Disorder in Iraq 1

Disorder in Iraq

Fitzgerald Scott

ISS 331 Social Theory TH

 Disorder in Iraq 2

Disorder in Iraq

The UN ability to create order in Iraq is reliant on the UN’s ability to dominate

Iraq. The disorder in Iraq can be explained using several principles from Max Weber,

Engels and Marx. One of the main reasons for the disorder in Iraq is because the

leadership currently running Iraq does not qualify to lead the country. Another reason for

disorder in Iraq is because the people in Iraq have not accepted conditions by which they

will be ruled by the new governing body. One of the biggest mistakes made by the UN

forces was to start setting up government before they had a monopoly of the land and the

weapons. A combination of errors has created a new situation in Iraq that can become an

actual revolution and escalate to a much larger battle between the 2004 bourgeoisie.

According to Max Weber, there are three grounds of legitimate domination. If the

new government can become legally legitimate, legitimate on traditional grounds or

legitimate on charismatic grounds; the possibility of maintaining order in Iraq may be a

conceivable goal for the new government.

The UN does not have rational grounds for legitimate domination because there

are questions about whether the UN has legal authority to direct government in Iraq.

From the beginning, there was question as to the legality of the invasion of Iraq. There

was serious debate as to whether those who supported the invasion of Iraq met the

international law requirement and followed the guidelines of the UN Charter by proving

that there was an imminent threat which required the use of force.

The lack of information and proof that there was an imminent threat is still an

issue and therefore ruins the validity to any legal right the UN has in Iraq. The basis for

the argument to invade Iraq was the threat of nuclear weapon capability. In particular, the
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accusation that Iraq purchased uranium ore from Niger was center for the argument to

invade.

After some investigation, the accusation has been found to be lacking in

legitimacy. An added setback to the legal claim of legitimacy to dominate in Iraq is the

claim from Kofi Annan that there was no authorization for members of the UN to invade

Iraq. Any attempt to create order in this illegitimate state may add to the disorder in Iraq.

The UN can establish legitimacy to dominate on the grounds of tradition because

historically, Iraq is subject to whoever takes possession of the country. Saddam took

control using force as did many leaders before him. Traditionally, who ever has the

power to rule is in charge. The remainder of the Bath party and other Sunnis should fall

in line once defeated. The recent uprising in the Sunni Triangle continuously takes

validity away from the UN power in Iraq.

Because those who occupy the seat of power in Iraq today are not the people who

actually overthrew Saddam’s regime, legitimacy based on the grounds of tradition is

weakened even further. When Saddam took power, as in the case with many of Saddam’s

predecessors, he was the commander of the forces that actually took control. When the

fight was over he took his rightful place as commander in chief.

These seats of control are held instead by Ayad Allowi (an appointed prime

minister) and Sheik Ghazi al-Yawar (the appointed Iraqi presedent). I have not found any

evidence that Dr. Allawi or Sheik Ghazi al-Yawar participated at any level in the ousting

of Saddam's Regime. So what right do they have to a seat of power in the Arabic World?

Traditional legitimacy can also be qualified with the occupation of the traditional

seat of power. The traditional seat of power in Iraq for many years has been the seat of
 Disorder in Iraq 4

dictator. The people of Iraq may have not wanted another dictator but occupation of the

dictator seat of power may have been essential in order to make a smooth transformation

from dictatorship to democracy.

Putting in an interim government destroyed the seat of dictatorship before the

power could be transferred to another position. Disorder may exist because the people of

Iraq may not know how to function with this kind of government, because they have been

living under another kind of rule for so long. Putting someone in the dictator seat of

power could have given some legitimacy to the ruling body currently running Iraq.

There may have been a chance to establish legitimate control by putting a leader

into power who possesses charismatic qualities which would qualify domination under

charismatic grounds. There are many leaders that have been added to the interim

government who do possess these leadership qualities but, there has been enough

resistance from the insurgents to stifle the effort.

Muhammad Awad is the provincial governor, but doubles as the mayor of Ramadi

after insurgents kidnapped the sons of the previous governor and after the deputy mayor

was kidnapped and killed by insurgents. The elections that will take place at the end of

January can add legitimacy to the new government rule, but that is undermined by the

threats by clerics to boycott.

The people in Iraq will continue to act in a disorderly fashion until there are some

conditions the UN are willing to live up to. According to Marx and Englels “in order to

oppress a class, certain conditions must be assured to it under which it can, at least,

continue it slavish existence” (p12 Collins). The promises made to the people of Iraq

have grown thin.

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It would seem that the Kurds have accepted whatever conditions the UN has

given them. In Erbil, Iraq there have been very little instances of civil unrest and the area

seems to be enjoying some degree of normalcy. Because of the dark relationship between

the Kurds and Saddam Hussein, the Kurds had the most to gain from a relationship with

the US. The rest of Iraq does not seem to have the similar interest for protection against

bordering Arab countries. The UN needs to find some appealing reason for the Iraq

people to come aboard.

According to Marx and Englels, regulation is made by whoever has a monopoly

on the land, and a monopoly on weapons. The US has neither. US forces were surprised

by the quantity and the high quality of weapons that were turned in during when the Shia

rebels turned in their weapons in Sadr City. The weapons stash was only part of the

weapons that are owned by the people who are in Iraq. The people who turned in their

weapons are the people who volunteered to turn in their weapons and mostly those loyal

to cleric Moqtada and only in Sadr city.

The issue on whether or not the UN has a monopoly on the land is a major

concern. There is unrest to the US occupation of Iraq in various territories in Iraq. More

importantly, the areas of most unrest like Baghdad, Mosel and Falluja are some of the

most populated areas in Iraq.

The recent bout between the US and insurgents in Falluha is the biggest indicator

that the UN does not have a monopoly over the land. America started dictating rules and

regulations before they had become the landowners thereby creating another instance of

disorder.
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There is a lot of confusion by the Iraqi people about who to follow. Before the

insurgents became so powerful and popular with the news media, The UN had a chance

to maintain some order. The more powerful the insurgents seem the less control the US

will have. Recent uprising in the Mosul and rumors that Brig Gen Mohammed Kheiri

Barhawithe, the head of the police, may have been aiding the rebels in the recent uprising

there is an indication of America moving farther and farther away from having a

monopoly of the land and weapons.

The new method of fighting by the insurgents is most disturbing to the UN. The

insurgents do not sit still and fight. They mount offences against venerable areas, raid

police stations and build weapons caches through out Iraq. The land around the oil fields

are in the UN control which gives the UN power over the means of production and but

even that is not completely secure. Insurgents were able to penetrate the defenses and

sabotage the pipelines around Kirkuk and Basra. This act of violence hurt the economy of

the national level.

While the UN and insurgents volley for control of the property, the rest of Iraq lay

in turmoil. I would think the situation in Iraq will follow the dialectic model and an

unforeseen phenomenon may occur. According to the dialectic model a revolution will

occur. The current leadership seems unfit and too incompetent to provide sustenance.

The clerics are positioning themselves to take control. Weapons caches found in Mosque

are an indication that the clerics are consorting with the dangerous class.

Even if the Election go well at the end of January the situation in Iraq is far from

entering into any stability. Prime Minister Allawi has frequently vowed that the elections

will go on even if some of the places where the interim government does not have control
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have to be excluded. The reason I believe that the bourgeoisie and the petty bourgeoisie

has not made a move yet is because they are waiting for a more permanent figure to fight

against. A president will do fine.

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Citation

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Fuller, T. (2004, November 3). Kurds Enjoy a Calmer Corner of Iraq. The New York

Times, p A6.

Iraqi Shia rebels surrender arms Fighters loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr have

been handing over their heavy weapons in the Sadr City area of the Iraqi capital,

Baghdad. (200 4October 11). BBC News UK edition. Retrieved November 15,

2004, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3732190.stm

Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1994). History as Class Struggle [1848]; Materialism and the

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international law will become more pressing if the United States and Britain fail

to get a new Security Council resolution. BBC News UK edition. Retrieved

November 15, 2004, from

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2850043.stm
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