A democratic Iraq: a worry for neighbouring countries

Vatican City (AsiaNews) -- Car bombs and decapitations, a situation of violence that seems to leave no way out: all this has brought the Vatican to take a position in an unprecedented way in favour of the Allawi government.  "History's verdict on the war in Iraq will likely be a severe one.  But we must not lose sight of a fact: this child has been born.  It may be illegitimate, but it must nevertheless be brought up and cared for."  This statement by Secretary of State, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, which appeared in an interview from U.N. headquarters with Italian daily La Stampa, was made just as the Osservatore Romano was taking a similar stand, and Vatican Radio was broadcasting yet another interview with none other than the Secretary of State.  Such timing could hardly have been purely by chance and would seem to have been warranted by precisely the affirmation made by the the Vatican newspaper: that, in the face of rampant violence which is destroying above all the Iraqi people, "this is the time for neither looking back, nor for "ifs" and "buts".  The current situation in Iraq calls for great effort from the international community in its entirety". "In the face of drastically rampant terrorism -- the newspaper writes today -- effective instruments need to be urgently identified to curb such violence.  The time has come to take a stand against blackmail, against the villainous chain of ultimata and decapitations, of attacks and retaliations." It would seem that the Vatican see in such instability, if nothing else, the interests of neighbouring states.  "Terrorists know -- Cardinal Sodano in fact said -- that if democracy takes hold in Baghdad, neighbouring states would find themselves in some difficulty, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, where still today people can be jailed for keeping a crucifix." Thus the Holy See's decision to back the Allawi government, a position confirmed by Cardinal Sodano himself who announced that the Vatican will receive that government's ambassador.  "Now is the time to help the Allawi government," Sodano said.  "The current situation in Iraq -- writes the Osservatore Romano -- calls for great effort from the international community in its entirety.  The country needs more than ever stability. It needs a "space" free from violence in which a veritable process of reconciliation can be carried out, after so many years of division."  "Iraq needs stability, because it is only in conditions of security that an authentic process of democratization can be launched, to eradicate terrorism by eliminating the causes that are the excuse for its existence. But, the stability that Iraq so desperately needs "cannot obviously be attained with bombs."   A phrase, this of the Vatican newspaper, that seems to refer not only to the bombs of the terrorists, but also to those of the Americans.  What is really needed, in short, is "to accompany Iraqis toward a future of self-determination, of national growth.  Toward a future of peace and development that can overcome the atrocities of this here and now."  Without forgetting however what the Pope often says: "There can be no peace without forgiveness". (FP)

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