Leading Iraqi politician dismisses UK ambassador's claims to Chilcot Inquiry over threat of a military coup
Tuesday, 12 January 2010 22:32
Ayad Jamal Aldin, leader of the Ahrar Party, dismisses John Jenkins' warning to the Chilcot Inquiry over the possibility of a military coup despite increasing frustration from the Iraqi people towards Maliki's corrupt and Iranian controlled government.
Speaking to the Chilcot Inquiry in London last week John Jenkins, UK ambassador to Iraq, warned that Iraq faced a "real possibility of a military coup" ahead of the forthcoming elections in March. "Although I think where we are at the moment is much better than where we thought we were going be back in 2004-05 you only need look at the history of Iraq to understand that a realistic threat still exists."
However, despite the warning from Jenkins, leading Iraqi politician Ayad Jamal Aldin believes that there is little chance of a military coup - due to the divisions within the security force - in the run up to the forthcoming elections despite widespread frustration towards Maliki's Iranian controlled government.
"If you look at the previous military coups - within Iraq - there was unity and loyal support between the senior officers, sub-commanders and soldiers. They were fighting a common cause which they all believed in. In 1958, when the Hashimite monarchy were overthrown, Major-General Abdul Karim el Qasim only had to give the order and every Iraqi soldier followed him. The modern Iraqi security forces are now so divided in their backgrounds, views and religious faiths that the likelihood of a full military coup is almost impossible.
We understand the frustrations felt by the Iraqi security forces and the majority of Iraqis with the current regime's ineptitude and inability to provide stability. However, change in Iraq will no longer come through a military coup, but through the peaceful process of democratic elections. This March, we expect people to rise up and reject of all of the current parties in Iraq who have become riddled with corruption and rely only on the old failed, divisive politics of the past and instead replace them with Ahrar. That is why we formed Ahrar - to begin a new government, free of corruption, that will for the first time work on behalf of the Iraqi people."
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About Ayad Jamal Aldin:
Ayad Jamal Aldin is a Shia cleric, best known for his consistent campaigning for a new, secular Iraq. He first rose to prominence at the Nasiriyah conference in March 2003, shortly before the fall of Saddam, where he called for a state free of religion, the turban and other theological symbols. In 2005, he was elected as one of the 25 MPs on the Iraqi National List, but withdrew in 2009 after becoming disenchanted with Iyad Allawi's overtures to Iran. He wants complete independence from Iranian interference in Iraq. He now leads the Ahrar party for the 2010 election to the Council of Representatives, to clean up corruption and create a strong, secure and liberated Iraq for the future.