New Delhi: The US had invaded Iraq in 2003, on the pretext of liberating the people of Iraq. After 1000 days, 'liberation' seems far away in conflict-ridden Iraq.
The story of Iraq can be summarised by bomb blasts and body counts. About 30,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed so far, in the liberation war led by US. More than 2,000 American soldiers have lost their lives.
Iraqis vote on December 15th, to choose their first full-term parliament since Saddam Hussein was overthrown.
Iraqis will help to elect Iraq's 275-member National Assembly, which will legislate in the coming four years and choose the first fully constitutional government since the collapse of Saddam Hussein's rule in 2003.
US President George W Bush seems confident that his Iraq plan will succeed.
President Bush offered encouraging words from Washington to Iraqi voters but cautioned that the Parliamentary elections "won't be perfect".
"Iraqis still have more difficult work ahead, and our coalition and a new Iraqi government will face many challenges," Bush said in a speech in Philadelphia.
US officials hope for a large turnout among the Sunni Arab minority, a development that could produce a government capable of winning the trust of the Sunnis and defusing the insurgency. This would enable US and other foreign troops to begin heading home next year.
However, The US and Britain are planning a phased withdrawal of their military forces from Iraq as soon as a permanent government is installed in Baghdad.
For the people of Iraq, the promised liberation is yet to come even after a 1000 days of US occupation.
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