During another antigovernmental protest in Nasiriya, at least 5 people were killed by security forces. The forces opened fire into the crowd ruthlessly with live ammunition’s wounding another 47 other protestors. The protesters had to be treated in parking lots, or other makeshift locations because if they were to go to a hospital than they would be arrested. Some security forces were also injured due to the live fires caused by the protestors. The demonstrators were demanding the dismissal of Governor Nazem al-Waeli, who has done a horrible job as a leader and has failed on many of his promises that got him into office. Nearly 600 protesters have been killed in violent incidents in Iraq since 2019.
I believe that what is happening in Iraq is horrible, but also necessary. There is a long history of chaos and evil in the region and a great way to bring about change is to draw attention to a cause. If all of these innocent people continue to be killed, then there will eventually be more people that want to join the cause. In no way or form should these people have to die, but at the same time them doing so actually pushes forward their cause greatly. I think that as we go into the next decade, we will see more and more of these changes coming to countries like Iraq.
In class we discussed liberal internationalism, or spreading democracy. I believe that we are seeing it take place in Iraq through this article. The people are protesting and demanding change ( democratic ideas and practices) in a non democratic state. Coincidentally the U.S is just now starting to withdraw its troops from the middle east. Therefore, it is fair to conclude that there may have been some democratic tendencies estbalished by U.S involvement in Iraq that are causing these changes now.