The Price of Liberty

The cut and run crowd have their Liberty...

...ask them how they got it.

Memorial Day

If those who went before us had capitulated from their dream to secure the Blessings of Liberty for Ourselves and our Posterity...

... where would you be today?

... what Quality of Life would you have?

... who would even care?


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War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

-John Stuart Mill

Morning in Iraq

It's morning in Iraq, again...

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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced a 34-point program Saturday to bring peace and prosperity to his nation. The program, outlined in a speech to the Iraqi Parliament, is based in democracy and civil liberties.


Below is the program:

The Program of the National Unity Government of Iraq

May 2006

The government sets forth this program to preserve the unity of the Iraqi people of all creeds and ethnicities and to build a constitutional, democratic, unitary, and pluralistic Iraq that will abide by the Constitution and the law and that guarantees the rights and freedoms of all Iraqis, ensuring the active participation of women as well as strengthening the role of civil organizations by encouraging their development and ensuring their independence.



The National Unity Government is composed of all the winning slates in the election who also declare their commitment to the principles and basics of this program, which are:

1. The composition of the National Unity Government based on the representation of all the components of Iraqi society according to the election results and the interests of the country.
   
   


2. To work according to the Constitution and abide by it, and that any future changes will occur according to article 142 of the Constitution. (Article 142 stipulates that Iraqi voters shall determine any constitutional amendments.) (Download Constitution PDF)
   
   


3. To pursue a policy of national dialogue and work to widen political participation within a constitutional framework in order to build a free, pluralistic, unitary, and democratic Iraq in the spirit of honesty and reconciliation.
   
   


4. The rejection of violence and the clear denunciation of fascist and sectarian agendas. Denouncing terrorism in all its forms and joining all efforts to fight it by implementing anti-terrorism laws in an effective way through the judiciary and related state institutions. Creating the right conditions to establish an atmosphere of love and tolerance amongst the citizens of the country with respect for international standards of human rights.
   
   


5. Protecting the sovereignty of Iraq and reinforcing its independence and unity and dealing with the issue of the presence of the Multi-National Forces according to Security Council Resolution 1546, and speeding up the plans of completing the preparation of the Iraqi forces in accordance with the Constitution and the principles of professionalism and national loyalty. Speeding up the process of transferring security responsibilities and powers to the Iraqi Army, police, and security forces. Also emphasizing the principle of cooperation between Iraq and the Multi-National Forces in a way that will enable the achievement of self reliance in accordance with an objective timetable so that the Iraqi forces may assume the security task in full and the end of the missions of the Multi-National Forces and allow their return to their countries.
   
   


6. Strengthening state institutions and building a state based on the rule of law. Espousing principles of administration and institutionalism and rejecting autocratic and arbitrary decision-making, regarding ministries and state institutions as national entities that are the property of the people and not a particular party's or minister's dominion, and preventing the monopolization, domination or control of government, administration, or public institutions by any sect or group.
   
   


7. Rejecting autocracy, dictatorship, sectarianism, and racism in all its forms and incorporating this attitude in all government policies and practices.
   
   


8. Women constitute half of society and are nurturers of the other half, and therefore must take an active role in building the society and the state. Their rights should be respected in all fields.
   
   


9. The youth are the hope of the future, therefore all necessities to create a good and suitable atmosphere for them to develop their talents and capabilities should be made available, in what helps to build a patriotic Iraq and values.
   
   


10. Maintaining religious shrines, developing them, and providing full support for their security and the security of pilgrims as well as promoting religious tourism.
    
    


11. Supporting universities and ensuring their independence. Reviewing the syllabuses at all stages of education in order to update and rid them of fascist and sectarian ideology, thus reinforcing national unity.
    
    


12. Ensuring the independence of the Iraqi Media Network, and the National Communications Council and preventing Government interference in their affairs, and adhering to the laws that regulate their work.
    
    


13. Drafting a comprehensive plan for reconstruction and development, taking into consideration the reality of deprivation, injustice and underdevelopment that affected the areas and their inhabitants as a result of the policies and the despotism of the previous regime.
    
    


14. Reinvigorating the process of reconstruction and giving priority to damaged and deprived areas.
    
    


15. Speeding up the reconstruction of the electricity sector.
    
    


16. Regulating the hydrocarbon (oil and gas) sector by issuing legislation that ensures the rights of future federal units and provinces in relation to it are upheld in accordance with the Constitution.
    
    


17. Encouraging investment and attracting national and international capital in a way that helps development and reconstruction and preserves national unity.
    
    


18. Giving utmost attention to the agricultural and industrial sectors, issuing suitable legislation and providing government support necessary for their development.
    
    


19. The government is a single united body representing Iraq and the people of Iraq that is selected through the mechanism of free elections. The relationship between the federal government and the local government and council is to be regulated in a way that reinforces the principle of federalism and decentralization in building the country and developing the relationship between the federal units of Iraq .
    
    


20. Building a relationship of friendship, mutual respect and cooperation with neighboring countries and the world in a way that achieves the common interests of Iraq and those countries without interfering in their internal affairs. The adoption of dialogue and negotiations to solve any outstanding issues.
    
    


21. Reinforcing the essential role of future federal units and the provincial councils. Holding free and fair elections for provincial councils and relying on them to run these provinces and federal units and regulating the relationship between them and the central government according to the Constitution and the laws regulating this matter.
    
    


22. The government commits itself to the implementation of article 140 of the constitution, that relies on article 58 of the TAL that specifies 3 stages: normalization, census, and referendum in Kirkuk and other areas of unresolved status. Following its formation, the government will start taking the necessary steps for the normalization procedures which include returning towns and villages that were originally part of Kirkuk , this stage ends on March 29, 2007, then the census stage starts from July 31, 2007 and the last stage which is the referendum will be finalized on Nov. 15, 2007. (This point deals with resolving territorial issues created by the tyranny of the former regime of Saddam Hussein.)
    
    


23. The government commits itself to tackling the security situation through the adoption of a comprehensive plan that incorporates security, economic, social and other elements, and all the elements are to be followed up with the same level of attention.
    
    


24. Adopting the principle of justice and efficiency in running the country and in the distribution of responsibilities and employment in government offices, the army, the police, the security apparatus and embassies in a way that allows fair participation and the improvement of professional standards.
    
    


25. Setting up effective mechanisms for monitoring expenditure and dealing with administrative and financial corruption, and acting on the relevant constitutional articles and adhering to them.
    
    


26. Developing a social welfare system to deal with issues of poverty and underdevelopment.
    
    


27. Developing the institutions of education and scientific research that serve the construction of the new Iraq and being in line with the needs of progress and development.
    
    


28. Reviewing the structure and the laws governing the independent commissions and supporting their roles, which includes the Supreme National Debaathification Comiittee and the Anti-corruption Committee, in a way that does not contradict the constitution and its amendments.
    
    


29. Reviewing the electoral law and the formation of the Electoral Commission.
    
    


30. Work to control the international borders and their crossing points and the utilization of relevant constitutional articles in this regard.
    
    


31. Work to stop forced deportations from all parts of the country, and return deportees to their original habitats.
    
    


32. Fostering scientific talent and providing the secure atmosphere and suitable living standards to prevent migration outside the country and attract those that have left to return.
    
    


33. Setting up of a governmental committee immediately following the formation of the cabinet with a task of following up the issues of the detained, involving the judicial system by referring the accused to the courts, and immediately releasing those who were detained without a court order and encouraging Iraqi and international organizations to follow up the files of the detained and visiting detention centers and meeting detainees without obstacles.
    
    


34. Implementing law 91 relating to the militias. (This point deals with the dissolution of militias and integrating their members into Iraq security forces.)