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With Arms Wide Open

 
  The final results of Iraqi parliamentary elections are expected today. Again, the timing is perfect for reaching a consensual arrangement between political leaders over the governance of sectarian-torn Iraq. The current Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi has received a substantial setback with his bloc´s trailing in third place after Muqtada Al Sader´s Saeroun list and Hadi Al Amiri´s Fatah list. Now, Iraq might see the formation of a government that is led by a Shiite force linked with an anti-US AND anti-Iran controversial figure. Al Sader might be positioned to rule from the back scenes and bring peace to a country that has been ruined by invented religious and ethnic divisions.

Years of rebellion have led the young cleric to reach a stage of maturity and stability in his political and ideological discourses. Once a founder of a militia that fought off the US invasion, and a close ally to Tehran´s political elite, Al Sadr had metamorphosed into a nationalist leader who opted for joining hands with secular groups - including the Iraqi Communist party - in the elections. Snubbing Iran, the young political leader has taken a new route towards Iraqi nationalism. Whether this was a political stunt to prove to the Iraqi public that he carries no Shiite-exclusive agenda or a catch all electoral strategy it remains to be seen. However, both the US and Iran will now be forced to support their proxies through their art of clandestine intervention in order to ensure that whoever gets to lead Iraq must be an ally, not a foe. In other words, anyone is fine by both camps as look as he takes sides and sidelines nationalist interests for the benefit of Iranian and American patrons. After all, the US just pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran and will ensure that Iraq remains a battle ground in its war with Tehran. Iran´s leadership will not let the opportunity of using Iraq again in its confrontation with Washington; fangs and talons will emerge, and Iraq will curse the day it saw democracy.

A figure such Al Sader  - albeit all its controversy - might remind the Iraqis and the region at large that the years of using Arab nations as proxies for international confrontations is over. Prioritising the interests and concerns of citizens  - irrespective of their ethnicity or religious affiliation  - should be the guiding force behind forming a government in Baghdad. If Al Sader can bring peace to Iraq, then he should be received with Sader Rahib (arms wide open).   

Arab nationalism has died with the death of Saddam Hussein´s Baath (resurrection) party in Iraq; the revival of the resurrection party will require resuscitation efforts from the Iraqi people who must join breaths and hands to place their interests as a nation before any other consideration. Slogans of Arab unity and defence against external agendas might have been a rhetoric that was been murdered and buried deep...exhuming the remains of these calls does not seem such a bad idea at the moment. 

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