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| Iraq |
| Why Iraq is Crumbling (Krauthammer) |
| 2006-11-17 |
| At this earliest stage of democratic development, Iraqi national consciousness is as yet too weak and the culture of compromise too undeveloped to produce an effective government enjoying broad allegiance. Last month American soldiers captured a Mahdi Army death squad leader in Baghdad -- only to be forced to turn him loose on order of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Two weeks ago, we were ordered, again by Maliki, to take down the barricades we had established around Sadr City in search of another notorious death squad leader and a missing American soldier. This is no way to conduct a war. The Maliki government is a failure. It is beholden to a coalition dominated by two Shiite religious parties, each armed and ambitious, at odds with each other and with the ultimate aim of a stable, modern, democratic regime. Is this America's fault? No. It is a result of Iraq's first democratic election. The United States was not going to replace Saddam Hussein with another tyrant. We were trying to plant democracy in the heart of the Middle East as the one conceivable antidote to extremism and terror -- and, in a country that is nearly two-thirds Shiite, that inevitably meant Shiite domination. It was never certain whether the long-oppressed Shiites would have enough sense of nation and sense of compromise to govern rather than rule. The answer is now clear: United in a dominating coalition, they do not. Fortunately, however, the ruling Shiites do not have much internal cohesion. Just last month two of the major Shiite religious parties that underpin the Maliki government engaged in savage combat against each other in Amarah. There is a glimmer of hope in this breakdown of the Shiite front. The unitary Shiite government having been proved such a failure, we should be encouraging the full breakup of the Shiite front in pursuit of a new coalition based on cross-sectarian alliances: the more moderate Shiite elements (secular and religious but excluding the poisonous Sadr), the Kurds and those Sunnis who recognize their minority status but are willing to accept an important, generously offered place at the table. Such a coalition was almost created after the latest Iraqi elections. It needs to be attempted again. One can tinker with American tactics or troop levels from today until doomsday. But unless the Iraqis can put together a government of unitary purpose and resolute action, the simple objective of this war -- to leave behind a self-sustaining democratic government -- is not attainable. |
| Posted by: KBK |
| #6 You have a gift, TW. ;-) |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2006-11-17 23:42 |
| #5 Truly well said, JosephM, if a bit difficult to read between the CAPITALS and the abbrevs. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-11-17 23:33 |
| #4 Iff Dubya's plan was to use IRAQ andor AFGHANISTAN as a "killing ground" by using these countries as bait so that instead of using scant US volunteer milfors to invade myriad pro-Radicalist/Terror Supporting Muslim countries, dedicated Radical Islamists will instead come to one = fem US-controlled areas to be destroyed - well, it worked. Iff as GLENN BECK believes [C2CAM.com/Show] Dubya's plan was always focused = cnetered against IRAN, this hasn't worked out too well becuz the US Voter hasn't seen or learned of any overt/covert US operation or scheme to destabilize Iran. While Dubya& Admin had HINTED of such efforts, ALL THE US VOTER SEES IS MOUD + RADICALS STILL IN POWER AND NO "REGIME CHANGE" IN ANY FORM TAKING PLACE. IMO 2006 > THE US VOTER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS THE DE FACTO LT AGENDA OR US POLICIES FOR THE ENTIRE ME + NORTH KOREA. 2006 was NOT voter rejection of either PRE-EMPTION or USA USING MIL FORCE TO DEAL WID NATIONS-GOVTS WHOM SUPPOR TERROR OR ATTACKS AGZ AMERICA. The US VOTER wants to see VICTORY + DEMOCRACY/LIBERTY, WANNA SEE MOUD + KIMMIE GETTING SHOT BY THEIR OWN PEOPLE OR GETTING THE BOOT, NOT PC + NOT POLITIX OF POLISCHTICK WHERE US SOLDIERS ARE GETTING SHOT WHILE ENEMY HEADS OF STATE ARE ALIVE, WELL, AND STILL RANTING. WANT PATTON + MACARTHUR + STORMIN NORMAN, NOT HORATIO GATES OR CHARLES LEE OR MONTGOMERY, OR MANY POST-BAY-OF-PIGS CUBAS. The Amer people wanna hear + feel VICTORY, not MSM PC "Winning = Losing/Losing = WInning forever". |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-11-17 21:30 |
| #3 re: Nouri al-Maliki and his gubmint... From the pool Iraqi Generals Choose wisely the best [who are pro US *for real*] and then back a Mil-Govt takeover until conditions on the ground change for the better. IE. All Militias ground down to a nubin, Infrastructure repaired as can be afforded, Oil reserves developed, and Iraqis promised a yearly stipend from the oil just like our Alaskan citizens get from North Slope oil. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-11-17 20:30 |
| #2 Shiites are killing Sunnis and both are killing government officials and occupation forces. Once ethnic borders are established, then it will stop. |
| Posted by: Sneaze Shaiting3550 2006-11-17 19:58 |
| #1 Actually Maliki's situation is the result of massive vote fraud by Iran. The Iranians tried to give election to the 2 Shiite religious parties, and they almost succeeded. The Iranians are also giving those 2 parties aid to the tune of several billion dollars a year. Al |
| Posted by: frozen al 2006-11-17 17:01 |