Iraq: Who is to blame and what is the solution?

Below is an e-mail I sent to two people each subscribing to a different camp of thought.They had sent too many e-mails back and forth discussing and often arguing about who is to blame and what is the solution to Iraq's problem.
The e-mail is about a year old, I thought though that is still relevant here. One blames Iraqis for digging their own hole, and hence the need for social reform. While the other blames foreign occupation and the need to rid Iraq of that influence.

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When I see an e-mail from both of you, all I can say is I agree with what both of you have to say. The thing is, I don't see any contradiction between each of your point of views. Does Iraq need reform? I think you both would agree that they people do need reform. Does Iraq and its resources need to be for Iraqis only? I am sure both of you will still agree. Do we need to have zero foreign intervention? Again yes I am sure both will agree.

We all agree that we have a problem. At least I am assuming ... The first step to solving the problem is understanding it. Therefore we need to know what is the problem at hand? X tends to see the problem being the United States intervention , either prior to the occupation or after. Y seems to see the problem being the Iraqi people again pre and post occupation. In my opinion the answer is both. Foreign intervention utilizes people who are willing to sell their souls for some benefits which the foreigner is willing to offer. Be it empty promises of a better life or financial gain. We know that Saddam was helped into power by the United States. He is an Iraqi who needed reform. I can also see our active politicians running after personal gain now as well. They might not be as brutal as Saddam but they are still corrupt (At least most).


Maybe the disagreement comes in which is our priority? Reform then independence? Or Independence then reform? Well its sort of like the chicken and the egg dilemma.

I believe the answer is actually in lack of a charismatic, smart, clean , and effective leadership.
Someone who would bring all of Iraq under under one flag and have one goal (that of providing a better living for all Iraqis). Iraq is full of good people and intellectuals. Unfortunately it is also full of bad people as well. Especially after years of living under a corrupt government. Maybe the percentage of good versus bad (for lack of a better word which comes to mind) might change based on time and historic events. Foreign intervention will always be there (if allowed) so would those people who would step over everyone else for their personal gain. Iraq is not the only country which has such people, in fact the whole world is like that. The Soviet Union collapsed with the help of such people in my opinion. The west surrounded them with two rich economies and promises of a lifestyle based upon primitive human desires. This is what the whole world subscribes to nowadays. The American Dream so to speak. An empty promise which people tend to fall under its spell. This is Globalization for the few to get richer and the rest to work for them. This happens even in "First World Countries" so to speak. Italy, is a good example despite the majority of the people not wanting to go to war with the Americans, Berlusconi did it anyway. One should ask why do all the rich, developed and "Democratic" countries all follow the United
States policies so blindly? Their economies depend a great deal on the United States or a local group of people who subscribe to this policy that the US also subscribes to.

What does this have to do with Iraq? Well this is an argument for why reform in a certain sense is not a solution. For even, if we do wake up tomorrow with all Iraqis becoming responsible British Citizens, (sarcasms) this will still not solve our problems. It might give us a better life, but we will still be under slavery. On the other hand shouting and chanting national or religious slogans isn't doing us any good either. The answer is the good mix of both. We need to adopt a
better ideology than what we have now. Islamists need to learn more about their true religion which I believe in its truest form would include an Iraq for all Iraqis including non Muslims. We could even call it something else. After all our history has proven that such a nation worked for us in the past. I don't see why it wouldn't worked in the future.

That is my humble opinion, I hope that both of you find common ground that we can move forward. I understand that each would not like what I am suggest but with an open mind and some constructive discussions maybe you could convince me otherwise.