21 points in Maliki's program could confront terrorism in Iraq

By Walid Phares

In an interview with Radio Free Iraq, I reported that up to 21 points proposed in Prime Minister Maliki's program could become a solid base for an Iraqi war on Terror, if well implemented. The formation of a council for reconciliation, as a first item, indicates that negotiations among the main parties on this strategy have taken place for months. The text announced by PM Maliki thus is a result of discrete dialogue and has the consent of major players in the country. The conference of pro-government clerics to issue counter-fatwas in the near future is a powerful tool against the Jihadists. A proposed "Congress of heads of tribes against terrorism," is another tool, and the stipulation calling for support to "civil society groups" is also helpful. The adoption of a "rational discourse" by the media and government officials could become Iraq's war of words against the terrorists.

I note the "plan to end political assassinations, the political consensus against the Saddam supporters and the Jihadi Terrorists," and the contentious plan for amnesty is not really a general amnesty. There will be special committees to determine who didn't participate in war crimes, terrorism, etc., and there are special conditions for all those who would apply for amnesty, including a commitment for non-violence and support for elected government. The text asks Coalition forces to establish a mechanism to address human rights abuses. The program also addresses the problems of the victims of the Hussein regime, of the terorrists, and the war.

On the military level, the program calls for a fast-track building of Iraqi forces to prepare for the withdrawal of the coalition, thus affirming that the US withdrawal will be part of the rise of Iraqi forces. Perhaps the most daring declaration, by Iraqi standards, is the clear call for disarming the (Shiite) militias and the explicit naming of (Salafi) Takfiris as the "enemy."

You can listen to the interview in Arabic here.

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