Tragedy in Iraq

A series of coordinated attacks in Baghdad on Tuesday killed 127 persons and injured over 500 others. It is the third such big attack since August last. Apparently anti-government elements within the Sunni community with links to Al Qaeda may have carried out these attacks. While we sympathize with the victims of this ruthless terrorist attack it is opportune to dwell on why such a fate befell Iraq. It is no secret that this unfortunate plight of the Iraqi people started with the invasion of the country by the United States and other partners of its Coalition of the Willing.

Though there was loud talk about the necessity of weeding out Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) they were not there. It was an excuse to effect a regime change as the then existing regime of Saddam Hussein had fallen out of favour with Washington. During the regime of Saddam Hussein fundamentalist militant groups were non-existent in Iraq. In fact, it was the only country with a secular government albeit with certain drawbacks. Saddam was also unjustifiably blamed for having links to Al Qaeda which was proved to be wrong.

It is the destruction of Iraq with its resources, both human and material, and the loot of its rich cultural treasures that has made Iraq a hotbed of tension and anarchy and a breeding ground for terrorism. The blame goes to the United States and its allies in the war as well as to their local collaborators.

Most Iraqi leaders including Saddam Hussein had been on the payroll of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States at one time or other. This dangerous collaboration of Iraqi politicians with the CIA and other foreign agencies has made it impossible for genuine nationalist elements to rise to the top in any ruling dispensation.

As analysts have claimed the net result of the US occupation of Iraq has been the division of Iraq dangerously along communal lines. The ultimate result of this intensification of communal and religious divisions between the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds would be the division of the country.

We would like here to draw the attention of the people to the dangers of fifth columns operating in countries like ours. Present day fifth columns work through various channels, both overt and covert. Powerful nations employ many citizens of foreign countries to gather information, stir up public opinion in favour of them and to influence governments of their countries in policy and other matters. They even fund civil society organizations and political parties and groups.

Sri Lanka has defeated the world's most ruthless terrorist organization. Yet its international network of fund collectors and political cells are still operative. Hence, there is the need to be vigilant about the machinations of fifth columns and external interference in the elections. The Iraqi bomb blasts on Tuesday may also be an attempt to disrupt the forthcoming elections in that country.

Which to promote: Public or private transport

The Copenhagen world summit on climate change is now deliberating. If world leaders fail to come to an agreement to cut CO2 emissions considerably the human species may be threatened in the not too distant future.

This is a question not to be left to the leaders or governments to grapple with. Each and every one of us should find ways and means of reducing CO2 emissions. One way would be to reduce the use of cars driven by fossil fuel that pollute the environment.

Hence the temptation to use private transport has to be curbed at some point or other. Public transport should be developed so that the need for private transport would be less.

It is sad that even projects that wanted to reduce the entry of private cars to the city did not find support among the public.

The middle classes love to own vehicles as a status symbol even if the cost of maintenance is high. Some would find it infradig to use public modes of travel. This is the psychology fostered by the market economy where vehicle manufacturers tempt them to own a vehicle.

Imagine what chaos and what a wastage of resources and what enormous pollution would result if every family, every public servant were to own a vehicle of their own. It would simply be madness when there won't be enough room for them on the roads and vehicle parks.