"giving up in Iraq" vs "giving up Iraq"?

by Jabbar Fazeli, MD [courtesy of Blog for America]

The situation in Iraq is so difficult that even the criticism is becoming chaotic and hard to track. Among the many topics in current events one core issue is worthy of special focus and attention and that is "Iraqi sovereignty" or lack thereof. It maybe easier to control a country that lacks an assertive and independent government, but is keeping Iraq submissive becoming a long term US policy? When the president speaks of not wanting to "give up in Iraq" is he really saying that he doesn't want to "give Iraq up"?

There is evidence of this sentiment in recent events, like the blackwater incidents and the political aftermath in both Iraq and the US. Article 17 of the post-war Iraqi law is a directive by Paul Bremer that gives United States security personnel (independent contractors) immunity from prosecution. The Iraqi government and parliament, following the recent killing of Iraqis at the hand of security agents, are now working to pass legislation to reverse this legal provision and make all security agents subject to prosecution under Iraqi law. This action by the Iraqis is totally ignored by the US administration, however, as in separate but parallel action, the state department and the Pentagon are fighting over which agency should be supervising the independent contractors for the Iraqis. It was finally decided, according to the New York Times, that the Pentagon will take on that responsibility, implying that perhaps that the uniform code of justice will be used to prosecute future validations by independent contractors in Iraq.

It is interesting to note the disconnect between what the Iraqis appear to want and what the US is prepared to allow them to have. It is not very hard to predict that tension will likely rise over this issue in the coming months as the Administration fails to satisfy Iraqi government's wish to assert sovereignty--This will likely widen the schism between the USA and Iraq. The question now is what will the administration do when the Iraqis do pass the new law and try to prosecute independent contractors guarding US officials in Iraq, or push for their removal from the country. The Iraqis are already harassing the independent security contractors using excuses such as non-compliance with weapons licensing laws. It is a popular move with the public and is a way for the Iraqi government to act anti-American without getting in political trouble with the administration.

It could be a sign of things to come as