Protests Mark Fall of Baghdad

FOX News/AP ^ | April 10, 2005

[JCEccles]

These gatherings can be seen as a sign that democracy has taken deep root and is flourishing in Iraq. Such protests would have been countered with overwhelming lethal force in Saddam's day.

It is good for the people to experience the exhilaration and self-confidence that comes from having the power and right to protest and petition one's government for change. The tricky part now is for coalition forces to complete the hand-off fast enough to satisfy the Iraqi peoples' new-found confidence in their ability to govern themselves but not so fast that government is unable to sustain itself against the predations of insurgents and terrorists who desire to establish Saddam or Taliban-style dictatorships.

Al-Sadr may be the immediate beneficiary, but if he tries to ride the wave of sentiment to another Saddam-style dictatorship he may find much to his chagrin that his supporters came to love their personal sovereignty more than him.

[Valin]

Powerline
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/2005_04.php#010125
More on the Second Anniversary

Earlier tonight, I linked to Mohammed's thoughts on the second anniversary of Baghdad's liberation. Haider Ajina, an Iraqi who lives in California and has sent us many valuable translations of articles in Iraqi newspapers, has sent his thoughts on this anniversary, along with this photo:



If you relied on the mainstream media for your information about the second anniversary of the liberation of Iraq, all you probably read about was an anti-American demonstration by adherents of the dissident cleric al-Sadr. Haider puts those stories into perspective by pointing out that many other Iraqis turned out to demonstrate with a very different agenda. The sign in the photo above says, in English: "The mass graves are proof enough to find Saddam guilty and hang him."

Haider continues:

Iraqis take to the streets on the second anniversary of the liberation of Baghdad. Iraqi government declared it as national day, the day Iraq was freed from Saddam’s barbaric rule. Many of the banners call for the Trial of Saddam and his gang. Other banners condemn terrorist and terrorism. Al-Sadr (who received no seats in the current parliament, because very few voted for him) is taking this opportunity to call for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq. His request is counter to what the elected government is asking for.
Haider makes a very fundamental point here, one that is absent from all of the MSM stories I've seen on the al-Sadr anti-American demonstrations: Al-Sadr's slate got so few votes in January's election that they didn't get a single seat in the Iraqi parliament. Yet, it seems, their ability to turn out a few tattered demonstrators is enough to garner headlines throughout the U.S. Why?

[nuconvert]

The article says tens of thousands. Do you have a link to one that says "well over 100,000"?

" I think they are headed to a islamic state just as fast as they can go."

I don't.

[FreeReign]

I seriuosly wonder if the Iraqis realize the national treasure(US TROOPS) we have sacrificed to get them to the point they can protest in the streets.

How many people were at this demonstration? 20K, 30K? Now think how many people in this country attend antiwar demonstrations?

I understand your frustration but let me ask you this question.

Do the people of this country appreciate the sacrifice the US troops have made?

[FreeReign]

If you relied on the mainstream media for your information about the second anniversary of the liberation of Iraq, all you probably read about was an anti-American demonstration by adherents of the dissident cleric al-Sadr. Haider puts those stories into perspective by pointing out that many other Iraqis turned out to demonstrate with a very different agenda. The sign in the photo above says, in English: "The mass graves are proof enough to find Saddam guilty and hang him."

Great link.

[dwills]

"arab mind"?

go back to DU 'neck, we don't need your kind here

[sandbar]

>>>"This huge gathering shows that the Iraqi people have the strength and faith to protect their country and liberate it from the occupiers," said Ahmed Abed, a 26-year-old who sells spare car parts.>>>

So have at it. We'll be back in a few years when you have the government very similiar to Iran.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

And what is "my kind" since you are so enlightened.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

I have seen that letter many times and it is wonderful. I would like to hear from more than one Iraqi how much the sacrifice of our troops means to them.

[dwills]

the "kind" who refer to an "arab mind" in imagining their superiority to the class of humans possessed thereof

ideological snobbery i have no problem with, i.e. had you said "tribal mind"--but then you'd have indicted many kurds and yourself as well

[LoudRepublicangirl]

The arabs do have a different philosophy than most Westeners do-I do not see where I am assuming superiority by saying this. I was married to one for 10 years, visited the middle east a few times and speak some arabic. I never thought by saying " the arab mind" it would set someone off so. Maybe you should focus on real issues next time. You will not change my, what you called "neck"-mind.

[dwills]

only individual persons can hold philosophies--ethnicities are merely stereotyped as having a mindset

stereotypes are not "real issues"

a reader of stereotyped descent being turned away from FR and our political persuasion by bigotry is real and relevant

if you now state that the tribal mindset you're displaying is not superior to that exhibited by the "arab mind" which you decry, then we certainly do agree