When Saddam was in power, Iraq had no chance, but since then Iraq has had a fighting chance to move on, despite immense struggle. Bringing Iraq back into the community of nations was never going to be easy after decades of wars and dictatorship, but the best approach is to realise that many nations, who have a vested interest in Iraq’s contribution to global energy supplies, also played a role in my country’s decline.

If the international community, so historically connected to Iraq's decades of tragedy, are not prepared to compensate Iraqis in endless legal battles, then they should at least uphold the moral responsibility to repent for the grave mistake of supporting Saddam, and to do so by fully backing Iraq now. This is the atonement Iraq deserves.

Luay al-Khatteeb is a fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy of Columbia University (SIPA). Follow him on Twitter: @Al_Khatteeb.

Image: American soldiers in tanks entering Iraq, 2003. Wikimedia Commons.