Skip to main content

Iraqi officials offer excuses, not apologies

Amid the deteriorating security situation in Iraq over the past few years, officials have been hesitant to apologize or admit to mistakes, and instead resort to scapegoats and ready excuses.
People sit on high ground watching their submerged houses after heavy rain fell in Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, November 20, 2013. REUTERS/ Ahmad Mousa   (IRAQ - Tags: ENVIRONMENT DISASTER) - RTX15LZF
Read in 

None of Iraq’s political factions —or officials and others with political, economic or security influence — will truly answer the question: “Have you erred?” Sometimes their response is generalized and clichéd, such as: “Perfection is left to God alone.” This in itself is pure prevarication, because it points to a lack of desire to admit wrong, and precludes any readiness to apologize for mistakes.

Since 2003, Iraq has been on a path strewn with mistakes that have reduced its forward momentum to a crawl filled with pitfalls. Yet, not one official has ever come close to apologizing for errors committed, to a point where the trend has become akin to an institutionalized political tradition.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.