Most Iraqis Ready for Reconciliation

As usual the blogger over at Healing Iraq is ahead of the story in talking about the sudden turnaround that the January 31 elections have brought as even many Iraqis who were formerly anti-democracy are looking for reconciliation.

Many political groups that boycotted the elections are now softening their tone and are sheepishly asking for a role in the political process, trying as much as they can to save face at the same time. The Association of Muslim Scholars, the Pan-Arab, Nasseri, and Socialist movements, the Khalisi group and the Sadrists are among the first groups to call for such a role. Had there been no elections, this could not have been possible. There is already a consensus among the different political powers that drafting the permanent constitution should not be done solely by the elected National Assembly. This in order to safeguard the interests of the part of the population that did not participate in the elections and to reassure Iraqis that everyone has a say in their future. No longer will one group, no matter how large its support base, dominate over others. I truly hope that Iraqi politicians realise this and can work to achieve it, leaving aside their personal interests and differences for one moment, putting the prejudices of the past behind them, and listening to what Iraqis have to say. For it is Iraqis, and Iraqis alone, that are the key to solving this whole mess.

It is refreshing to see how eager Iraqis are to establish a free and self-supporting nation. This is not a nation looking for civil war or for cessession. This is a nation ready to emerge from an awkward past into a modern future.