Section[ PART II - Strategy in Detail
Title[ THE POLITICAL TRACK IN DETAIL
OUR NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR VICTORY IN IRAQ:
Helping the Iraqi People Defeat the Terrorists and Build an Inclusive Democratic State
PART II - STRATEGY IN DETAIL
"America's task in Iraq is not only to defeat an enemy, it is to give strength to a
friend - a free, representative government that serves its people and
fights on their behalf."
- President George W. Bush, May 24, 2004
THE POLITICAL TRACK IN DETAIL
Strategic Summary: Isolate, Engage, Build
-- The political track of our strategy is based on six core assumptions:
- First, like people in all parts of the world, from all cultures and religions, when given the
opportunity, the Iraqi people prefer to live in freedom rather than under tyranny.
- Second, a critical mass of Iraqis in all areas of the country will not embrace the perverse
vision offered by the terrorists. Most rejectionists can over time be persuaded to no
longer seek the privileges of dictatorship - and in exchange will embrace the rewards of
democratic stability.
- Third, an enduring democracy is not built through elections alone: critical components
include transparent, effective institutions and a national constitutional compact.
- Fourth, federalism is not a precursor to the breakup of Iraq, but instead is a prerequisite
for a united country and better governance. Federalism allows a strong central
government to exercise the powers of a sovereign state, while enabling regional bodies to
make decisions that protect the interests of local populations.
- Fifth, it is in the fundamental interests of all Iraqi communities - and of the region - that
Iraq stays a united country. This shared objective creates space for compromise across
ethnic and religious divides and for the steady growth of national institutions.
- Sixth, Iraq needs and can receive the support of the region and the international
community to solidify its successes.
STRATEGIC LOGIC BEHIND THE POLITICAL TRACK
-- Our efforts and those of the Iraqis on the political track are geared toward isolating hard-core
rejectionists by expanding avenues for political participation at all levels of government,
engaging the region and all Iraqi communities to demonstrate that there is a place for all
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groups in the new Iraq, and building national Iraqi institutions and international support to
advance the rule of law and offer the Iraqi people a solid framework for a better and more
peaceful future.
- How will this help the Iraqis - with Coalition support - defeat the enemy and achieve our
larger goals?
- Progress in the political process - meeting political benchmarks - will provide
momentum against the insurgency and indicate to people "on the fence" that the old
regime has passed and that the effort to build a new Iraq will succeed.
- Inclusive institutions that offer power-sharing mechanisms and minority protections
will demonstrate to disaffected Sunnis that they have influence and the ability to
protect their interests in a democratic Iraq.
- Commitment to democracy - rather than other forms of governance - not only is
consistent with our values, but is essential to keeping the long-oppressed Shi'a and
Kurds as our partners in Iraq.
- Increasingly robust Iraqi political institutions expose the falsity of enemy propaganda
that Iraq is "under occupation," with decisions being made by non-Iraqis. Such
institutions also provide peaceful means for reconciliation and bridging divides.
- Due to the historical, cultural, political, and economic links between Iraq and its
neighbors, many surrounding countries can help Iraq secure its borders and
encourage Sunni rejectionists to renounce violence and enter the political process.
- Expanding international support for Iraq will demonstrate to Iraqis and the world
that Iraq is a valuable member of the international community and will further
broaden the political and economic support provided to Iraq.
PROGRESS ON THE POLITICAL TRACK
-- Our Isolate, Engage, and Build strategy is working: Iraqis have hit every political
benchmark in their transitional political process - and are on track to hit the next one:
elections in December to select a four-year government under a democratic constitution, with
full participation from all of Iraq's main ethnic and religious communities.
- In January, 8.5 million Iraqis defied terrorist threats to vote for Iraq's first freely elected
national government and provincial governments.
- In April, the elected leaders of Iraq's national legislature came together to form a diverse
cabinet that represented all groups, despite election results that heavily favored the Shi'a
and Kurdish communities.
- In June, the national legislature formally invited non-elected Sunni Arab leaders to join
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constitutional negotiations, demonstrating that leaders from all communities understood
the importance of a constitution with input from Iraq's major groups.
- In summer/autumn 2005, Iraq's elected national legislature - and the Sunni leaders
invited to join the process - drafted a constitution that was a huge step for Iraq and the
region. This draft constitution invests the sovereignty of Iraq in the people and their right
to vote, protects individual rights and religious freedoms, and puts forward sophisticated
institutional arrangements to safeguard minority rights.
- By the end of September 2005, approximately one million new voters came forward
to check their names on Iraq's voting rolls - the vast majority in Sunni areas. In
October, nearly 10 million Iraqis from all areas of the country again defied terrorist
threats to vote in the constitutional referendum. The constitution was ratified.
- Interest in the political process is stronger than ever. More than 300 parties and
coalitions are registered for the December elections, and even those who opposed the
constitution have organized for the December vote.
- In a strategic shift, Sunnis are turning to the political process to advance their interests.
During the constitutional referendum, turnout in Sunni areas was strong. Although many
Sunnis voted against the constitution, amendments made days before the referendum in
response to Sunni requests will permit further changes after the new government is
established. This and other provisions of the constitution that defer important issues to
the new assembly will ensure that elected Sunni leaders are able to influence the shape of
the Iraqi state.
- A recent change in the electoral process also provides all Iraqis a place in the new
assembly. In the January 2005 election, representation in the assembly was directly
related to turnout, which led to the depressed Sunni numbers in the body. Today's
electoral system allocates representation by province, which guarantees that even if
communities go to the polls in varying strengths, they will all have representation in the
new assembly.
- Signs of a vibrant political life are sprouting. The constitutional drafting committee
received more than 500,000 public comments on various provisions. More than 100
newspapers freely discuss political events every day in Iraq. Campaign posters are
displayed openly and in increasing number in most of Iraq's major cities.
-- As Iraq's political institutions mature, its judicial system has become an independent branch,
better able to promote the rule of law:
- Iraq's judiciary is organized by an independent council of judges, as in most civil law
countries. Saddam Hussein's system of "secret courts" has been abolished.
- One year ago, the Central Criminal Court of Iraq had capacity to prosecute fewer than 10
trials and investigative hearings per month. In the first two weeks of September 2005
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alone, the Court prosecuted more than 50 multi-defendant trials, and conducted over 100
investigative hearings. The Court is now expanding its reach throughout Iraq with
separate branches in local provinces.
- Hundreds of judges have been trained since the fall of Saddam Hussein. These judges are
now working and resolving cases under Iraqi law. In 2003, approximately 4,000 felony
cases were resolved in Iraqi courts. In 2004, they resolved more than twice that number.
This year, Iraqi courts are on track to resolve more than 10,000 felony cases.
-- International support for Iraq's political development is also growing:
- The United Nations Security Council has enacted a series of unanimous resolutions that
authorize the presence of Coalition forces and anchor the Iraqi political process with
international backing. In November, the United Nations Security Council passed
resolution 1637, which - at the request of the Iraqi government - unanimously extended
authorization for the Coalition forces to operate in Iraq.
- The United Nations is also playing an important role in Iraq's political transition, and
plans to expand its capacity with hundreds of personnel located throughout the country.
The Arab League, the European Union, and other important regional actors are all
engaged and working to support the Iraqi political process.
- Iraq is winning wider support from its fellow Arab states as well. In November, the Arab
League hosted a meeting in Cairo to promote Iraqi national reconciliation and the
political process; Iraqi leaders are being received by Arab heads of state; and many Arab
countries publicly supported Iraq's constitutional referendum and called for the broad
participation of all Iraqis in Iraq's political process.
- At the same time, change is coming to the region, with Syrian occupation ended and
democracy emerging in Lebanon, and free elections and new leadership in the Palestinian
Territories. From Kuwait to Morocco, Jordan, and Egypt, there are stirrings of political
pluralism, often for the first time in generations.
CONTINUED CHALLENGES IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE
-- Even with this solid progress, we and our Iraqi partners continue to face multiple challenges
in the political sphere, including:
- Ensuring that those who join the political process leave behind violence entirely;
- Building national institutions when past divisions and current suspicions have led many
Iraqis to look to regional or sectarian bodies to protect their interests;
- Nurturing a culture of reconciliation, human rights, and transparency in a society scarred
by three decades of arbitrary violence and rampant corruption;
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- Building political movements based on issues and platforms, instead of identity;
- Encouraging cooperation across ethnic, religious and tribal divides when many wounds
are still fresh and have been exacerbated by recent hardships;
- Convincing all regional states to welcome and actively support the new Iraqi state
politically and financially;
- Building ministerial capacity to advance effective government and reduce corruption.
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