Friday, July 02, 2004
Iraqi opinion
I am cautiously optimistic about the future of Iraq. I think it will become an Islamic democracy similar to Turkey, and a strong friend to America in the region, now that the country has returned to Iraqi control, and the feeling of appreciation for America's sacrifices settles in.
Recent opinion polls show that a large majority of the country support the new interim government.
At Iraq the Model, if you missed it, Ali, an Iraqi, describes his experience as he learned about the official transition of power.
I was deeply moved by this great man’s [Bremer's] words but I couldn’t prevent myself from watching the effect of his words on my friends who some of them were anti-Americans and some were skeptic, although some of them have always shared my optimism. I found that they were touched even more deeply than I was. I turned to one friend who was a committed She’at and who distrusted America all the way. He looked as if he was bewitched, and I asked him, “So, what do you think of this man? Do you still consider him an invader?” My friend smiled, still touched and said, “Absolutely not! He brought tears to my eyes. God bless him.”
Another friend approached me. This one was not religious but he was one of the conspiracy theory believers. He put his hands on my shoulders and said smiling, “I must admit that I’m beginning to believe in what you’ve been telling us for months and I’m beginning to have faith in America. I never thought that they will hand us sovereignty in time. These people have shown that they keep their promises.”
Even the BBC, not known for their pro-American bias, seemed unable to find someone who was not sanguine about the future.
