Horror and Grass Roots Unity
Omar at Iraq The Model posts a story about a Sunni village that had enough of Al-Qaida. Al-Qaida doesn't like its power challenged and hence AQ attacked the village and started doing what it does best, beheading women and children. Unfortunately, the official Iraqi government nor US forces were able to come to the rescue, however people from a neighboring Shia village did:
The tragedy of this village offers us a lesson that we must learn. First, al-Qaeda wanted through this barbaric massacre that belongs to the dark ages of history to prove that anyone regardless of sect who dares turn against them would become the target of the most horrific ways of revenge. Second, the noble behavior of the neighboring Shia town proves once again that violence in Iraq isn't civil war and that the reconciliation we should be looking for is one among politicians, not among ordinary Iraqis.
Third, it is really disappointing that neither the government nor the MNF was quick enough to intervene and stop the massacre. This means the government and MNF are likely to lose the trust of those families and this is a precious asset that we can't afford to lose at this critical stage of the war.Source: Iraq The Model – Abu Dsheer, a massacre and a moment of unity (Omar)
There is no doubt about it, the primary purpose of a government is to protect the life, limb, and property of the citizenry. However, I view the Iraqi Government in Baghdad as fatally flawed and for the most part more interested in securing their own power than building a truly unified Iraq. We can not judge too harshly as the big players came to their positions by playing a very different game of politics than what is needed in Iraq.
The MNF is very very busy even with the increased number of soldiers surged in. No decent government can be everywhere at all times to defend against all threats.
The most important thing to come from this and that is the continuing germination of a true grass roots unity in Iraq. Omar notes a neighboring Shia village came to the aid of the Sunni village. This sort of cooperation we are seeing over and over again, sooner or later this unity will start to show itself in higher level political structures and sweep out the old school of Iraqi politicians.
The tragedy of this village offers us a lesson that we must learn. First, al-Qaeda wanted through this barbaric massacre that belongs to the dark ages of history to prove that anyone regardless of sect who dares turn against them would become the target of the most horrific ways of revenge. Second, the noble behavior of the neighboring Shia town proves once again that violence in Iraq isn't civil war and that the reconciliation we should be looking for is one among politicians, not among ordinary Iraqis.
Third, it is really disappointing that neither the government nor the MNF was quick enough to intervene and stop the massacre. This means the government and MNF are likely to lose the trust of those families and this is a precious asset that we can't afford to lose at this critical stage of the war.
There is no doubt about it, the primary purpose of a government is to protect the life, limb, and property of the citizenry. However, I view the Iraqi Government in Baghdad as fatally flawed and for the most part more interested in securing their own power than building a truly unified Iraq. We can not judge too harshly as the big players came to their positions by playing a very different game of politics than what is needed in Iraq.
The MNF is very very busy even with the increased number of soldiers surged in. No decent government can be everywhere at all times to defend against all threats.
The most important thing to come from this and that is the continuing germination of a true grass roots unity in Iraq. Omar notes a neighboring Shia village came to the aid of the Sunni village. This sort of cooperation we are seeing over and over again, sooner or later this unity will start to show itself in higher level political structures and sweep out the old school of Iraqi politicians.
Labels: Iraq
posted by Marcus Aurelius at 4:45 PM
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