Peace in Iraq?
We awake this morning with the news that a series of coordinated attacks have been executed in Baghdad, including three car bombs that targeted government sites. At least 112 people have been killed, with 197 wounded and I would expect the death toll to rise even higher. These attacks show the ability of the insurgents to strike at high-profile targets and it raises one question. Will there ever
be real peace in Iraq?
This is not the first time this question has been raised. I have wondered about it before and I am beginning to question if there will ever be real peace in Iraq. Our troops are on their way out of the country as our focus swings to Afghanistan and although I may have the wrong impression, it seems that suicide attacks and bombings are on the rise. I have to question if Iraqi forces are capable or even willing to quell these attacks and stop the violence.
The targets in these latest attacks were all government related, with the three car bombs going off near the Labor and Finance Ministries and a court complex near the Green Zone. They clearly wanted to send a message to Iraqi authorities in advance of parliamentary elections coming up next year. A final decision on the date of those elections is expected next week. Those elections were expected to bring a rise in violence and it appears it has came sooner, rather than later.
I must come back to my original question. Can there ever be real peace in Iraq? There has been fighting in the country for many years, with the only real calm being during the reign of Saddam Hussein. I was not a fan of the man and his practice of terror on the citizens of Iraq, but he did instill enough fear to keep the Sunni and Shiite Muslims from killing themselves. Much as been said about who would fill the vacuum of power left by Saddam Hussein and I think that question still remains to be answered. As it stands now, the killing continues.
I leave you with a quote from Ahmed Jabbar, an Iraqi citizen, as he staggered through the carnage of today’s blasts.
What crime have we committed?
Can anyone answer that question?
Iraq is a mess notwithstanding our involvement there or not. As long as Sunni and Shiite believe that it is okay to kill each other, then peace won’t be possible.
As soon as the country is stabilized, I hope that we can move on. Afghanistan may take longer to “fix” but eventually that country will soon have to dictate its own affairs.
No, I’m not one of those people who think we should abandon what we’ve set out to do. Finally, President Obama and I agree on one point!
Matt Keegan´s last blog ..Will You Be Reaching Higher In 2010?
I am not sure that there will ever be peace in the Middle East but I think that we must do what we can to try to bring peace to that region. We really are in a tight spot over there, do we stay and try to stabilize the area as Matt said, or do we get out and let then try to settle things themselves? Neither option gives us any reason for optimism. I don’t know what the answer is, I don’t think that anybody does.
Mr Pink Eyes´s last blog ..President Obama tells John Conyers that he is demeaning him
Thanks for your comments, Matt and Mr. Pink Eyes. I really wonder if it is not a losing battle in the entire region. These people have been killing each other for many years. Even though we have tried hard to establish a democratic form of government, it seems to go against their nature. They may find it very easy to slip back into their old habits, after we have left.