Colonialism by Consent
By Dr. Ghulam M. Haniff
St. Cloud, MN
No one would have imagined that well into the twenty-first century an elected leader of a nation would voluntarily place his country under colonialism. But that is exactly what Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, has consented to do with Iraq.
At the moment, a treaty is being negotiated with the United States that would establish several American military bases in the country. The American personnel out there would have “extra-territorial rights,” that is, they would not be subjected to Iraqi laws. The h US would have considerable influence in Iraqi defense and foreign affairs.
In other words, Iraq would be reduced to the status of a colonial possession, very much like what Mughal India became from 1757 to 1857. Despite the history of colonialism in the area not a single Arab personality seems to understand the implications for Iraq in dealing with the foreign invader in question.
The current American posture is a replay of events that took place after the First World War when Britain moved in, defeated an insurgency, imposed the notorious Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1920 and made Iraq into a colony. The colonial status of the country was legitimized by the League of Nations which gave Britain “mandate” over the Arab nation.
The sovereign power of the country would be severely eroded owing to the presence of a foreign power and its armed might. Of course, sovereignty has already been compromised and it is being further bargained away in bits and pieces through treaty negotiations. When a foreign power has the final say in affairs of the nation, as was the case in Iraq from 1918 until 1946 when Britain left, the country can no longer be considered to be sovereign but a colonial possession.
The treaty is being drafted while military operations are under way, and the foreign occupier holds all the cards. However, Nouri Al-Maliki is a major advocate of the draft treaty that would make occupation legal and colonial control legitimate. Many observers in the Third World are aghast that an elected leader would choose to place his nation under colonialism in the post-colonial world.
Particularly horrified are commentators in Middle East who just cannot understand the developments taking place right in front of their eyes. To them this is a classical example of a ruler selling out his country for a fistful of dollars. Of course, when the transaction is completed the ruling elite of Iraq would be swimming in money while the ordinary citizens would be left out high and dry.
Only a tiny handful of individuals in the Arab world have condemned the colonial bondage being contemplated right in their midst. Most Arabs apparently are indifferent to the nature of Western colonialism despite their two centuries of encounter with it. No one has yet seen a placard bearing the message: “No to Colonialism” anywhere in the Gulf region.
In the middle of June the Foreign Minister of Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari, appeared on the CNN to declare nonchalantly that the draft treaty would be good for the two sides, Iraq and America. He would, of course, immensely benefit from American presence as dollars fill his coffers and that of his family, clan, tribe and the hangers-on. Obviously, he eats well, perhaps four times as much as an average Iraqi (judging by his rotund physique, cherubic and double-chinned face) in a land where half the people are living under conditions of starvation.
When the treaty goes into effect the ordinary citizens of Iraq will be transformed into so many “Gunga Dins” to be derided and ridiculed. They already are referred to as “sand-niggers” or “hajis” except in the presence of officers briefed by the Pentagon. “Haji” is code word that stands for “nigger” among the members of the combat fraternity. Even if half the stories told by the returning veterans are true the natives of Iraq are truly Kipling’s “half savage and half child(ren).”
It has taken time but the US authorities have bought out almost the entire elite of the country including many former guerrillas, and of course, the sheikhs, notables and the politicians. Money has been spread out generously. Even a mediocre politician has received in excess of five figure amounts. Many others have been placed on US payroll or plugged into lucrative positions.
Colonial enterprise in most cases is motivated by the desire for economic exploitation and the lust for domination. We see that most clearly in Iraq where the major oil corporations such as Exxon, Chevron, Halliburton and others have moved in to stake out their claims. Everybody benefits, the politicians and oil companies, construction firms and so forth, except the common people.
Eat your hearts out Iraqi patriots and nationalists, if there be any such individuals. Your own leaders, democratically elected, have sold you down the drain for a few pieces of silver.
