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IRAQ CELEBRATE VICTORY OVER AMERICAN INVADERS

June 24 2009

Baghdad, Iraq – The land that Iraq currently inhabits has long been sought and fought after. Historically the land is best known as Mesopotamia and through the 8000 years of human habitation the territory has become the root of virtually all aspects of human civilization and culture. First inhabited by the Sumerians, the first
human society, the land has undergone several massive changes in its eight millennia, and has been one of the most fought over tracts of land on the globe. It is understandable then that the people currently holding onto it have a certain sense of pride.

The foundation of the Kingdom of Iraq in 1932 was largely a result of the post World War 1 divvying up of the Middle East as French, British, and American interests took over from the interests of the Ottoman Empire. In the earliest days Iraq was a relatively peaceful country but eventually, due in part to lack of experience and an abundance of oil, the land was thrown into turmoil again. By the time the Americans invade in 2003 to oust dictator Saddam Hussein, the country had lived up to its historical legacy and now, as the Americans pull out, Iraqis are celebrating the return of their land and the conquering of yet another imposing villain.

“Don't lose heart if a breach of security occurs here or there. I, and you, are sure that many don't want us to succeed and celebrate this victory,” said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as American troops began to pull out of their enclaves. “They are getting themselves ready to move in the dark to destabilize the situation, but we will be ready for them, God willing.”   

The six-year long war in the country has claimed thousands of lives on both sides of the battle. Most of those, as is common in war, have been Iraqi civilians. Best estimates but the Iraqi death toll at 1.3 million people since the war began, a pittance many believe for the success they are now enjoying.

“Many ordinary Iraqi’s feel that this is perhaps the greatest victory the people of this land have ever won. This success hasn’t been one country defeating another and then taking over and it hasn’t been one country coming and ousting a foreign military force. This was a war conducted against the Iraqi people by the most significant military force ever assembled and they won the war,” said Middle Eastern Field Correspondent Arif Abadi. “The excitement in the street is palpable. People here feel they have
accomplished something that no other peoples have accomplished and that is imbuing them with a great deal of pride. There is special excitement because they did not oust the Americans with violence. They feel that they waited them out and forced them into a kind of moral shame that eventually forced them to leave with their tale between their legs.”

The common consensus from the outside world was that the Iraqi government was now well established and sectarian violence had dropped to a manageable level, allowing for the removal of American forces. Many Iraqis believe that the sacrifice of their family members forced the Americans out of the country.

“The belief is that by allowing children to be killed in front of the cameras the Americans will to fight the war was eroded; that the sacrifice of their loved ones eventually sapped the will of the soldiers and forced them back to their suburban homes and luxury cars. Many wars have been won by a demoralizing of the opponent and that is what many people here felt they were able to accomplish,” continued Abadi. “Talking to the average Iraqi on the street they feel that the defeat of the Americans was accomplished by their sheer force of will. Like the blood that has coloured the sands of the Middle East for generations, the blood of infants forced the Americans out of the country. It is true that economic issues and public indifference, as well as the will of a new administration, all contributed to the withdrawal but many Iraqis believe even those things wouldn’t have happened if they had not shed so much blood themselves. One thing holds true no matter what side you fall on; the Americans have pulled out and many Iraqis are dead.”

Reportedly efforts to have American forces sign peace agreements as an acknowledgement of their defeat in Iraq have gone rebuffed by military and government officials.    

Emil Uliya, International Correspondent

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