WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt and 34 Members of the United States House of Representatives sent a letter to the caretaker Prime Minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, calling on him to work with the winning coalitions of Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections to quickly form a government of national unity representing all of the country’s major religious and ethnic groups.
“The Iraqi people voted on March 7th to break with the sectarianism of the past,” said Delahunt, noting that the two coalitions which gained the most votes were explicitly cross-community: Maliki’s State of Law coalition and the Iraqiya alliance led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (which won two more seats than State of Law). “By supporting these two alliances, the Iraqi people clearly demonstrated their desire for a unified future. Yet the post-election jockeying for power has gone on for almost four months. This has created a dangerous situation which could lead to frustration with the democratic process and even a return to violence. It’s time for Iraq’s political leaders to listen to their people and work together to form a competent, responsible government in which Iraqis of all stripes feel represented.”
Delahunt noted that the Shiite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a revered religious figure in Iraq who is respected for his balanced, apolitical views, has also called for the quick formation of a government.
The Congressman, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, warned that further delay in forming a government could make it more difficult for Iraq’s friends in the United States to advocate for continued strong ties between the two nations. “Our military forces are continuing their withdrawal from Iraq, as they should,” he said. “But the message that Iraq’s political leaders are sending – that they can’t, or won’t, put good governance ahead of their personal agendas – is undermining those of us who believe that the U.S. has an obligation to support Iraq’s continued recovery.”
In addition to Delahunt, signatories on the letter include: Brian Baird (D-WA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Sam Farr (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Walter B. Jones (R-NC), Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), John B. Larson (D-CT), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Michael E. McMahon (D-NY), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), George Miller (D-CA), Walt Minnick (D-ID), Jim Moran (D-VA), Richard E. Neal (D-MA), John W. Olver (D-MA), Bill Owens (D-NY), Donald M. Payne (D-NJ), Tim Ryan (D-OH), David Scott (D-GA), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), John Tanner (D-TN), John F. Tierney (D-MA), Diane E. Watson (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
To read the letter, please click here.