“Change”, “Vote For Me And I Will Defeat Them,” “I Will Not Be Lenient,”, “I Will Not Make Concessions”, “I Will Not Compromise,” “I Will Not Be Weak”, “A Courageous Voice”, “The Voice Of The Deprived”, “You Are My Siblings”, “ The Destroyer Of Al-Baath Idols.” These are some of the brief catchy slogans and colored electoral banners representing some 6,000 candidates who are competing in the upcoming Iraqi elections. In Al-Hayat's issue last Friday, colleague Mashreq Abbas wrote an interesting report entitled: “All Weapons are Allowed in the Iraqi Elections, Including Vote Buying”, revealing some secrets and the ways of thinking of some candidates, as well as the reactions of the people. I wish that Al-Arabiya or the Iraqi channels had filmed field reports on the phenomenon of vote buying and the implications of the candidates' slogans and the extent of their influence on voters. But these channels ignored the most important aspect [of the elections] and focused on trivial aspects. Al-Arabiya's anchorwoman, who moderates what she calls a debate among Iraqi guests, was unable to even moderate the dialogue among the guests. She raised weak questions that do not really delve into the mind of the guests to reveal the extent of their seriousness, the depth of their ideas, the credibility of their electoral platforms, and the reasons for their alliances. Therefore, she did not offer viewers any new perspectives. It is clear to observers that the tendency to raise slogans is more prevalent this year than it was in the 2005 elections, especially since some of these competing candidates have decided to adopt escalation, and level accusations against other parties, while some others did not hesitate to use a sectarian tone, or manipulate tribal and family feelings. Others decided to resort directly to vote buying. Interestingly, the main slogan of the campaign of the list of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is “change.” The same slogan is used by the candidates on the list of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, in a direct simulation of the slogan raised by US President Barack Obama in 2008. On the other hand, the banners filling the streets and walls of Baghdad did not lack humorous expressions. For example, one candidate's electoral campaign slogan is “Vote For Me And I Will Defeat Them,” with him looking angry in the picture. This made voters and visitors ask: Who does this candidate want to defeat? Will he defeat the politicians, the sectarian leaders, the Americans, the terrorist groups, or society as a whole? Another candidate raised a slogan that says: “I Will Not Make Concessions” and “I Will Not Be Lenient” with him raising his forefinger in a fake manner. Another candidate responds to him by “I Will Not Compromise,” and “I Will Not Be Weak”, as if the electoral battle were for the candidates to respond to each other by slogans, rather than a battle to attract voters. As for Kirkuk, it witnessed according to Iraqi websites an increase in the rate of traffic accidents, due to the picture of a pretty female candidate who diverted the attention of drivers. The elections fever was not restricted to buying votes, but went even further to the phenomenon of “fill your bellies” – an unavoidable Arab tradition. Prices of meat increased due to the increasing consumption rate in banquets, considering that this is an effective weapon in the voter's options, particularly in the tribal areas of Iraq. Nuri al-Maliki has failed to improve the security situation, despite the “false” allegations of his government that the rate of violence and bombings has declined. Iraq is still reeling, and there is a widow or a disabled person in every Iraqi house. Among the candidates are some friends or people I know well. They have [frequently] moved between the pro-government and opposition camps. Prior to and since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, they have been suggesting the idea of “rescuing” Iraq. But their ideas have yet to be crystallized, and this reveals political inability. Nonetheless, they are still able to pitch themselves once again by derogating from any previous responsibilities. Politicians have been busy with their infighting, and kept away from people's daily concerns and security, health-related, educational and social problems, to the extent that the Iraqi politician's stereotype in the mentality of the citizen is associated with corruption, lying, ignition of sectarianism, seizure of Iraq's spirit and the looting of its wealth, in addition to brain drain. Iraq does not need a courageous, deceitful or partisan savior who takes back Mesopotamia to sectarian violence, or takes it away from the national concerns. It rather needs a wise politician who governs with absolute confidence, is able to understand the balance of powers in the region, implements national projects and programs to promote the Iraqi people, seeks to strengthen the security situation and the army, refuses the sectarian language, and promotes the culture of democracy in the hearts of the Iraqi people and tribes, after the “Accountability and Justice Commission” proved that it “lacks justice!”
