The issue of what is happening in Iraq right now is confusing, to say the least. The picture we've had placed in front of us is that Saddam holdouts and loyalists are behind much of the trouble. This may be true but to what degree I'm unsure. I'm rather unconvinced by the idea that this secular thug can inspire suicide bombers, especially as he's no longer in a position of absolute power.
It seems to me that much of the violence may be coming from Islamic fundamentalists, Shi'ites, al-Qaeda and other such extremists. Our worst nightmare. Like Iran before it, Iraq was a secular state and as such, is ripe for some sort of Islamic theocratic takeover. A swing to the other extreme.
A lot of people won't want to hear this, but the Pope was right. This war was a mistake.
Ummm... Taking the fight to Islamic Fundamentalists cannot be a mistake.
Saddam may not have been one himself. But he had no problem using them to do some of his dirty work. Indirectly, he was keeping them going.
And that is unnacceptable. Now the other countries know we mean business. Now is not the time to shrink away from our responsibilities to fight against Islamic Fundamentalists.
"A lot of people won't want to hear this, but the Pope was right. This war was a mistake."
A very difficult situation in Iraq indeed. But to sit on the sideline and watch Saddam torture and kill innocent people for years and years is not right either. The UN resolutions were going noplace under his rule.