If Egypt Can Overthrow Its Ruler, Why Not Iraq?

The Egyptian people, suffering from extreme financial hardship, boldly and peacefully overthrew their dictator. But Iraqis also live with extreme hardship. Could they overthrow their foreign occupier, the U.S.?

Since the U.S. invaded Iraq nearly eight years ago, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have been killed and many more have been maimed. Numerous children have also been orphaned. From this frightening horror show, millions of Iraqis have fled their nation, while millions more have been displaced within Iraq. The problems are so severe, they even transcend the problems Egyptians face.

But it gets worse. Iraqi unemployment is 40-50% (vs. 25% in the U.S. during the Great Depression). The Iraqi government, which the U.S. keeps in power operates from the heavily secured U.S. Green Zone, rather than among the people, who supposedly elected it. Top officials pay themselves huge salaries the amount of which they refuse to disclose to the people.

The recent race for Prime Minister was between Nuri al-Maliki and Dr. Ayad Allawi, both with the approval of the U.S., which helped write Iraq's Constitution. It is an incompetent government incapable of providing even basic services. Bombings, shootings and kidnappings happen regularly, electricity is provided at best four hours a day, clean water and sewage treatment are scarce as is medical care and schooling for their children.

Even with the severity of its problems, Egypt has it better than this and it has no foreign occupier. What was Iraq's response to Egypt's overthrow of its government? It came from the U.S. government. "Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki hailed Egypt's 'peaceful transition' from authoritarian rule after he spoke with Vice President Biden on Sunday" the White House said in a statement. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hdtqyalRkGC2IC9jrLkOKoNv-4LQ?docId=CNG.f6fcd5bb2a7f891c8156a12d7845d240.5f1

What will it take for the Iraqi people to rule themselves and be rid of a foreign occupier? Peaceful protests by the Iraqi people, which are dangerous for them to do and censored in the U.S when it has been done and for the American people to raise their voices in the name of freedom for them. If you are an American, please speak up for your Iraqi brethren who have no voice here and for now, no voice in their own nation.

Dick