January 13, 2010

Old tensions rose today with security round-ups in Baghdad, explosives seized and rumors of arrests. Some groups are being accused by elements of the current government of supporting the ideology of Saddam Hussein, and they have been banned from the upcoming elections. These groups had been brought into the political process just a couple of years ago. What will they do if they are pushed out?

I spoke with some of them. The frustration of their situation was clear to be seen in their eyes. And yet they moved on, and prepared to get ready for elections that for them might not yet occur.

"If the situation gets worse here in Iraq and your American experiment in democracy fails, your nation will go the way of the Soviet Union," said one man. And yet somehow I knew that pouring more troops and resources into this land with no end in sight was also a recipe for problems. What to do?

There will be more tensions as we near these national elections, to be sure. The Iraqis will have to work it out. If this nation is ever to be stable and secure, now will be the time for its people to make it happen.

"I hear that President Obama is calling together some of our leaders for a meeting in the White House to fix this situation," said one Iraqi friend. Perhaps this is our role now, to be an honest broker, or perhaps there is just a need for some people to believe there is an omnipotent power that can sort things out when the going gets tough.

I think the Iraqis can do it themselves, and say so. "Insh’allah," they say. God willing.

Editor's note: Scott Bates is the vice president of the Center for National Policy and is currently in Iraq and Afghanistan, working with candidates for Parliament in Iraq and assessing the political parties in Afghanistan.