The ripple effects of President Obama’s inauguration around the world have been powerful and immediate, and Iraq is no exception. What an irony it would be if the unpopularity and perceived incompetence of President Bush led most to an event that inspired Iraqis to build a democracy: the election of Barack Obama.
In this extremely moving tribute to America and its democracy, Kahtan Mohammad Saleh al-HitIrati writes that while he’s no fan of United States foreign policy or its invasion of his country, the election of Barack Hussein Obama and our nation’s peaceful transition of power are things that all Iraqis should aspire to.
For Iraq’s Sotal Iraq newspaper, Kahtan Mohammad Saleh al-Hitti writes in part:
“Today, the 20th of January 2009, is a day that will live forever in history, since it is a day in which democracy triumphed; for the first time, a man of African origin has taken power in the most powerful nation in the world, and his name is Barack Hussein Obama.
“I hope that we live to see a day like this – in which the former president and the new drink coffee together, and before their last meeting, the former president leaves a letter of advice in the top drawer of his desk for his successor to read after he leaves the building for the last time; and after they have embraced and kissed one another’s wives, the new president is sworn in by asking the Lord for help by saying: “So Help Me God!” … What I say is not a suggestion that we copy this imperialism. It is a dream that one day, I live to see my people and my nation live in the blessedness of democracy.”
By Kahtan Mohammad Saleh al-Hitti
Translated By James Jacobson
January 21, 2009
Iraq – Sotal Iraq – Original Article (Arabic)
Today, the 20th of January 2009, is a day that will live forever in history, since it is a day in which democracy triumphed; the first man of African origin has taken power in the most powerful nation in the world, and his name is Barack Hussein Obama.
Despite my personal intellectual and political opposition to the regime of the United States; my disapproval if its position in regard to many other countries, liberation movements in general and the Palestinian people in particular; and despite my categorical rejection of its aggression and disrespect for the rights of other peoples, I stand in respect and appreciation for its democracy.
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