Iraqis skeptical Democrat gains will bring change 15:20 ET, Wed 8 Nov 2006 [-] Text [+]
By Mussab Al-Khairalla
BAGHDAD, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Iraqi leaders predicted no change in U.S. Iraq policy and ordinary citizens doubted any U.S. party could restore their wrecked country after Democrats swept mid-term elections and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld quit.
U.S. President George W. Bush said Rumsfeld, one of the main architects of the war in Iraq, had resigned because there was a need for a "fresh perspective" on Iraq. He also conceded his Iraq policy was "not working well enough, fast enough".
Nadim al-Jabiri, an academic and prominent member of the dominant Shi'ite Islamic bloc the United Iraqi Alliance, said Rumsfeld's resignation was no surprise.
"The military strategy they have used won the war but failed to bring stability. I don't think his resignation will have an effect on the ground as our problems are too great," he said.
Some ordinary Iraqis took a similar view.
"Iraq is long ruined and American policy is fixed, whichever party takes control of Congress. If the Democrats can finally bring us some security they are welcome, but I believe no one can succeed," said Abdullah, a 28-year-old computing student.
Mohamed Husni, a 24-year-old taxi driver, said he hoped the shift in Congress, where the Democrats took control of the House from Bush's Republicans and moved close to victory in the Senate, would bring an immediate withdrawal.
"The Americans have ruined everything and the only solution is to let Iraqis deal with this mess," he said.
The Democratic triumph was widely attributed to public discontent with the Iraq war and Bush's leadership. It could increase pressure for a change of course in Iraq.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Rumsfeld's departure was an internal matter for the United States. "We are dealing with an administration, not persons," he said.
"NO MAJOR CHANGES"
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, whose testy relations with Washington have often spilled into public clashes, told the BBC in an interview that he did not think a shift in Congress would bring any noticeable change in U.S. policy on Iraq.
"I understand that America will always work for America's interest in its foreign policy. The relationship will not experience any major or dramatic change if new opinions surface after the elections," he said in the interview filmed on Tuesday before the election was over.
Hasan al-Senaid, a senior Alliance politician close to Maliki, told Reuters: "Tactics may change but the strategy will remain. The Democrats may reduce the number of U.S. forces and may prefer a shorter duration of their stay."
But Fattah al-Sheikh, a Shi'ite Islamist member of parliament, foresaw changes. "Rumsfeld has become the scapegoat for the change to take effect. I expect (U.S. ambassador Zalmay) Khalilzad to follow him in a matter of days," he said.
Many Iraqis interviewed by Reuters had more immediate preoccupations.
Jawdat Hamid, owner of a supermarket in Kirkuk, said: "Just leave me alone. Let us think about earning our daily living before the American election. Let us think about the deteriorating security situation, then we'll think about other countries."
Baghdad travel agent Abu Salih said: "I don't want the Democrats to pull troops out of Iraq and leave us living like this ... But I'm glad Bush is losing and the Americans are finally uncovering the reality."
(c) Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
-- Andy