Opinion: Why are you stuck in Baghdad?

We miss you, our leaders. For a while now the traffic system has run smoothly because there aren't enough high-level officials to violate traffic rules and (illegally) cross intersections. Why did you deceive us for such a long time, telling us that you are working for the independence of Kurdistan, while you are now embraced by Baghdad and are busily working for a unified Iraq? Because you are in Baghdad, everything runs smoothly in Kurdistan. Each morning, the municipalities minister himself collects the garbage! I will not talk about benzene because it is not pleasant to talk about something that does not exist in the country. The minister of health is shown on TV eating chickens -- with sanitary procedures closely in check -- to convince people that the risk of bird flu is gone. It's unfortunate that no one believes him. We have fuel, electricity and water! The members of (the Kurdish) parliament are always awake and busily working on Kurdistan's anti-terror law. One day, writers are put on trial; the next, they are taken to the bazaar with four members of the security forces surrounding them. Where are you? … We miss you. It has been a long time since you have made your empty promises, as you always do. When you come back give us the good news that (Ibrahim) al-Ja'afari has been elected prime minister again, so that we can be sure that we cannot rest.