Many Sunnis joined Islamic State because they felt they were being treated poorly.
AHMED CHALABIIt’s customary when great events happen that the U.S. punishes its friends and rewards its enemies.
More Ahmed Chalabi Quotes
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The meeting is called by the U.S. to give their vision of the interim Iraqi authority. It will be a one-day meeting. And the U.S. will present its vision, and there will be a statement after the meeting.
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Do not seek to find a reason why elections are not possible. Seek to make them possible, and they will be possible.
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The Kurds’ achievement was outstanding, both militarily and diplomatically.
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We are not panicking because we know that Islamic State cannot conquer the capital.
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Now, we need a joint military leadership so that the Kurds and the army can retake Mosul.
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And we are grateful to the American young men and women who are risking their lives to give the Iraqi people this chance, this dream of democracy in Iraq now.
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Winning back their trust is the primary task of the new government. That will be difficult, but it is possible.
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It’s customary when great events happen that the U.S. punishes its friends and rewards its enemies.
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The Kurds know that they won’t achieve their own state by force of arms but through international recognition. And they have certainly heard what the German foreign minister said in connection with the arms deliveries.
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You know the most important thing the Americans did for Iraq apart from liberating the country from Saddam was helping Iraq reduce its debt.
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I strongly believe that a federal structure based on administrative and geographic lines with strong powers for the federated states will be the best solution for Iraq.
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European governments recognized this and abandoned their resistance to weapons deliveries. Germany, too, acted correctly.
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We need a united front against Islamic State and Assad happens to be the decisive power that can fight them. But the situation is preposterous because we also have to respect the calls for change. I would be in favor of a dignified change.
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America betrays its friends. It sets them up and betrays them. I’d rather be America’s enemy.
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Not because Iraq will be an aggressive state against them, but rather by the example that will be set by a successful federal democratic state in Iraq.
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Democracy in Iraq will be an example that the Arab population will look to with great interest. And some Arab governments are concerned about democracy in Iraq.
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Sectarian politics gets votes in Iraq. But sectarian government fails in Iraq.
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There is no Kurdish state. But that shouldn’t prevent the Kurds from continuing to develop their own institutions. Still, the best thing for them would be to remain a part of Iraq, but in return we must treat them with respect – their nationality, their language and their culture.
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Maliki saw Islamic State as a way to exert pressure. If I am not re-elected, terror will befall you – that was his message.
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The fight against corruption is successful if you prevent corruption taking place in the first place.
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To handle the economy and services in a country like Iraq requires delegation of authority and the choice of competent people.
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If they are successful, that will be seen as their next great triumph. And then, their target will be Jordan, where things will be easy for them.
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The Iraqi people are living a long-running tragedy because of the legacy of the old regime, the Americans and their actions that are unsuitable for Iraqi society, and the weakness of national resolve.
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The view that we hold in Iraq now is this – that democracy is associated with elections. I believe that elections are possible.
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The United States worked very hard to reduce 80 percent of Iraqi debt.
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American companies will have a big shot at Iraqi oil.
AHMED CHALABI