Iraqis sceptical Democrat gains will bring change
Source: Reuters
By Mussab Al-Khairalla BAGHDAD, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Iraqis were doubtful on Wednesday that any U.S. party could restore their wrecked country, after U.S. mid-term elections gave Democrats at least partial control of Congress. A number of Iraqis, increasingly pessimistic as violence on the streets shows no signs of fading, said they had not even followed the U.S. election race. "Iraq is long ruined and American policy is fixed, whichever party takes control of Congress. If the Democrats can finally bring us some security they are welcome, but I believe no one can succeed," said Abdullah, a 28-year-old computing student. Mohamed Husni, a 24-year-old taxi driver, said he hoped the shift in Congress would bring an immediate withdrawal. "The Democrats have been saying they will withdraw but I'm sure they will disappoint us. The Americans have ruined everything and the only solution is to let Iraqis deal with this mess," he said. U.S. voters handed a huge victory to the Democrats, who gained about 30 seats in the House of Representatives on a wave of public discontent with the Iraq war, corruption and Republican President George W. Bush's leadership. Democratic control of the House could slam the brakes on much of Bush's agenda and increase pressure for a change of course in Iraq. Democrats also moved to the brink of capturing the Senate, pending late results. "NO MAJOR CHANGES" Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, whose testy relations with Washington have often spilled into public clashes, told the BBC in an interview that he did not think a shift in Congress would bring any noticeable change in U.S. policy on Iraq. "I understand that America will always work for America's interest in its foreign policy. The relationship will not experience any major or dramatic change if new opinions surface after the elections," he said in an interview with the BBC filmed on Tuesday before the election was over. "This is natural and we will deal with it." Maliki and as his fellow Shi'ites from the United Iraqi Alliance, the largest bloc in Iraq's parliament, often criticise Washington for restricting the role of Iraq's security forces as they fight a Sunni insurgency. Hasan al-Senaid, a senior Alliance politician close to Maliki, said the shift would not affect U.S. strategy in Iraq as the nation is pivotal in its fight against global insecurity. "Tactics may change but the strategy will remain. The Democrats may reduce the number of U.S. forces and may prefer a shorter duration of their stay," he told Reuters. "But they must remember that they should treat Iraq's majority as a majority." The spokesman for the largest Sunni political group, Saleem al-Jubouri, said the Democrats' position on Iraq was closer to the vision of minority Sunni Arabs. "We believe the Democrats, with their general anti-war stance, want to improve policies but we fear they'll struggle to achieve changes as presidential powers are vast," Jubouri said. U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told an embassy reception that Bush was "committed to working with both houses of the American Congress to get support needed for the mission in Iraq to succeed". "Americans are prepared to continue to support Iraq as Iraqis take the needed steps," he said. Baghdad travel agent Abu Salih said: "I don't want the Democrats to pull troops out of Iraq and leave us living like this ... But I'm glad Bush is losing and the Americans are finally uncovering the reality."
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