Iraqi writer accuses government of humiliating subservience to neighboring states

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi writer Khalid al-Naimi has published a sharply worded column criticizing Iraq's political leadership, accusing the government of making the country a "laughingstock" before its neighbors. In the piece, he praised the Transport Minister for refusing to submit to the Prime Minister and for demonstrating loyalty to Iraq's "eastern neighbor," recounting an episode in which the Prime Minister asked the minister why he had not signed certain documents, only for the minister to shrug and refuse to comply. Al-Naimi accused the political class of "tribal and sectarian factionalism" and of spilling blood, describing Iraq as a "herd led by a shepherd from the East." Addressing the country's "northern neighbor," he wrote: "Have mercy on the land of the Tigris; does our thirst satisfy you?" Invoking the ancient civilizations of Sumer, Babylon, Assyria and Akkad, the writer argued that Iraqis "were once masters of their land" but are now "hostages in the hands of our rulers and Persian tails." He contended that Persian influence has entrenched sectarian divisions in Iraq and called for a patriot to free the country from that control.