When he was growing up in Baghdad in the 1950s, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq Samir Sumaida'ie said the capital was “a peaceful city, a prosperous city looking forward into the future.”
But by the time the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, he said Baghdad had “degraded in every single imaginable way.”
“The destruction— in every sense—was so colossal that I did not recognize Baghdad as the city that I left,” he said. “I did not even recognize the people.”
Mr. Sumaida'ie told GW students that he believes Iraq has better days ahead in a speech and question-and-answer session Monday in GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium.
“In the difficult years of 2006 and 2007 I was, here in Washington, something of a lone voice, advising optimism and suggesting that Iraq will not break up, that the violence that we witness in Iraq is not a civil war but rather a war on civilians, and that sectarian extremists from both sides were attacking the community but the communities themselves were not engaged in it,” he said,
“Iraq will not disintegrate,” he stressed. “Iraq will not break up.”
The event, sponsored by the International Affairs Society and the Institute for Middle East Studies, began with introductory remarks by Ambassador Edward W. “Skip” Gnehm, B.A. ’66, M.A. ’68, Kuwait professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula affairs. Mr. Gnehm said Mr. Sumaida'ie has been a frequent visitor to GW and participant in Elliott School of International Affairs events.
“[Mr. Sumaida'ie] is a tribute to all that is good in a diplomat, and all that is good in a servant to his country,” said Mr. Gnehm. “He has done for his country and our country—in building a relationship between the two in trying times—a marvelous service.”
Mr. Sumaida'ie was appointed Iraq’s ambassador to the United States in April 2006. Prior to his appointment, he served as permanent representative to the United Nations from 2004 to 2006 and as the minister of interior in Baghdad. Other appointments include chairman of the media committee of the Governing Council in Iraq and positions on its security, finance and foreign relations committees. He is a founding member of the Association of Iraqi Democrats and the Democratic Party of Iraq.
Mr. Sumaida'ie said that as the United States is poised to withdraw the last of its operational troops from Iraq, it is an “appropriate time” to look at U.S. and Iraq relations and the future of the country.
Describing Iraq as “one of the most ancient countries on Earth,” Mr. Sumaida'ie said his nation was once the center of the world—the Sumerian civilization in the fourth millennium B.C. is thought to be the very first civilization, and for five centuries, Baghdad was the largest multicultural city in the Arab and Muslim worlds. But after centuries of “war, famine and disasters,” Mr. Sumaida'ie said Iraq has become unstable and weak.
Exiled from Iraq in 1977 under Saddam Hussein’s regime, Mr. Sumaida'ie did not return to Baghdad until 26 years later. He described some of the county’s recent progress, including peaceful transfer of government power and the existence of the “first fully elected government.”
“Since 2003, Iraq has been leading a fight on multiple fronts. It has been leading a fight against terrorism, a very active and vicious insurgency, against interference by some of its neighbors, and against all the inherited burdens and problems, including criminality, violence, ignorance and corruption…from those years of destruction.”
“Iraqis are beginning to feel and exercise their power,” he said. “Of course, we have a long way to go.”
Mr. Sumaida'ie also spoke about U.S.-Iraq relations, saying that “it matters” for the United States that Iraq makes progress. He called for the removal of the U.S. travel advisory to Iraq, stating that an increase in American business in the country is essential to helping spur the country’s economy.
“As its reconstruction accelerates and [Iraq] starts to build up its capacity to defend itself; provide for its people, maintain the principles of democracy that are enshrined in its constitution, and maintain its ties and alliance with the United States, then [Iraq] would be a considerable asset to the United States,” he said,
Despite the struggles Iraqis have faced over the years, Mr. Sumaida'ie said civilians are still hopeful their country will prosper one again— with help.
“Now, when the realities are bearing down on Iraqis—lack of electricity, lack of good health service, sub-mediocre education, corruption—people are beginning to be tired and beginning to wonder when they will emerge from this nightmare into something resembling a normal life,” he said. “But there’s one thing about Iraqis that I know, being one—they are extremely resilient. I would put my bet on Iraqis pulling through, but not without the help of their friends. We need continued engagement from the United States.”