As it decides to ditch F-16s deal to feed its people
Iraqi government has showed constant responsiveness over people’s protest that mushroomed in 12 of the country’s total 18 provinces.
Government’s receptiveness included delaying the purchase of 18 American fighter jets over budget problems and has decided to funnel the money into food for the poor instead, according to an Iraqi government spokesman Monday.
Ali al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press that the Iraqi government would postpone the expected purchase of the F-16 fighter jets and would instead use the money to beef up food rations. The Iraqi government gives food rations to many of its neediest citizens, who complain the rations have gotten smaller.
Al-Dabbagh said an initial partial payment of about $1 billion was to be spent this year on the fighter jets, but did not have an exact figure on the total cost of the deal.
"We need the money badly this year ... to finance other important items," he said. "We thought that we cannot afford to buy the F-16s."
Iraq, like, many Middle Eastern countries in the wake of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, is under pressure to show its commitment to support its own people. But delaying the purchase leaves Iraq vulnerable as it depends on departing American forces to protect its skies.
The government has also decided to subsidize costs of electricity. Now Iraqis will receive their first 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity for free each month, the Ministry of Electricity said on Saturday.
Prime Minister Maliki's reaction to the shockwaves emanating from events in Cairo was translated into his decision to rule himself out of running for further office in addition to cutting his $350,000 salary in half.
Maliki is also seeking to make a constitutional change to ensure a two-term limit to the office of the Prime Minister.
Valentine’s protest
Brandishing roses and balloons and dressed in Valentine red, hundreds of young Iraqis denounced the "greed" of their leaders in a protest on Monday inspired by the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
"Don't build palaces -- fix the sewers," proclaimed a banner carried by protesters at Baghdad's Tahrir Square, the same name of the Cairo epicenter of the protest that toppled Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak last week.
Another banner denounced the $11,000 monthly salary -- before benefits --that Iraqi MPs approved for themselves.
Al-Maliki called the protesters' demands "real," and urged officials to address them.
Groups called "No Silence," "Baghdad Is Not Kandahar" and "Blue Revolution" organised the event, and used Facebook to organise the demonstration which took place in a light-hearted atmosphere to preserve its Valentine spirit.
"We gathered for the sake of Iraq, Iraq of love and peace," said Manar Izz al-Deen, one of the organizers
Self-immolation & protest
Thousands of Iraqis protested Monday during Valentine’s Day in Baghdad to protest poor services and government corruption.
The demonstration came after the spread of protests in various provinces in the war-torn country, and after a report of self-immolation in the northern province of Mosul.
The 31-year-old man set himself on fire when he could not find a job, the sources told the German Press Agency DPA. He was married and had four children.
While Baghdad’s protestors complained about the government's inability to mend the roads, provide electricity, and improve education and the already overcrowded schools and hospitals, in Diwaniyah where on protester was killed earlier this month, some 700 stone throwing protestors were dispersed by shots fired in the air, and in Najaf police broke up what the authorities called an 'illegal demonstration'.
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