Posted on 07/16/2006 5:02:43 PM PDT by CedarDave
As sectarian violence soars in Iraq, many Sunni Arab political and religious leaders once staunchly opposed to the U.S. presence here are now saying they need American troops to protect them from the rampages of Shiite militias and Shiite-run government forces.
The pleas from the Sunni Arab leaders have been growing in intensity since an eruption of sectarian bloodletting in February, but they have reached a new pitch in recent days as Shiite militiamen have brazenly shot Sunni civilians to death in broad daylight in Baghdad and other mixed areas of central Iraq.
The Sunnis also view the Americans as a "bulwark against Iranian actions here," a senior U.S. diplomat said. Sunni politicians have made their viewpoints known to the Americans through informal discussions in recent weeks.
The Sunni Arab leaders said they have no newfound love for the Americans. Many said they still sympathize with the insurgency and despise the Bush administration and the fact that the invasion has bolstered the power of Iran, which backs the ruling Shiite parties.
But the Sunni leaders have dropped demands for a quick withdrawal of American troops. Many now ask for little more than a timetable. A few Sunni leaders even said they want more American soldiers on the ground to help contain the widening chaos.
The new stance is one of the most significant shifts in attitude since the war began. It could influence White House plans for a drawdown of the 134,000 troops here and help the Americans expand dialogue with elements of the insurgency. But the budding reconciliation is already stirring a backlash among the Shiites, who make up about 60 percent of the population but were brutally ruled for decades by the Sunni minority.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
One solution which WOULD work would be to convert ALL of the idiots to Christianity..... Anybody suggested that yet??
They have some choices here ~ on the one hand they can seek American protection ~ on the other hand they can seek the protection of their brethren elsewhere.
PING for an interesting development.
(Of course, given it's the NY Times, I don't quite know what to believe. Any comments from those recently or now in Iraq?)
It's worth noting that even if we do stay and protect them they will still continue to hate us. That's because they will naturally blame us for their downfall in the first place.
Yes. Ms. Coulter has.
But save our asses anyway Uncle Sam.
Ann Coulter
yep. we just need to go medieval on them and convert them to christianity. nothing more, nothing less than they would do for us.
And go back to killing or soliers after they feel safe again.
This article was written by drug-addled simpletons who don't have the IQ required to grasp that if the U.S. position in the Middle East was growing more "precarious" that Syria and Iran would be massing tanks and moving against us on the ground, rather than laying down, rolling over, and begging us to stop Israel from smashing Hezbollah.
Which is to say, pretty typical NY Times drivel.
Well, duh!
Should have thought of that much earlier.
Ann Coulter suggested this September 12th, 2001.
Ann Coulter suggested it a few years back.
(waiting for Coulter pic)
Convert them to Alcoholism [Bacchic worship] instead - it is easier. With everyone there dead drunk or in heavy hangover, they would not make much trouble either for themselves or for others. The place will be all puked over, true, but it already is.
Better late than never!
Too bad, so sad that you didn't think of that before your lib/traitor buddies in the USA began demanding we pull our troops out ASAP.
Should have thought of that.
The Sunnis are to the Shiites as the Palestinians are to the Israelis.
Oh how the worm turns.
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