Analysis: Discontent Surges in Iraq

Despite Iraq’s immense oil wealth, the people of Iraq continue to suffer from shortages of basic necessities. Although this AP story doesn’t mention it, much of the suffering is due to the IMF structural reforms implemented by the Iraqi government under the Iraqi “debt forgiveness” program implemented by James Baker and the Paris Club.

For background information on how the IMF and the World Bank are operating in Iraq, see Economic Occupation: The World Bank and IMF in Iraq, as well as IMF Occupies Iraq, Riots Follow.

BAGHDAD – In the depths of a strangely cold winter in the Middle East, Iraqis complain that the lights are not on, the kerosene heaters are without fuel and the water doesn’t flow — and they blame the government.

And with the war nearing its fifth anniversary, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is feeling the discontent as well from the most powerful political centers in the majority Shiite community.

It’s a pincer movement of domestic anger that yet again could threaten al-Maliki’s hold on his Green Zone office.

“Where’s the kerosene and the water?” asked Amjad Kazim, a 56-year-old Shiite who lives in eastern Baghdad. “We hear a lot of promises but we see nothing.”

Little kerosene is available on the state-run market at the subsidized price of $0.52 a gallon. But the fuel can be found on the black market, where it goes for more than $3.79 a gallon.

Posted by neurolingo

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