I told you so update: Apostates, you see? Because in their view, anyone who is a Muslim and yet accepts democracy instead of Sharia is an apostate. From "Al-Qaeda wing claims blast that killed 27," Reuters, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm:
Baghdad - Suicide bombers killed 27 people in attacks in two Iraqi cities on Monday in the worst violence since the country's historic election eight days ago.Al-Qaeda's wing in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for both blasts and vowed further attacks on "apostates and their masters", an apparent reference to US-led forces and the Iraqis who work with them.
Yes, Robert, you did. But at some point the newly-empowered Shias are going to come after Zarqawi and his accomplices, find them, and it won't be so pretty for the Sunni and Baathist jihaddists.
Waterdragon, nice comment....I have stated for a while that after the elections the gloves will come off and the new government should be quick to justice.They will have public trials and executions always.
For the Iraqi people and the new found freedoms they will soon develop comes also a debt that can never be paid in full, requires constant attention, and causes sleepness nights:
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance"
Thomas Jefferson
How true these very old words yet ring loud and clear.
The freedoms we enjoy as Americans have and will always be paved by the blood of our heroes who have been relentless when called to duty.
Freedom comes with baggage as well:
"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself".
Thomas Paine
Freedom is'nt free, it comes at a great cost to all for and against.
Waterdragon, although my gut agrees with your assessment, there are realities to consider.
The Shi'a have absolutely no experience in governing, administration,military and police command, they have never been in power in Iraq, and that is the fault of Shi'a clerics who from the 1920's onward issued fatwa's to boycott elections and to stay out of government.
Then Saddam set to decapitate the Shi'a community of it's intellectuals and religious leadership. The mass graves of Al Hilah are full of Shi'a bodies, put there by Sunni (mostly Tikriti) trigger fingers.
The Sunni's, especially the Tikritis and allied tribes constituted the backbone of Saddams rule, including the Mukhabarat, Republican Guard and Army Command.