Conventional Wisdom: Iraq is in the throes of terrible sectarian conflict. Or is it?
Consider the fact that pushing this story lends support to the idea that, as a humanitarian matter, the U.S. must stay to keep the lid from blowing off. George W Bush: tough – and a true humanitarian. He will stay the course no matter what, and by the way liberals, we need to stay there if you don’t want to see even more deaths.
All those bodies – the story must be true. Or is it? This guy doesn’t think so. Could it be that all those bodies are Iraqis who are seen as collaborators with the occupiers, not Sunnis killed by Shias and vice versa? That would fit better with the question I asked earlier: if the whole thing is going to blow into civil war (according to the six or so Americans who speak the language), why in the world would so many Iraqis want us the hell out of there? It doesn’t add up.
All those bodies – the story must be true. Or is it? This guy doesn’t think so. Could it be that all those bodies are Iraqis who are seen as collaborators with the occupiers, not Sunnis killed by Shias and vice versa? That would fit better with the question I asked earlier: if the whole thing is going to blow into civil war (according to the six or so Americans who speak the language), why in the world would so many Iraqis want us the hell out of there? It doesn’t add up.
posted by KISSWeb | 2:25 PM
2 Comments:
Good point, and it does merit wider consideration and informed commentary. However, there has almost certainly, it appears, been a massive relocation of Bagdadis by neighborhood in response to sectarian violence, intimidation and fear, as well as emigration within and from Iraq for the same reason. I don't think deadly Sunni-Shia rivalry is a figment of on-site reporters' imaginations, or a pure misunderstanding due to lack of Arabic language skills -- although I would not be surprised if the US occupation is what lit the tinder. I also think it's quite plausible to want the invaders out of your country out even though and as it's going to hell.
I always wonder, though, how good the reporting is from Iraq. They all seem stuck in the Green Zone unless embedded with troops. Not sure what slant al-Jazeera is giving. My main point is that every death seems to be attributed to sectarian violence, with no role considered for retaliation against "traitors" perceived to be American puppets.
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