with Iraqi characteristics.â-- Well, there's his first mistake, looking to Europe. |
| Posted by: Anonymous-not above 2003-10-30 12:28:50 PM |