19 years have passed since the US invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of the regime of former President Saddam Hussein, and the 9th of April 2003 is considered a dangerous turning point in the history of the Iraqis that led to major changes in the reality of the country.
Analysts point out that the US invasion did not achieve the desired democracy, but rather produced a political process marred by corruption and sectarian quotas, and did not succeed in providing services to Iraqis.
Ali Mahdi, deputy head of the Baghdad Center for Legal and Economic Development, said, "We experienced many big problems and the repercussions of this occupation through the civil war, for which we paid a heavy price. We entered the cycle of open democracy that is not accompanied by the presence of law, order and respect for the judiciary."
Mahdi adds - to Al Jazeera Net - that one of the most important positives is to overcome the "totalitarian dictatorship", which made Iraqi society characterized by intellectual, cultural and political pluralism and openness.
For his part, civil activist Faisal Nasr says - to Al Jazeera Net - that "the overthrow of the dictatorial regime enjoyed the joy of the people, but the hope for building democracy was not achieved, as the quota system during 19 years led to the squandering of wealth and looting of Iraq's money, and a quarter of the people became below the poverty line, Services have become deficient, the health situation is deteriorating, unemployment is high, and the illiteracy rate has become high.”
As for the positives, Naseer adds that the Iraqi people can speak freely now, and that there is a constitution, and despite its serious shortcomings, it is subject to amendment.