For weary Iraqis, U.S election smells of ‘honey promises’
By NBC News' Karim Hilmi
BAGHDAD – A few weeks ago, Arab satellite channels were airing live coverage of the Democratic Party convention. At a cafe in my Baghdad neighborhood, the TV was tuned into the goings-on in Denver.
The cafe was full, as it is usually is after working hours. But hardly a head was pointed in the direction of the TV as the Democratic Party raised its collective voice to welcome Barack Obama. Most just kept playing dominos, backgammon, cards and drinking tea and Pepsi.
That’s despite the fact that Obama has some Islamic roots – his father was raised a Muslim and the presidential candidate spent four or five years in predominantly Muslim Indonesia as a child – and that he and his Republican opponent, John McCain, have divergent opinions on their handling of Iraq’s future.
Why? Busy lives – and a weary fatalism born of 25 years of Saddam Hussein and five-and-a-half years of American occupation.
'Merely faces to be changed'
Just a few friends sitting near me in the cafe talked about the election, and only then because they were prompted by my questions as to who they would prefer as the next U.S. president.
"I don't give a crap who wins or loses," said Safa, a mechanic in his mid-30s. "What good did Bush do to the Iraqi people? Only death and devastation."
The conversation started to warm up a little. "Don't you forget that Bush made us get rid of Saddam, or else we would still be ruled by him and his party and wearing khaki," said Adnan, a plumber, referring to the military uniform he wore in the Iraqi army for about 15 years.
"But don't forget also that Saddam used to give power, water and full foodstuffs through the ration card," chimed in Saman, who is a member of the peshmerga, a Kurdish paramilitary group that fights for a free Kurdish state. "But this government robs us and makes us die in life."
Khalid, a merchant in his late 50s, jumped into the mini-debate.
"In my opinion Saddam, the Americans and the new Iraqi government are all the same – they have done nothing to help Iraqis.
"Bush, McCain or Obama, they are merely faces to be changed," he added, "but the policy is the same and the non-actions and honey promises will be the same."
And then just as quickly the debate died.
''I hear the sound of the mill," said Akram, the owner of the café, "but I don't see any flour."
