Iraqis to Obama: We need ‘change,’ too
By NBC News' Karim Hilmi
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqis expressed hope Wednesday that Barack Obama’s victory in the presidential election would usher in a change in policy toward their struggling country, but many remained skeptical.
"The American policy is fixed and it won't change. Washington has its own agenda to carry on. We will wait and see if Obama is going to withdraw American forces from Iraq," said Alwan Awad, a bookshop owner in Baghdad. "Let him start a new era of extending bridges of cooperation and friendship with Iraq and the rest of the Arab and Muslim world."
Obama, president-elect in the United States, has pledged to change U.S. policy toward Iraq by drawing down troops and shifting them to Afghanistan, another country beset by conflict years after a U.S. invasion. This message resonated with some Iraqis.
"I loved this man's motto ‘change’ which has a large meaning and effect on the whole world," said Nawzad Kurdi, a shoe manufacturer in Baghdad. "I sincerely hope that this man will lead a new policy and strategy to show the real face of the Americans as friends and partners to people of the world and change the bad image which Bush drew for the Americans, particularly in Iraq."
Still doubts, but hope
Taha Yassin, an imam who fled to Baghdad from the violence of Fallujah, doubted that Obama would be able to change U.S. policy. "American presidents’ policy won't be changed – antagonizing Muslims and Arabs and befriending Israelis at the expense of the American people’s interests. Is that reasonable?"
While not all Iraqis think U.S. policy is oriented against the Arab world, most yearn for a lasting peace that won’t require the presence of U.S. troops. This morning, on my way to the NBC News bureau, an American military convoy stopped my cab, angering the driver.
"In 1978, the American contractors used to walk unguarded in Karrada streets, but look now, they are in the Humvees not feeling safe," the driver said. "Thanks to Bush who turned the world upside down. We hope Obama will change all that mess."
The racial dynamic of Obama’s election loomed large in Basra, where 15-20 percent of the population is black. The descendents of those brought from Africa centuries ago as slaves were excited that for the first time a black man would be president of the United States.
"Unbelievable! Obama is the next U.S. president. That is unbelievable!" said Majid Hussein, a black college student in Basra. "A ‘black’ president in the ‘White’ House. Who ever, ever thought of that before?"
Suhaila Mohammed Ali, a teacher in Basra, hoped Obama’s win would send a message to minorities around the world.
"Obama's landslide victory is a pride for Africans, blacks and the oppressed people in the world. We may say now that apartheid is finished," she said.
Despite this enthusiasm, Ali didn’t believe Obama’s call for change would mean much for Iraq.
"But alas the American policy won't be changed, even if the president is black."
