This is a timely debate. As well as the appalling deaths of civilians yesterday in Iraq at the hands of American forces, and the many thousands of lives lost in Iraq in the past year, this week Iraq has suffered the loss of the head of the Governing Council, Abdel-Zahraa Othman, assassinated in Baghdad on Monday morning last. As a man of moderation, he is a loss to all Iraqis and to everyone who wishes to see the country reach its full political and economic potential.
The continuing loss of life brings into sharp focus the huge challenge of stabilising Iraq as the deadline for the transfer of sovereignty approaches on 30 June. It also shows yet again that the enemies of a new Iraq are determined to disrupt the progress towards freedom and democratisation, whether this is American-led or UN-led. The killing of Mr. Othman, and of many others involved in nation building and UN activities, demonstrates that extremists are not just intent on ending American and British involvement in Iraq, but want to see a descent into anarchy and civil war and even perhaps a return to the tyranny in the style of the old regime.
As we reflect quite properly here today on the flaws in the US and UK strategy in Iraq, and there are many, we would do well to reflect on the strategic goals of those who are actively destabilising Iraq. For the sake of all Iraqis, and the wider region, every effort must be made to prevent a descent into anarchy. There is an urgent need for calm and balanced voices in international affairs. These are extremely testing times for Iraq, first and foremost, for America and Britain and the International community, including Ireland in its role as Presidency of the European Union.
The images of Iraqi prisoners being tortured and humiliated at Abu Ghraib prison, has rightly caused deep offence around the civilised world. Our instinct is to demand responsibility for such violations, military responsibility on the ground as well as political responsibility at the highest level.
Article 3 of the Geneva Convention on to the treatment of prisoners of war is unequivocal. It prohibits "violence to life, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture". Also outlawed is "outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment". Those horrific images of Iraqi prisoners recently published by the print and electronic media represent crime scenes. Many images showing what went on in the prisons suggest coercive and sexually loaded subordination of Iraqi male prisoners, many hooded, bound, and naked. These images are tailor made to cause maximum offence to Muslim sexual sensibilities.
From time immemorial war has brought out the worst in human kind. Dehumanising the enemy has frequently been employed to assist soldiers to take life and to overcome the in-built human resistance to doing so. However, these images that have so scandalised the world have not happened in the heat of battle. The sadistic and pornographic elements are plain for all to see and raise very serious issues about the training and psychological assessment of military personnel who are given control of prisoners in times of war. Clearly, standards have been allowed to fall below levels acceptable to civilised values. So, how is it that a country like the United States, which claims to be a leader in democratic values and to honour the rule of law, can find itself so shamed? Could it be that in the so called war against terrorism anything goes? I think the answer lies not in the criminal perversion and human frailty of young reservists who were actors in these images but rather a quite dramatic slippage of morality at the command levels in the US administration. Many friends of the American people, like ourselves, have been frankly appalled at these developments.
The date of 11 September 2001 was a defining moment in modern times. Such a savage and seemingly unprovoked attack on peaceful citizens in New York and Washington by terrorists and the visible and appalling loss of life has brought profound changes in the American psyche. In times to come, this will be the subject of massive research and analysis. Right now, we all are living through the outturn of what has recently happened to the American political and military mind. Fear, incredulity and vengeance has taken hold and leadership has been found wanting in the American political class and judiciary. The most complicated issues have been simplified and dummed down. Anyone who is not with America is against America. Many have asked questions about the manner in which prisoners in Guantanamo Bay were being hooded, shackled and abused outside the jurisdiction of the US and the remit of international law. It is now suggested that the Pentagon may have authorised this non-compliance with international law to extend into Iraq for purposes of interrogation. Guantanamo Bay set the tone and it was base. The US has not signed up for the International Criminal Court and now we know why.
Confidence in the US military will not be restored solely by courts martial of relatively low-ranking reservists. The credibility of the United States is now on trial. If knowledge and complicity is proven between the Pentagon and this abuse and if democratic accountability is to mean anything, there must be resignations at the highest level in the Bush administration.
While the current situation is grave, it is also important not to lose sight of the larger picture in Iraq. The fate of 23 million brutalised and traumatised people is in the balance and we have to be on their side. This requires a fair-minded and sober approach that avoids extreme positions and unrealistic demands. Some have reacted to the prisoner abuse scandal by calling for an immediate withdrawal of coalition troops from Iraq. This would be irresponsible at this time. If such a premature withdrawal were to happen it would undoubtedly result in the fracture of Iraqi society and an abandonment of the civilian population. It would also trigger an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The American, British and other forces have obligations to Iraq that will not be met by withdrawal. Neither will they be met by the killing of civilians and oppressive military operations against the civilian population such as those we saw yesterday. Confidence among Iraqis in international assistance can only be built by co-operation and not domination.
As the current holder of the EU Presidency, Ireland is uniquely poised to ensure that every effort is made in this regard. For the sake of the Iraqi people, we need to find a consensus through the United Nations that is not compromised by purely strategic considerations but driven by political realities and humanitarian considerations. All sides must now realise that a peaceful and prosperous Iraq is in everyone's best interest. Without it the security of the Middle East and the wider world cannot be guaranteed. Israel, backed by the US, is breaking international law with impunity. Standards are at an all time low in the Middle East and the occupied territories. The current offensive in Gaza is a disgrace. That is why after 30 June there needs to be a clear indication that the occupation in Iraq has given way to facilitation and nation building. That is why we should criticise America if it is found to have committed war crimes. I do not hesitate to criticise the US on this issue. Without such visible signs of a real transfer of sovereignty, as well as some voice of sanction on wrongdoing by the occupying forces, the Iraqi government will have little chance of earning the respect of all its citizens and of defeating extremist forces.
Conflict between the European Union and the United States only encourages and emboldens the common enemy of all liberal democracies. In a global age we are all equally at risk. This has been dramatically highlighted by the current threat by al-Qaeda facing the United Nations special representative to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi. The people who oppose Mr. Brahimi do not make distinctions between America and Britain, on the one side, and France, Germany, and Russia on the other. When they murder and threaten senior UN personnel they show contempt for the entire community of democratic nations. That is why it is now crucial for the United Nations to speak with one voice and common cause on Iraq.
Despite all the tragic scenes witnessed in recent months, many Iraqi citizens still hope things will eventually come right for them. There is much healing to be done around the world. The anger in the Arab street is vexed and hot. It is no less genuine or vengeful than the bewildered pain in the American heart since 11 September 2001.