Iraq remains a land of stark contrasts, displayed to the point of paradox by how its politicians posture, seeking dominance over land steeped in tragedy.
Two recent scenes have demonstrated this with painful clarity.
The heart-wrenching despair, tears and shock engulfed the families of the victims of the terrible fire at a wedding in the Al-Hamdaniya district of the Mosul governorate.
Then came the disturbing spectacle of arrogant conceit and loud laughter at the General Conference of the Kurdistan National Congress in Sulaymaniyah, from a coalition of self-appointed political leaders who have joined forces to extend their influence.
The tragic loss of innocent lives starkly contrasts the political charade orchestrated by a group who have used familial connections or even foreign influence to put themselves into prominent positions over the Iraqi people.
There were statements of condolence from the Sulaymaniyah gathering for the victims in Mosul. But their political jockeying continued unabated as the extent of the tragedy unfolded, without regard for the deceased, until the victims were laid to rest.
These tragedies and the suffering of ordinary citizens seem to have lost their impact on these politicians. After all, they acquired power by sacrificing numerous followers in senseless and bloody misadventures, all driven by a single-minded motivation: seizing and maintaining power and political influence.
They remain indifferent to cries of anguish. They are unmoved by the scenes of death and destruction. To them, these scenes are not anomalies, but a grim part of their coexistence with the people they are meant to serve.
Read more: Amid an unsettling peace, people bury their loved ones and swallow their outrage
