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Posted on 04/19/2010 9:02:21 AM PDT by JLWORK
Maliki is a Kurd not a Shiite, at least that is what all the Shiites that I met said.
< 911 changed everything. Sorry, but we learned the hard way in Afghanistan after our anti-Soviet surrogate war there in the 80s that if you overthrow one regime and then rush out leaving a vacuum, some other tyrannt, potentially a worse one, will fill it. Nation building after 911 became a necessary evil in those nations where we overthrew terrorist supporting regimes. Had we not done so, we'd have been right back over there again with a bigger loss of blood and treasure to take on whatever took over after our departure. A little short-term pain brings about greater long term gains in these kinds of wars as we are finding in drawing to a successful conclusion in Iraq. Al Qaeda thrives on failed states. Had we left one in Iraq after deposing Saddam's regime do you think we wouldn't have needed to go back there again to take them on, esp. with the possibility of a radical or Al Qaeda-affiliated regime having billions in oil wealth at their disposal to wreak havoc with? Come on, don't be blinded by ideology. Think a little bit.
We were promised no nation building a few elections back. We actually bought that garbage too.
< 911 changed everything.
We were promised no nation building. There were no caveats.
In the eyes of Middle Easterners, we didn’t “win” any war. We helped the people to re-adjust the power around a bit.
To these people, a WIN is when the leader of the losing country bows before the leader of the winning country. Or a leader is killed by his opposition.
Iraq killed Saddam. They claim this win in their name.
These are medieval people with medieval ideas. They literally throw stones at tanks and believe they are winning because they got close enough to the tank !
Iraq just elected a secular Prime Minister. They’re getting the hang of it. It just takes time. This is not some TV show where everything gets wrapped up neatly in an hour.
LOL. If we got’em we should use’em. Then nuke Mexico while we’re at it.
Maliki is a Shiite and has even demonstrated a little too much warmth for Iran on occasion, IMO.
Talibani, the president, is a Kurd.
But there’s a new, more secular government coming in as a result of last
month’s elections.
They are all crazy, every damned one of them!
I am assuming this is a good thing? After reading the article I was under the impression the election was still disputed?
Allegra, your posts and first hand reports from Iraq are invaluable. Whenever some freeper has thrown up their hands and cried uncle you always put things in perspective and lower my angst.
Are you still stateside or are you back in Baghdad?
The election was close, but it was called for Allawi. There have been some challenges. but I believe Allawi will prevail.
I am stateside - will be in Baghdad mid-May. :)
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