How do we help Iraqis ?

Years after years, it appears that the help delivered to Iraq is just… not helping.
A press release issued by the Multi-national force (US-lead coalition) provides another example of how irrelevant this aid can even be.

In this statement, we read that the Japanese governement donated as many as 600 powerful motorcycles to the Baghdad traffic police departement. Here is a picture of one of these bikes.

The US MP’s are very pleased to announce that, considering how busy are the streets in Iraq, this donation will help the Iraqi police to move quicker in the capital.

But has anyone considered teaching how to drive such a powerful vehicle to these policemen? Under Saddam’s regime, motorbikes were prohibited in Iraq. Only Udai, the rais beloved son, had some. But no one pays attention to what Iraq was before 2003…

Basically, what does it mean ? That, in the best case, most of these motorbikes will have accidents in the coming months or year. Knowing how people drive in Iraq, I can bet that a majority of them will be destroyed, and unfortunately some of their drivers injured or killed.

The Japanase tax payers will have contributed to a little extent to their national economy, by sending to Iraq home made products. But what will be the benefit to the Iraqi people? Will this help fighting powerty, rebuilding infrastructures, or even bring a little more peaceful environment?

This is just example among thousands of the very arrogant –and very ineffective, even counterproductive - way people often consider « helping » a country like Iraq.