It is hard to believe that there are features of a revolution in Iraq against corruption, nepotism and the sectarian quota system. It is also difficult to believe that what is happening is a reformist movement, even if the occupiers of parliament and the Green Zone in Baghdad chanted against Iran.
What is happening now in Iraq is an indicator that the entire political system may collapse. What we are seeing are signs of the chaos caused by the depth of mistrust between social, political and Iraqi components which have been caused by years of political shortcomings, a lack of patriotism, subordination to Iran and a greedy desire for power and financial influence.
When Mr Haider Al-Abadi became the prime minister of Iraq and vowed to take steps towards reform, it was said at the time that Al-Abadi was planning to revolt against corruption and intended to reform the political system. However, nothing happened.
Today, it is said that Moqtada Al-Sadr aims to abandon sectarianism and fight corruption. Is it possible to believe this even though some chanted against Iran whilst the Green Zone was stormed and parliament was occupied? Of course not, not because it is said that Al-Sadr had flown to Iran, but because of a very simple reason. When Al-Sadr intended to enter the Green Zone to start a sit-in there in March, the head of security of the Green Zone kissed his hand in a scene captured on camera. This move itself is evidence of sectarianism taking root in Iraq, and the lack of value for the state and its prestige, which Al-Sadr now claims to defend by calling for a technocrat government.
It does not end there as Al-Sadr travelled to the southern suburbs of Beirut to meet Hassan Nasrallah. This is worse than Al-Sadr’s visit to Iran because the visit to Tehran meant that Al-Sadr discussed and negotiated issues related to the state and the regime, despite the fact that we disagree with Iran. However, what justification does Al-Sadr have for meeting Hassan Nasrallah, the murderer of the Syrians who is hostile to Arabism?
It is therefore difficult to decide based on slogans, believe what is said, or rely on good intentions. What is happening in Iraq means that the current political system is unable to accommodate the rules of politics and the administration of the state, and is unable to get out of the sectarian quagmire because Iraq is administered according to sectarian rather than patriotic logic.
All of this is taking place amid the fragmentation of all components of Iraq without exception. They all agree on one thing, that their country represents a stage for their influence and does not represent their future and the future of their children. They do not want territorial integrity or for Iraq to be independent. Neither do they want to safeguard the stability of the country or its independence, and so they fly to Iran and to Hassan Nasrallah!