Absolutely mainepatsfan,and the same is true in Iraq and in many other areas of the world. Power struggles of those who tender tyranny and despotism vs. the voices of freedom. We represent freedom and that's why we combined with our allies to help liberate the people of Iraq.
Some ask why we are in Iraq? Many and most of the msm/dbm are all too ready to spin the war for freedom and out of control as just one breath away from civil war or at the very least a war of factions such as the Sunni/Shia strife that has gone on seemingly forever.But there is more to it than that.
The telegraph.co.uk ran an extensive piece on "how things are getting hopeless" between the Sunnis and the shia.(at least that was the gist of it). Now that Grand Ayatollah al sistani (described as a moderate Shia leader) has abandoned attempts to prevent civil war since he is being ignored.
The article sites the travails of an engineering student Sabah ali, 22, who switched allegiance to Sadr from Sistani after going to sistani reps and asking for "revenge for my brothers death at the hands of terrorist". He said "local authorities could not do anything."
But when went to the al-Sadr's office, and told them about the terrorist family, two days later Sadr's people had killed nine of the terrorists, so he felt he had his revenge.
Does all this sound a bit Bevis and Butthead inspired? It might but that is life in Iraq these days. In some areas its 'my gang is bigger and better than yours'. Is it pretty? No. Will the country sink into civil war, not likely,IMHO.
What was left out of the article is the reason troops are there to begin with.
We extricated a brutal dictator who constantly violated UN queries as to the status of his WMD's. Sadaam led the world on a merry chase holding,hiding weapons, lying and killing the populace.And as time went on and spawning terrorists every chance he got. His rule and reign of terror had to be stopped or be left to set an example for other terror states to follow in his footsteps.
We now see other terror states in the area,Syria, Iran etc. desperate to stop the voices of freedom who would speak out in this ancient land of Iraq. It's not in their interests and they will do anything to stop freedom and Democracy for getting a foothold in Iraq. Unfortunatly forces within the US, dems and dbm have come to their aid, making the battle even more formidable.Is it a power struggle? You better believe it is!
Those who could not see Saddams' ties with other terror types and even the Murrow bombing in ok city are just not looking hard enough or most likely don't want to see anyway.
The U.S. and allies like Britain stepped in and as they say the rest is history.
There are those who liked to say we did not find wmds but if you listen to Gen. Georges Sada from Sadaam's Air Force who supervised the airlift of 72 flights of wmd's to damascus he paints a different picture. Once again you have to look a little bit harder, and it won't be on the front page of the nyt, it's no in their interest.
Will democracy in Iraq be the same as Democracy and freedom in the US? Probably not. Will it take years to achieve and will the country become divided in the end? Few know the answers to that.
After all that is the miracle of democry and freedom. When achieved its people have the right to freedom of choice, not the dictators wishes but elected reps "of", "by" and "for" the people.
What those "on the ground soldiers" who are doing the hard work of fighting the war will tell you is that it(Iraq) will become a democracy and the people want it and many thank us for what we are doing in the war torn country.
As we face other power struggles, upcoming elections one should remember who is for freedom and democracy and who is for the Murtha cut and run strategy that surely will be the demise of a burgeoning democracy in Iraq.
There are clear cut philosophies here. One party will sell out any time any where for power. The other sends its soldiers to protect freedom and our way of life after one of the most brutal attacks on our soil ever!
In short are there power struggles in Iraq and in the U.S. and every where? Of course. But for me I choose Democracy.
Wow, all good points, Rod. Proving that the top winner may win this week too. Thanks for all the details.
Important thought from a conservative talk show host: When you negotiate with evil you lose.
We have to support the attempts of people to live in freedom.
BTW, I read an article this week about absolute carnage happening in South Africa - ordinary murders (not a war) are happening at a rate of 51 per day. That is five times the average of murders in the USA.
No news coverage of this because SA has to be under the radar of the media who will not tell the world when blacks kill blacks.
Did you see the freepmail I sent you earlier
Great post. We need to keep saying these things, over and over.
Great post, rodguy...I see you are still on a roll from last week.
Dems are quick to say that there is a "civil war" in Iraq...and I am thinking that there is a "civil war" going on here in the USA...
It is a war of words, to be sure...but a war nonetheless...and if I may say so...the "war of words" is not very "civil".
The reason that I am being very serious..and not just using analogy is because in America, our elections are won/lost by the use of "words"...not guns and violence like some other countries..
But, the result is just as important....and if we let the Dems win the "war of words"....we will end up with guns to our heads..and that is to SERIOUS to be considered less than a civil war.