Ambassador Faily: Iraqis run with U.S. in marathon war on terror
“As we rebuild our nation, Iraqis are proving ourselves to be long-distance runners. We want to run this marathon alongside our American friends.”
WASHINGTON — One year after blasts killed three people and injured hundreds, 36,000 runners and a half million spectators are expected for the Boston Marathon. We’ll all be taking a stand against terrorism.
As Iraq’s ambassador to the United States, running in the marathon has many meanings for me. I will support the Boston One Fund, which is helping the victims and their families, and Education for Peace in Iraq (EPIC), a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization which is promoting peace and empowering young people in Iraq. I will be thanking the American troops who served in Iraq, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice, including 77 from Massachusetts, and the Iraqi soldiers, police and civilians who have stood united against terror. I will be honoring our host city which has earned the title “Boston Strong,” and the people of Baghdad and every Iraqi community who have displayed similar resilience in response to bombings and other attacks. And I will be bearing witness that, whether terrorism takes place in Boston or Baghdad, people must stand together against this senseless slaughter.
Since this will be only my third marathon, I’ll be happy to make it from Hopkinton to Heartbreak Hill. I started running several years ago, while serving as Iraq’s ambassador to Japan. With the sedentary lifestyle and ceremonial dinners, I needed to get back in shape. I trained for and participated in two Tokyo marathons while raising money for the families of the victims of the 2011 tsunami in Japan.
I also gained a new understanding of the values that a marathon requires, including patience, persistence and resilience. Marathons are less about competition than about our common humanity. In what other athletic event, do your competitors and their friends, families and fans all cheer you on along a 26.2 mile stretch?
While Iraq hasn’t officially held a marathon, these values are seeing us through the difficult transition from despotism to democracy. After more than a half century of dictatorship, three wars, international isolation, and ethnic and sectarian strife, progress has not been easy. But we are moving forward, from politics to economics.
Just nine days after the marathon, on April 30, Iraq will hold our fourth parliamentary election since 2003. About 9,040 candidates will be competing for 328 parliamentary seats. Among many efforts to ensure a free and fair election, the Electoral Commission has approved applications from 667 foreign observers.
All the political parties have accepted elections as a method of power-sharing and peaceful change.
This acceptance of ballots, not bullets, is part of an effort to ensure that every Iraqi voice is heard. However, we are all too aware of the many challenges we face, primarily from terrorists who continue to slaughter our people indiscriminately.
The terrorists’ goal: To disrupt this month’s elections and divide our people. Our response: To strive for a secure environment across Iraq that will encourage voter participation and reduce support for the violent extremists. As with Bostonians, the people of Iraq have rallied to restore normal life in spite of terrorism.
In Iraq, we are at the forefront in combating transnational terrorism that threatens both our countries. Therefore, we want to work together with the United States in the “equal partnership” that President Obama has described. On the security front, Iraq needs American equipment and expertise, as well as strategic coordination and intelligence cooperation.
Similarly, Iraq continues to encourage investment and trade. Our economy has experienced nearly double-digit growth every year, largely due to substantial increases in oil production that has reached record levels. The steady development of our oil industry is expected to translate into $5 trillion in revenues over the next 20 years that Iraq will use to rebuild our transportation, restore our electrical, water and sanitary systems, and improve our schools and health care facilities.
In fact, Iraq offers opportunities for American companies to work with us to rebuild our roads and highways, hospitals and schools, telecommunications networks and information systems.
As we rebuild our nation, Iraqis are proving ourselves to be long-distance runners. We want to run this marathon alongside our American friends.
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