READER COMMENTS

We ask God the Almighty to protect him and we ask him to offer more and more, because the Iraqi people have granted him all the power, and he is the only hero who can protect the unity of Iraq and restore its grandeur. O God! Protect him for the sake of Iraq and the Iraqis. O God! Do not disappoint us and provide him with the power and support to remain strong and to maintain the security and stability. I confirm that all Iraqis will find no man who is better than Al-Maliki, and he is the right man in the right place.

In my opinion, I believe that the political situation in Iraq needs a lot of purification, transparency, cooperation, support and seriousness in the interest of Iraq, and convergence between the politicians in order to understand all the opinions without any controversies or altercations, or not performing their real and original tasks which they should be doing, in order to serve the Iraqi people. As for getting busy with political matters, politicians and the controversies that happen between them and the fight to reach the highest ranks and taking care of raising money in order to guarantee the future of the political man after the expiration of his duration as a politician; all of that causes chaos and neglect of the Iraqi citizen. Not everyone performs their real duty, which they should do, but unfortunately, the duty which was supposed to be done has been avoided, and they have only considered their personal affairs. So we should draw attention to the reality of the situation and what is going on, because the Iraqi people are the real reason behind the existence of those people in these positions. Any negligence will lead to a bad reputation with the political authorities, and everyone will believe that they failed and didn’t carry out their duty. So, it is very necessary to work on approaching and cooperation in the interest of the Iraqi people, but if the controversies continue between the politicians, no one will get any benefits. Consequently, the only ones affected are the Iraqi people, so we should take care and to work on well-studied and planned steps in order to work on serving the Iraqi people. That is because politicians exist for the benefit of the people and to provide comfort, not to dominate them and impose a dictatorial regime over the people once again. The politicians should cooperate and provide their best for the benefit of Iraq and all the Iraqis, and not to discriminate between people, because the politicians represent sects, communities and parties, and they should be as one hand in order to lead the Iraqi people.

We must take into account the fact that we should serve Iraqis, because they deserve to get what they want and demand in terms of everyday requirements, nothing more or less. Assessment is not important, what matters are the results, things provided for Iraqis and the real work which has been carried out for them. Such work should not be mere ink on paper. In fact, it is high time to implement all the promises which were made to Iraqis.

I want Al Maliki to take a tour of the streets of Baghdad and to check on people and see the garbage filling the streets, the waste water, the electricity outages and the filthy water that nobody can drink. When it comes to hospitals, the situation is shameful, because of the lack of equipment, the garbage and the other things that no one can notice. All the conditions in Iraq are very bad, and I want to tell you that Iraq has been ruined by these wars because of the economic blockade, in addition to terrorists and terrorism, and because of Al Maliki, who made matters worse. I entreat all honorable Iraqis to call for their rights and to take all tyrants out of Iraq and to restore Iraq to what it has been before. I pray to God Almighty to protect Iraq and to restore matters to what they have been and even better. God’s mercy is over everyone and everything, and God is the source of success and dignity, and not the humans who want to eat each other. I pray to God Almighty for the government to work correctly.

After the trial period which was requested by Mr. Nouri Al-Maliki, the prime minister, to let all the ministries submit their work projects and plans which they intend to do, and the projects which the ministries have started doing, especially the service projects, it is necessary now to check on what has been done by each ministry, and to evaluate its work, in order to see everything clearly, and to examine the achievements and the reality of things and what every ministry has submitted. So, I am in favor of evaluating every ministry and for none of them being excluded, whether it is because it is an important or unimportant one, or because of the effect of some names or parties or other designations. Every ministry should be held accountable and be evaluated, starting with its Minister, down to its different branches, in order to punish all the negligent people and the ministry which has provided nothing during that time. This means that there is corruption in its work and that its minister is not qualified to be in this position. We don’t want ministers sitting behind the desks in their chairs, and getting high salaries and advantages without providing the country with any benefit to the citizen, because the government is formed in order to serve the country and the citizen. There should be an evaluation for the satisfaction of the people during the time which has been given to the government, in order to improve its status, and to get rid of everybody who contributes nothing to his position, to have real change, and to make everybody know that whoever doesn’t serve his country and its citizen, has no role in leading this country at all.

The end of the one-hundred-day deadline was very disappointing for Iraqis, since it has reflected to the government itself and to the Iraqi people the neglect in carrying out the duty towards the sons of Iraq. In fact, the work by the concerned ministries and officials is not carried out as normally required. For that reason, the assessment will help to detect a lot of failures and thefts, as well as dishonest and unfair acts. It will also help discover that Iraqis have been waiting in vain since the Iraqi public opinion has been numbed. The mob has come out in order to call for their denied rights and to condemn the successive failures, neglect, carelessness, deprivation, poverty, unemployment, starvation and lack of the services that the Iraqi people need.

The Iraqi citizen should be aware of his rights as a citizen living in the land of this country, which was stolen from him many years ago, especially during the era of the rule of the Baath dictatorship that humiliated and insulted the Iraqi person. Today, I am very glad to have a concerned government, even if the rights are still not fully realized, but it is trying and studying the rights that should be provided to the Iraqi citizen. I believe that the first right is to live in freedom and dignity in the homeland, as well the most important thing, which is to live while feeling comfortable and to be provided with all the simple services that the country should provide as a right for the citizen, and to end the time of false promises. A lot of things should be put within this plan and should be discussed in a realistic way, to address each one of them so as to facilitate the life of the citizen. We want comfort and welfare to be provided for the Iraqi citizen, who is living in the richest land in the whole world, but he does not have a large enough salary to support his family. The citizen should feel his freedom to express his opinion, because it is important and necessary to correct the path of any line if it has drifted and is not moving in the correct direction. Moreover, it is the right of the citizen to demonstrate peacefully and to go on strikes. All these are international rights available in International and Iraqi law and should be applied. The citizen should also feel that the judiciary is a supreme authority and no one can affect it, so as to feel confident and not fear when he resorts to the judiciary. In addition, the citizens should be provided job opportunities, in particular the young people and the graduates, in the state sector and the public sectors, and to help the young people who want to get married and the poor families and other issues. All those are the rights of the Iraqi citizen and he should obtain them. Freedom is not only to elect and nominate so and so, but also to provide the citizen all these rights and to make him feel and live them.

Broadcasting the evaluation sessions of ministries, especially services ministries, is a good thing. It is good to have these sessions on TV so that everybody watches them. We support this evaluation, because it will improve the performance of ministries, institutions and all departments that are related to the lives and daily needs of citizens.

Reducing the number of ministries is a good idea, because Iraq doesn’t need all these ministries. In fact, this has been a waste of time and money, especially since the follow-up on 40 ministries has been much more difficult than following up on 30 ministries. And 30 ministries are more difficult than 20. It is also important to focus on the ministers’ performance and on the administrative corruption within their departments.

The work of governmental ministries must be evaluated. Besides, all Iraqi people must be informed about the evaluation process.

The government of the hundred days of reform and change! This is just rubbish and lies. This is just nonsense from the biggest liar and thief in the world, Nouri al-Maliki. Iraqis have had enough of the false promises that he babbled. In the end, he said, “Just give me a hundred days.” Well, the hundred days ended and there is no reform or change whatsoever! So, the hundred days was a plan to carry out a new theft, along with his followers and associates from the neighboring countries, such as Iran, which means that Iran attacks the borders with the Kurds and he will not interfere. As for al-Fakah oil well that we have been talking about for over a year, he did not do anything in that matter. As for drugs coming from Iran, it is a very active business. In all these issues, he lies to Iraqis. We should never stay silent concerning this damned liar; we have to stop him and put a limit to this. We have to prove to him that Iraqis are not fools to give him a last chance to do anything good. Iraqis regret reelecting him. Unfortunately, it has turned out that he is a coward and a thief. He does not know anything. Does Nouri al-Maliki know anything about the violent acts, murders and slaughtering in the streets? No, he is asleep. He does not know. Does he know how many gangs are in the streets? We do not blame them, because they could not find any other way to survive except through stealing, becoming gangs or joining al-Qaeda. This is what he led Iraqis to do! Where is the electricity that he failed to provide?! I swear by God, we have had enough! Enough lying and manipulating people’s feelings! Have mercy on people so that God will have mercy on you! Where are the rulers who preceded you?? They stole and seized, but now they are waiting for donations from the people!

The government of Al-Maliki must start the evaluation of the ministries’ work in order to improve the services, because Iraqis are no longer able to endure any more suffering. In fact, we don’t want to witness more injustice and suffering. And it is high time to achieve the comfort of the wounded Iraq.

Al Maliki’s government should be called the king of lies. If any lie in the world occurs, his lies have gone beyond the record. He has set one hundred days for the sake of reform and to restore services. He went back to lying to the Iraqi people, but this cowardly ruler should be punished, because history did not anticipate his lying and cheating, and the people are regretting having chosen him again in the elections. I think that the reforms that he intended to carry out are amenities for his own and the royal family’s benefit, from the traitors of ministries and his followers. I think that, according to what I guess and know, Al Maliki’s government will not be able to carry out the good, even only a very small percentage, for the poor Iraqi people, who suffered a lot as a result of the wars and the problems that took place during the time of Saddam. We want a change so that Iraq will come back better than before. These hundred days were a trick organized by him to appease the people, no more and no less. The youth and the citizens who went out in the peaceful demonstrations in order to claim their legitimate rights were beaten and insulted for no reason, and Al Maliki’s groups, made up of the dirty gangs and thugs who work for him, beat those innocent poor people. We, the Iraqi people, do not want more tragedies and pain, but we need to feel comfortable and to be at the same level in comparison with the other Arab countries, especially the Gulf countries, as they are extremely beautiful and prestigious everywhere. Enough lying to yourselves and to the Iraqi people. Where is Hosni Mubarak, where is Bin Ali and where is Ali Abduallah Saleh? You should pay attention and know what happened and figure on this basis. The Iraqi people are not cowardly or weak, but they want to show the liar to the door of the house. We would like to say to Al Maliki: “Where is the electricity, where is the safe drinking water, where are construction, reconstruction and the sloppy sewers everywhere? You should know that this is illegitimate and that the Iraqi people are kind and strong, and can get rid of you by force, but we do not want violence. What we want is to discuss matters seriously and to work on providing everything that the Iraqi people ask for, or you better watch out for the powerful Iraqi people.”

Al Maliki has lied to the Iraqis with an unprecedented lie, with what he said about how there would be a change within 100 days, but he made a promise and he did not fulfill it. He is the first liar in Iraq, as he said that all the services would return to Iraq, that the Iraqis would live in peace and security, that safe drinking water, municipal services, construction and reconstruction would be achieved, that security and safety would be realized and the conditions would return to what they were before. I was sure from the beginning that he was a liar and that he did not and will never do anything, no matter what happens; and the poor Iraqis, when they went out on a peaceful demonstration, were treated as if they were strangers and in a very cruel manner, through beating and violence from the side of the accursed and cowardly Al Maliki groups. We have all seen what they did when they disguised themselves in the uniforms of the tribes’ leaders and beat the innocent citizens in a violent and cruel manner; moreover, we have all seen them clearly on the satellite channels. But we would like to know how long this situation will persist while nothing improves. Why are we silent towards these criminals? Are the Egyptian people better than the Iraqi people? No, we should be like them, and we should work on eliminating this useless government. According to my personal point of view, there should be a clear improvement carried out by the officials, but there is none. Did the Iraqi official come down to the Iraqi street one day and see the rubbish and dirt and all the clogged sewers and all the markets that need someone’s attention to be more beautiful and cleaner? But talking to the officials is useless, because they steal the people’s money and the poor Iraqi people do not know what happens to it in secret. As for the electricity problem, that is another problem that has no equivalent, and the story of electricity is a strange story. Iraq is the country of welfare and its electricity is being sold to others, while the people are living in hunger. We need a change. We would like to be united so that all the services will be back and all the circumstances will be changed for the better. I am optimistic regarding the Iraqis; I believe that they are able to solve this problem for us as soon as possible, but the promises we heard were nothing but lies. We are Muslims; and the liar should be punished and receive his penalty. The hundred days have passed and we want to change something in the bitter reality.

The 100-day period set by the Iraqi government has been highlighted by the media and I think that many institutions and ministries have drawn up many work plans and programs that can revive the work of the government in a way that would make people appreciate the government’s efforts. Actually, I cannot deny that some institutions of the state have initiated a lot of construction and service projects of interest to the Iraqi citizens, but at the same time, I believe that many of the steps taken in the last 100 days were not commensurate with the events which attracted the attention of all the Iraqis who wished to get services and projects that could improve their standard of living and provide them with the life they aspire to. Iraq is one of the richest countries in the world and it has good things, thanks to God, and we hear every day, especially in the Hundred Days Program, that the government and its service departments have opened this project or that one, and it cost billions of dinars of Iraq's money. But we do not feel any real change in the construction and services that our government promised to provide us. If we wish to evaluate this period of time, I think it has resulted in unexpected outcomes and has not met the aspiration of the Iraqis. The most important issues of interest to the Iraqi people are still the same, such as services issue, which is still as it was, except for some attempts that nevertheless did not lead to the restoration of services. Many of our housing areas remain in deplorable condition. The problem of unemployment has not been solved yet, and everyone is suffering from the issue of corruption. The situation in general is still dismal and we have not seen any big changes that would make us rate this period positively.

The protests of the youth began on the 25th of February this year, after the example of Tunisia and Egypt in changing their oppressive systems of the longest period of emergency laws. But as soon as the spark reached Iraq, which is not far from the region, young people went out in demonstrations backed by all civil society organizations and political entities with national interests to achieve a comprehensive reform of the political process and not to oust the government, as happened in Egypt and Tunisia and will also happen in Libya and Yemen. But the current government, regardless of the name given to it by the leaders of the political process, is run by one party. This is not an indictment; it is reality, because the government is clinging to power and the formation of blocs to win the office of the prime minister. Even if there are differences between the parties of this bloc of the National Alliance, it is known as a "standard" sectarian block. The system in Iraq depends on sectarian and ethnic quotas, and there are repeated demonstrations, and many people fall victim, and there are arrests that do not relate to the democratic system which is about to be built. There are threats against many people. But with all the means of threats, arrests, injuries and death, these demonstrations have continued to this day. The young and old people went out together, bearing slogans that express the concerns of the Iraqi citizens and call for the provision of services and for holding accountable those who steal public funds and who are murderers by protesting against them. They call for ending the system of quotas that has brought Iraq to many disasters at all levels. The Iraqi Prime Minister was able to take advantage of the 100-days period to win the satisfaction of the public and hold the corrupt elements accountable by law, but he missed the greatest chance to eliminate corruption from Iraq. On the contrary, the government used the hundred days to dilute the core issues and to absorb the resentment of the people because of its failure. Every day the deadline is approaching, and every day an analyst says that nothing new will happen in Iraq during this period. Now we believe that the deadline has expired and has been renewed for another hundred days, and the spoilers have not been subjected to any penalties.

I call on for the dismissal of the first minister in this government, the Minister of Electricity, because he has not changed anything or carried out any project or plan since he took office until this day. I wonder whether he will work like his predecessors. Thus, he must be immediately dismissed before it is too late and he steals all the money of the Ministry of Electricity, because I have not felt any change. Indeed, if he is not able to lead this ministry and deal with the problem, it would have been better for him not to take this position at all. In addition, whoever is not able to run it must not be nominated to such a position. Therefore, I hope that they will appoint an experienced, honest and specialized person in this field, so that he will personally work on finding solutions to the issue of electricity, which has become our eternal problem in Iraq.

The one hundred days’ deadline has passed and we haven’t witnessed any change or difference. In fact, the capital is still suffering from the spread of waste and dirt. Thus, where are the promises? And where are the services? In fact, there are no services, no plans and no continuous and better work by the municipal districts to clean the streets and sewage and to improve the rest of the services. The municipal districts had provided nothing by the one hundred days’ deadline. Besides, the services that have been provided by the municipal and governmental officials must not be mentioned, because there are no real achievements despite the large amounts of money that have been allocated to implementing these projects. In fact, the government has allocated large amounts of money to achieve municipal services. However, I don’t know where they have spent these amounts of money or into which pocket they have put them. They have only swept some streets. And this has been achieved by some manual laborers who have followed instructions. Thus, I want to say that we don’t need one hundred days. In fact, we are in need of one thousand years in order to change anything. Thus, it is important to seriously punish all those who have neglected their work. It is also important to control the officials who have just taken office. Thus, it is important to expel them from the departments, positions and administration, because they will not achieve anything to serve us. In fact, we had thought that we would witness change after the officials’ fiery statements and the public demonstrations. However, unfortunately we have been disappointed after the unconvincing actions of the officials. Thus, there is no change and this is proof of the officials’ failure, because they don’t deserve to hold these positions, even the position of the head of the municipality.

Despite the 100 days deadline that the Iraqi Prime Minister has set in order to achieve reforms and humanitarian services for Iraqis, there have been no serious solutions to the problem of electricity since 2003 up to now. This is despite the large amounts of money that have been allocated by the Iraqi government to solve this problem. The attempts to do so have all failed, even after this new deadline. In fact, we haven’t witnessed a significant improvement in the electricity services. Thus, we call for the resignation of the Minister of Electricity, because he is incapable of solving this problem.