This book is a record of the author’s time as a member of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq post-invasion. Frankly the tale it relates is staggering. The bewildering complexity of the various political and tribal groupings in Iraq and the contradiction of the CPA’s professed goals of a democratic Iraq with respect for human rights stumbling on the simple fact of an essential lack of civil society to build on without security. The fact is that bit by bit it becomes clear that power in Iraq will go to the violent. The author also highlights the insoluble problem for the CPA in that it professes faith in democracy but fears allowing the Iraqis to make their own decisions as they fear that the decisions will lead to the exclusion of women and religious minorities.
There is a delusional quality to some of the high-level political and administrative decisions and meetings held in the Emerald Zone in Baghdad by the occupying powers. Decisions are made on figures which have no basis in reality. Funds are distributed in huge shrink-wrapped pallets with no real accountability. The provinces are given three weeks to provide plans on how to spend $18.3 billion of funds from the US taxpayer, almost none of which has been received a year later.
Rory Stewart relates meetings with Paul Bremer who was in charge of the CPA. Plans to elect a transistional assembly, privatize state-owned enterprises, install electronic trading on the Baghdad stock exchange, reform the university curriculum, generate six thousand megawatts of electrical power, vet all the judges, and have thirty-two thousand Iraqi soldiers selected and trained in a new Civil Defence Corps among many other things within seven months. Amazingly the plan has been drawn up without any consultation with the either with the American generals in Iraq or the civilian governors, who were dealing with the reality.
The impossiblity of the task can be seen in that 70 per cent of the population are unemployed. The economy is massively corrupt and Iraq’s planned economy has been swept away by the invasion and cannot compete with foreign imports. So factories cannot sell their goods, workers are not paid, and the factories end up being looted.
The gradual exclusion of minorities from public life and the gradual dominance of militiamen is depressingly related. The book culminates in a shambolic retreat in the face of violent attacks by militia. Whilst he is coming under mortar and sniper fire and unable to venture out from his compound in the province he is supposed to be helping to reconstruct, he receives emails from Bremer on ‘how to get broader public buy-in to the interim government.’
Rory Stewart’s account of his experience is quite simply fascinating. His is an acutely observed and wry account of human failings, hubris, tragedy and farce. I would recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in what is being wrought in Iraq.
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