Tikrit - Iraq

Iraq sees surge in bombings after US withdrawal

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As Sunni-led violence returns to Iraq we take a look at life in the Sunni heartland of Tikrit. The population are deeply unhappy with the Shia government and are blaming their troubles on its rampant corruption.

Iraq may be safer but not much has changed since the country became democratic. Underdevelopment is evident throughout the country. A fifth of the population cannot read or write and many are unemployed. "We don't produce anything. We need private investors from other countries for development", says one man. Tax revenues barely exist and much of the money disappears through corruption: "no one trusts the government". Al Qaeda remains a threat and lack of funding means that security forces are stretched to the limit. In al Alam, people want more autonomy and independence from the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad. The mistrust is partly because the Sunnis are degraded from power and with US troops now out of the country this political-sectarian conflict may again escalate into violence. The Iraqi government has also been unable to deliver any progress, despite billions of dollars in foreign aid. For Yasim al Juburi, the chairman of the al Alam municipal council, the situation is bleak. "What has Iraq achieved? The answer is nothing".

January 2012

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[DHarri9977]

@str8manchester At the end of the day they still have a chance of a better life today then they did under Saddam. I don't wish any harm to any of the civilians caught up in this war they need to figure out a way to distribute and manage their funds. They are currently expanding and correcting the bottlenecks associated with their oil supplies its up to the leadership of this country to not be greedy and take care of its people. Its terrible to think Saddam was starving his people

[str8manchester]

@DHarri9977 And dont think for a moment that the victims of the million Iraqis dead and all the deformed babies that are being born everyday in Fallujah because of depleted uranium will forgive and forget what the occupies did to them and their country. If your kid, mother, sister etc got blown up for fuck all, you wont either! You cant expect Iraqis to move on like nothing has heppened, they will eventually but its too soon! For now they are trying to recover, then they can look at the future.

[str8manchester]

@DHarri9977 Mate even today America are still orchestrating terror in Iraq and influencing the behaviour of the Iraqi government. There are 10,000 soldiers, CIA and FBI agents in the US embassy in Baghdad as we speak. They are clearly still pulling the strings over there and till they leave and leave 300/400 people in their embassy like all other embassies then Iraq qill be soverign and will be able to be 100% responsible for the stuff that happens in the country.

[DHarri9977]

@str8manchester Whats so funny people are living in poverty and you're worried about the past, you need to open your eyes and look to the future. This is this country's chance to become a normal society without the tyranny that existed under Saddam. American's want these people to have a better life and to grow as a people and be happy.

[DHarri9977]

A true democracy should include decentralization on a local level so as to better distribute and manage the funding that would raise the economic conditions within these provinces. This would stimulate the economy in creating jobs while also promoting educational programs that would benefit these societies while promoting autonomy and a better quality of life which was the whole point of the war in the first place.

[str8manchester]

@str8manchester LOL at Al Qaeda!! They were not the main resistance! There were hundreds of resistance groups, most of the resistance were normal everyday Iraqis, fighting for their land, country, honour and sovereignty! Just like you and everyday Americans will do if your country was invaded.

[str8manchester]

@saknk1 It is not easy to establish a peaceful soverign country when there are 10,000 US soldiers, FBI and CIA agents in the new American embassy in Baghdad. They are obviously pulling the strings otherwise they will just have 300/400 people in the embassy like all other other embassies!

[str8manchester]

@str8manchester withdraw all troops for end of 2011*

[str8manchester]

@TikiBillaBong1 Destroyed??? hahahah! dont you remember when you had to pay off alot of insurgents to stop attacking you?? Of course you dont. That still didnt work! Remember when Bush and co planned to establish 3 permanent bases in Iraq for at least a hundred years but in 2008 he decided to withdraw all troops?? Of course you dont! What will you do if another country invaded your country on a pack of lies?? Will you welcome them with roses?? Of course not. You hypocritical redneck!

[TikiBillaBong1]

@str8manchester Hahaha that Iraqi resistance was absolutely destroyed by the U.S. If you can't answer the fact on why we toppled Al Qaeda then you are a fucking idiot. Do what your country does best and retreat and let the big boys handle things.