Wednesday December 21, 2005

I've Been Thinking:

In most democratic countries the person responsible for security and safety is the Minister of the Interior.

It is a ministerial position that is essential to the entire population.
It requires an impartiality that neither imbues one group with favored status nor scapegoats another as political victim.
Not so in Iraq.
In Iraq there have been some very disturbing reports about torture in prisons where Sunnis have been incarcerated.

The US ambassador in Iraq has twice made this point to the interior minister.
His words have twice fallen on deaf ears.
I hope that the new Iraqi leadership receives the message and understands its importance.
It is essential that those charged with policing Iraq under new leadership not play favorites.

Democracy cannot function with corrupt police.
This is a particular worry. I'll continue to watch and monitor the situation.