Finally, Ja'fari Said: "Thank You Mr. President."

Finally, Ja'fari Said: "Thank You Mr. President."
By Mohammed Hassan Al-Musawi

The words of thanks and gratitude expressed by PM Ibrahim Ja'fari for the American people and president Bush were not simply complements made during diplomatic visits and meetings as some would like to explain. They mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for both Iraq and America. An era of strategic partnership between the world's greatest superpower, the USA, and the most ancient civilization known in history; Iraq, Mesopotamia, the land of the two rivers, the land of Ali and Al-Hussein, where the first word was written, where the first laws were enacted (an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth). We can confidently say that those simple, yet articulate, words of thanks expressed by Ja'fari, representing the first elected government in Iraq's modern history, have pulled down the curtain over an era of empty slogans and false speeches appealing to emotions such as "America the Great Satan," "Arab oil is for Arabs, death to the reactionaries," "The Imperialist mother," and other leftovers of the cold war era which prevailed in Iraq for long years pushing us decades back behind the rest of the civilized world. Bush's new project in the Middle East came to confirm this new relationship between Iraq and the US. A political, economical project in which America protects and sponsors the new liberal, democratic Iraq. Several well-known powers wanted Iraq to remain isolated from the west, and particularly from the US. It was also planned for Iraq to turn into a huge lab for experimenting abstract ideologies such as communism at the time it swept the region, or the united Arab nation and common destiny concepts designed by those who found Arab nationalism an ideal method to turn Iraq into a milking cow for others while its own citizens suffer from hunger and poverty, and the concept of an Islamic state, in both its moderate version of Shura and the extreme one of Wilayet-e Faqih which predominated after the Iranian revolution. Bush's project and Ja'fari's words of thanks put the final bullet of mercy in the head of these withering ideologies which were the reason behind this unjustified enmity between Iraq and the west, one which Iraqis paid dearly for in the process. Iraq, as an oil rich gulf country with enormous natural, agricultural and human resources, was expected to be one of the world's most developed and prosperous countries. Instead, it was destined to remain at the bottom of the list while neighboring countries were at their peak. Could it be that desert nomads built their countries for being far better civilized than us, or is there another secret somewhere? Yes, there is a secret, it's name is the west and America. A secret we Iraqis were not supposed to discover after long being drugged with the opium of Marxism, Nationalism and Islamism which alienated us from the west and America while they built for other Arab nomads their countries until Arab cities like Dubai became a major attraction for tourists and investors. But why did the west not turn to Iraq with all its riches instead of building countries for others? The answer is because other Arabs, despite being simple-minded, learned how to put their weight behind the west and to humbly seek their help. As to us, we continued to ruminate delusions and abstract utopian dreams of socialism and pan-Arabism, accusing gulf countries of being subordinates to western colonialists and imperialists, dreaming of the one Arab nation and other idiotic notions which all contributed to our downfall. The strangest thing though was when the tables turned against the people behind such sick ideologies, they dashed to the imperialist, infidel west, where they took refuge and enjoyed its benefits. If they get together you would find them playing the same old broken record of conspiracy theories. Therein lies the importance of Ja'fari's thanks to America and the west. They are of huge significance for both Iraq, and for Ja'fari himself. Iraq will soon, God willing, become the Japan of the Middle East and its center if everything goes will with our friends in the west and America. Ja'fari's words mean: First, gratitude which in itself is a major achievement for Ja'fari and points to his political maturity, since we know he was against the war and refused to attend the London conference for the Iraqi opposition which paved the way to Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also allied himself with Stalinist leftover movements and parties instead of seeking the help of America to end the Baathist occupation of Iraq. Unfortunately, Ja'fari was mistaken in all three actions so his thanks to the US are evidence that he is moving in the right direction this time in his understanding of political realities. Second, by accepting to offer thanks and gratitude to our American friends, Ja'fari has proven that he is no longer that person who leads and tries to make decisions on behalf of everyone, like he used to at the time he was leader of a political group with members no more than the number of a primary school's students. This is positive for a politician who seeks to win the next elections. Third, by offering thanks, Ja'fari has entered the political game from its widest entrance - and what could be a wider entrance than the White House?-, has understood the rules of the game and by thanking America he has started to act as a statesman who puts the interests of his country and his people before those of his party and his person. It is political realism which means to accept the realities on the ground and the friendship of Uncle Sam, abandoning all forms of demagoguism, revolutionary and romantic slogans. There is no place for these in the New Iraq. Thank you President Bush.