Monday, August 30, 2004

What do we Need 

When Faluja problems started I used to post daily, but now with the problems in Najaf I didn’t have the enough time to do so, beside this time the media was not so bad in reporting and putting the matter on TV stations as it was in Faluja. Even if they tried to make the rebels in Najaf look like resistance to the occupation, they always faced unreasonable acts from the armed men there and their leaders and a very bad example for an Iraqi mentality. So I was not so worry that Najaf problems would be misunderstood world wide, especially with an Iraqi government taking over from the coalition forces and a professional Iraqi media tried their best to give the facts and react against the opposite media.

The Iraqi government dealt with Najaf problem with wisdom. Some kind of wisdom we never been used to. We new from day one that the IPs and INGs backed up with the multi national forces could crush the rebellions any time they want but they gave the matter time to be solved peacefully, more time than expected, more than the rebellions expected and that’s what we don’t understand or in right words we are not used to……I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do or not, but in few years from now we will now. Actually there are many things we don’t understand our government way of acting and dealing with them. And today I would like to put some of these things and situation from our daily life to you, maybe for nothing but loud thinking.

We all hear about sabotaging the oil pipe line to Basra and we expect its being blown off……….. Well not always because in the few weeks ago there were a 43 cases of “digging a hole in ground near the pipe line and another hole in the pipe above it and letting the oil flow in the hole to be a small lake then pumping the gathered oil into a tanker truck to be smuggled to the near by countries and sold there. When the oil ministry found about that, they made an agreement with the tribes living near these places to protect the pipe for money to be paid to them, but in one case for example when a patrol of tribal men protecting the pipe passed someone trying to sabotage it –actually to steel fuel- they started to shoot at him and he run away but in the morning the family and tribe of the sabotage man came for the tribe of the patrol men for their tribal right of being shot at, can you imagine……just imagine the situation.

I still have some building workers in my house to finish some work, and they are usually from SADIR city in Baghdad which backs up the Mahdy militia in Najaf as the media says, in fact they are simple poor people who don’t want to be a part of any thing and they told me that they faced death several times to come to work in my house when they passed inside SADIR city several ground holes with explosives in it and wires from the hole to a near houses where someone with a mask is sitting and wait for an IP or ING or American patrol to come to blow it off and wont hesitate to blow some innocent Iraqis civilians with them and any one from the people there would refuse what the mask man doing may get killed.

Also in Palestine Street in Baghdad some militia man plant a bomb in street and when he was discovered he ran away followed by IPs and when he passed some Facility Protection Services men (FPS) they started to shoot near him not at him and he shot back at their place not at them. That’s because no body want to kill the other so he wont be followed by the others family. But the bomb was blown and killed innocent family who were in their car passing by. It’s so complicated when we deal with twisted minds people.

And I still see some INGs with all their courage acts in streets but with masks so they can’t be recognized by their relatives or neighbors or by the bad guys.

Today a girl works with us in office as a cleaning worker and she is also from SADIR city too told us the story of her neighbor women who was arrested while she was transferring many weapons and ammunition and grenades from her house to our worker house through the roofs (which is very easy in a neighborhood of small attached houses) before the IPs go into the houses searching for weapons. Our worker said “I never expected her to be a SPY”.

It has been said before and it needs to be said here too. Never criticize any thing with out putting the solution for it first. And its very bad when things go wrong and take so long time to get solved till we hear some old man said after watching a report in TV about what’s going on in Najaf …..”Now the lawyers of Saddam would have the chance to prove he is not guilty and set him free because he had all the right to do what he did and it was suitable for the majority of our people”, I was very angry when I heard those wards and told the old man “I hope with all my heart, we will never get to that point, it would be a disaster”.

But what is the right thing to do in such situation, when people would not cooperate with the government because they don’t understand that cooperation is the right thing to do and it’s for the peoples sake…………………But I can put as a fact that many problems we are facing are being solved in the private sector. In private sector nobody left his job to join Mahdy militia, but many of the government employees did. Nobody is sabotaging private sector facilities and when they try to its more difficult, but in government facilities its happening. Let me go further and say if gas stations were run by private sector, we would never had a fuel problems, it would be solved as it is now in Sulymaniya city in the north for example. And further more if electricity were generated by private sector we would have more power than we need and may be we would supply Syria with some. All that would lead to a major solution to 90% of our problems PRIVETIZATION.
Many may say that I am a capitalist and that’s a real crime in many Middle East countries and some of what was left in the mined of Iraqi people from the old days of our old regime. BUT WE REALY DO NEED A GOVERNMENT WHICH RECEIVES TAXIS AND HOLD THE SECURITY SITUATION INSIDE AND ON BORDERS AND MAINTAIN ORDER, AND LET THE ECONOMY FLOW CONTROLED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS UNDER IRAQI LAWS PUT BY THE ELECTED GOVERNMENT. Just an idea very applicable and when it is reality we will find some looser who would blame the government for being homeless, jobless …etc. We can find those all over the world even in Sweden, Denmark, Canada, and Saudi Arabia.

Comments:
Firas,
Thanks for you informative post.
You are right: most of the time private business is more efficient and give higher quality goods and services than does the government.
In my city, it may surprise you that water, sewage, and electricity all come from the government. All of these services are provided by a non-profit corporation that is distinct from the city government but has a board of directors that is selected by the mayor and approved by city council. In general, it works well. We have two hospitals in the city; one is a for-profit private business and the other is a non-profit hospital. Both do good work.
One expert believes that Iraq's oil industry should be divided into about 10 companies, and then shares should be given equally to all Iraqis. You Iraqis would literally own the oil companies yourselves. You could sell the shares or keep them and get the profits from them. The government would tax the oil companies like they tax any business.
The big benefit of this approach is that it is very popular with the people--they get something of real value for nothing.
Second, it takes the oil out of the hands of the politicians, and avoids a big struggle over who should control the oil. Moreover, every Iraqi would have an interest in oil companies in the north, south, and middle. Thus, you would have a reason to hope for stability in the kurdish north, and the kurds would have a reason to hope for good things to happen in the south. This is economic interdependence, and is the basic reason why Europe wanted a common currency--to help knit each other closer together to avoid war in the future.
 
War is an ugly business. Letting Sadr go free is part of the cost of war. It was the right thing to do, in my opinion. He will be monitored by the police, and next time he slips up he will be killed. If he doesn't slip up, that's fine too.

You're right about privatization - anything that can be privatized, should be privatized.

However, you talk about an elected government. Are the Iraqis actually smart enough to elect a government that is going to privatize everything? If you want a government that runs things according to modern economic theory, it would be helpful if Iraqis actually knew modern economic theory. And that requires education, which requires time. So what's your solution to that dilemma?

I think the revenue from the oil should be kept by the government for infrastructure (roads, police etc), so that a pure capitalist system can be implemented in the private sector - no taxes! This will eliminate all the paperwork required to collect taxes. Government should concentrate on putting the oil revenue into education. If the oil money goes directly to the people, they will spend it on an increase in standard of living. It is better for them to earn their higher standard of living themselves. Currently the Iraqis have a good work ethic. If they get free money from the government, they will end up being like Saudi Arabia - no-one works, the oil revenue stays the same, the population increases, and thus the people get poorer.

The biggest education benefit would be internet access for everyone so that they can discuss things and learn things at home.
 
Firas I was thankful to see a post from you after such a period of not knowing what was happening with you and your family.

I agree that privatization is great. There are some problems though. I like the idea of spliting the oil into 10 regions (if it should be privatized), however I would like to see shares not be able to be sold for a certain number of years or you would have something like what happened in Russia where the wealthy would take advantage of the poor before the poor realized what they are giving up.

I believe in small government, but after what I'm learning about still practiced tribal society in the rural areas espcially, I don't know what the answers are. People need to learn that no-one is above the law, however what happened with alSadr does not bode well for that. The story you posted about the oil theifs family showing up for compensation boggles my mind. It
strikes me as funny, but it is too serious in it's implications to be comedic. Reminded me too of Sadam torturing a victum for months then shooting them and next shows up to the family's home, dumps body or evidence at the family front door and demanded payment for the bullet.

I live out in the country and our electricity is co-op owned we pay but we own it supposedly. There are many creative ways to solve problems. I wish you and your peace loving citizens the best.

A'aash al Iraq!

USAgranny
 
Firas,
Totally agree on the privatization part. Another fundamental of success here is education.

Be safe.

Tom in Switzerland
 
Firas, you are on the right track.
 
Good to see you posting again! I was beginning to wonder... I appreciate you taking the time to write to us. Your words are so raw and straight from the heart and I always look forward to reading your entries. Take care!
 
Another great post Firas. If everyone in Iraq were as forward thinking and logical as you, Iraq would be prosperous within a year.
 
Not being an economist, I do not know exacttly how the oil industry would be managed. I strongly believe that the money from it should be the governments to pay for infrastructure , police, education, military. To say each Iraqi owns a share will make many lazy. Soon they will complain that they need more from the government. If the government gets the oil profits with transparent management of funds, it then pays for the services all Iraqis need. If enough money, they can subsidize health care. The hard workers who make good wages will not be giving money to the government in taxes. Those unwilling to work will remain poor, but their children will be educated and can better themselves.
 
Great to see you post again my friend. Yes, it can be very frustrating when trying to settle an issue like getting Muqtada out of Najaf without damaging the Mosque/shrine. It takes time and negotiations. No one gets all they want, but certain objectives can be reached. In this case the little creep is still free, but the shrine is cleansed of his filth without having to damage it in battle.

When you were discussing the lady who workd in your office, I assume she did not know her neighbor was putting weapons on her roof. Did the IP catch the neighbor in the act of transferring the weapons to her neighbors roof? Otherwise it might be hard to explain how all those weapons got there.

And yes, the developing of private businesses is a good idea.
 
And people laughed and said: What your just going into Iraq and find Thomas Jefferson? (laugh)
Of course not in Iraq we found
Firas Georges .
Keep it up like this and they will paint your picture on all the walls one day.

Madtom
 
Firas, Good to see you posting again.

You are Capitalist scum! LOL

Private and free enterprize are the key to a diverse econonmy which is the key to a stable and robust economy. The more baskets and the more eggs you have, the better off one is economically. It is as true for individuals as it is for nations. If all your eggs are in one basket than there is going to be problems.

Good Luck, keep up the hard work and the positive attitude .
 
Great post Firas as always!

thinker
 
Sorry, I didn't understand your worker's comment about being a SPY. Who did she think she was a spy for? And I assume your worker was helping hide the weapons, so she is pro-terrorist.

Please explain.

Thanks for all the informative "thinking out loud".

The trouble with a no-tax oil-funded society is that the citizens lose a major lever on the government. If the citizens aren't paying, they have less control. And Arab countries that live off oil revenue are massively corrupted by the sociopathic parasites who latch onto the controls over the cash flows.

As to privatization, I prefer the Roman system, where companies got paid 1/2 on completion of a project, and the rest 20 years later if it was still in good shape. :)
 
I agree with firas. It should be totally privatized and taxes collected. Frankly, their oil wells are not going to produce enough revenue to pay for all of the infrastructure needs, now or in the future, although, they make a good start. Eventually, the people will have to pay for the services they want from the government like roads and security and healthcare (although, I think that should be privatized eventually).

In regards to this however, I think that it is too soon to try and privatize the oil structure. basically, they do not have the internal mechanisms to track and collect taxes from it's citizens. Their entire census system will have to be overhauled and a formal tax code put in place with laws accordingly. This will not happen overnight, so, I think gas stations should be privatized, but the oil sector is going to be awhile. Maybe two or three years before the tax code is in place. Right now, they do have a pure capitalism private sector, no taxes on sales or salaries, and a socialist government services program.

This will change eventually.
 
So good to see you back and posting again! You are a very smart man and you should consider running for a seat in the Iraqis National Assembly. If only your country men and women could hear your sound reasoning from one of their own, YOU could make a very positive influence in the forming of the new Iraq!

Good Luck in all you attempt! Thank you for blogging and giving us a glimpse into your world. For giving us the real story that the media tries to hide from us. Men like you are Iraq's future and if there are others like you...that future will be a bright one, even if the road there is not easy and very long...it will all be worth it in the end, when Iraq is a free and prosperous country.
 
Australians are members of the tribe of humans. We are not white people, we are humans.
Arabs are members of the tribe of humans.
Arabs are our brothers.
All Australians accept Arabs as equals. We are not racist. The people who said that Australians are racist white people LIED to you.
Australia is in Iraq protecting Arab human rights. We are not trying to steal oil etc etc etc.
Join us. We are proud to be humans. LOOK AT OUR POWER!!!
Americans accept Australians and Arabs as equals too. We are all part of the same tribe. We will protect you. We accept you. All the free world accepts Arabs as equals.
If you don't believe me, ask some Americans. Ask them if they accept you as an equal. I know that they accept you as an equal, for the same reason that they accept Australians as equal!
And we don't care what religion you are either. I am an atheist. In Australia, atheists, Hindus and Muslims (both Sunni and Shiite) are accepted as equals.
Australians and Arabs were allies in World War I and we will never forget the brotherhood forged in blood!!! Thankyou Arabs! We needed your help and you gave it to us!!! The Anglophones are proud to return the help you. We will replace all your terrible leaders with good leaders - leaders that respect your human rights - leaders who are "good hosts" and who will ASK YOU what YOU want (via democracy). We owe you that much for all the help you gave us. We're sorry it took so long for us to return the favour. The reason for the delay is because we needed to defeat Nazism and Communism before we could help free the Arabs.
 
We are tribal amongst non-subjugators. Social standing is based on charity to complete strangers.
 
Where are you at? We miss your comments.
Steve
 
Olie Olie Ox in Free. (in case you don't know Firas, that's a phrase used to call out to 'hide and seek' participants, that they can come out of hiding because someone else has been caught.) Anyway, it's been two weeks now since we heard from you. Hope all is well. Read you later.
 
Hope you are well Firas.
 
I'm new here. But I see that you haven't written in a while. Are you all right?
 
I just heard that another American was beheaded in Iraq. I wish all Americans would leave Iraq and not try to help anymore. Just the soldiers should be left there to fight the terrorists. I am not a racist person, but can you imagine how sick we feel when this happens to innocent people of all nations. Why do the Iraqi people not stand up to the terrorists? Why do you not voice your hatred for these people. I wanted Iraq to be free and know what it was like not to live under a cruel dictator, but my feelings are changing more and more each day. I am sitting hear crying as I am typing because I do not understand and I get so angry! Islam is suppose to be love and peace? I do not see it. I only see hatred from the Iraqis towards Americans. I have never seen one Iraqi on television stand up and say that we are not going to take any more terrorist killings. These suicide bombers kill your own people every day!! When are you going to stop them?
 
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