Of course, Islam forbids...Of course, we reject...Of course, we abhor...Yet the blood continues to flow while the bland talk bamboozles the unwary. "Govt talks resume; Shi'ite family massacred," from Reuters, with thanks to JE:
DUKAN, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite politician met its Kurdish president at a lakeside retreat on Thursday to sketch out plans for a grand coalition government capable of ending the country's violent sectarian unrest.In an illustration of the size of the task they face, 11 members of a single Shi'ite family had their throats slit in an attack south of Baghdad. Police said insurgents had warned the family to move out of their largely Sunni neighborhood.
"insurgents had warned the family to move out of their largely Sunni neighborhood." - from posting above
This is the second or third report we have seen about the separation of Sunnis and Shia in Baghdad. Baghdad will certainly turn into a battleground as both sides attempt to claim it.
As an aside, I got the new National Review in the mail yesterday. On the cover is a red box with a green bow that reads, "To the Dean Democrats...my favorite infidels, with gratitude...Abu al-Zarqawi"
This illustrates beautifully the box conservatives can't seem to climb out of - the one where we stand with the "good" Muslims against the "bad" Muslims.
Doesn't anyone see, or want to admit, the possibility that the really bad Muslims like al-Qaeda might WANT to see us sucked into a civil war and weakened militarily and morally thereby?
"Doesn't anyone see..."
-- from a posting by Rebecca above
Surely that word "anyone" needs to be modified. At JW, there have been a few suppliers of spirits, undiluted by party affiliation or parti pris, to the Court of Public Opinion, and to other Courts as well since the fitful tracing of our portal metamorphosed into real doors, and then were opened, way back in 2003.
By Appointment to Her Majesty the Goddess of Truth. Since 2003.
Yes, Hugh, by "anyone" I meant anyone piloting the course of our ship of state. My apologies to the Goddess. I said it in a moment of pique.
I commend our President for the effort that he is putting forth to help make Iraq a benevolent democracy. But this can never be achieved unless Islam is put out of the Iraqi constitution. The Iraqi politians need to keep religion out of the new system of government. the Sunnis, Shites, and Kurds can never have a true democracy until this happens. The insurgents will not respect Iraqi sovergnty until this rejection of Islam from government as made. Unfortunately, in countries like Iraq, Islam is the government. In spite of it all we must help the Iraqi people see this for themselves. May be enough insurgents murdering meaningful Iraqi citizens will bring this revelation to the light. God bless Iraq, the Iraqi people, and God bless President George W. Bush and the United States of America!!! Happy New Year!!!
"This illustrates beautifully the box conservatives can't seem to climb out of - the one where we stand with the "good" Muslims against the "bad" Muslims."
--posted above
Most Muslims in Iraq do not share Zarqawi's pure interpretation of Islam or his vision of the Middle East; if they did u would see widespread protests in Iraq for an American withdrawl. The only protests so far have been minimal, consisting of not many disgruntled Sunni's. In this sense conservatives are correct in seperating Zarqawi type Muslims (bad) with most other Iraqi's.
"Doesn't anyone see, or want to admit, the possibility that the really bad Muslims like al-Qaeda might WANT to see us sucked into a civil war and weakened militarily and morally thereby"
--posted above
I guess u are not aware of the recent messsage that was intercepted from the good ol' doctor Zawahri (al Queda's second in command), in which he outlined his strategy: first, expel the Americans from Iraq; then, take as much territory as possible after the ensuing bloodbath. This, according to the good doctor Zawahiri, would embolden other Jihadists to eliminate 'apostate' regimes, and they would subsequently mobilize and attack Israel. This is completely consistent with the Jihadits belief that democracy in the Middle East is 'satanic', and it is also consistent with the Jihadits long term goal of a back-to-a-7-century-living-version-of-Islam in the Middle East. Incidently, the insurgents more or less share this goal, and thats why they are attempting to destabilize Iraq's nacsent demcoracy by instigating a civil war. Further, doctor Zawahir's goal would be more realizable if their was a preciptous withdrawl.
Of course u could argue that the intercepted letter that outlined al Queda's plans for Iraq was a fake, but there is no evidence for this, thus it must be assumed that Zawahiri means what he says. And what he says is to expel the Americans from Iraq, not drag them into a civil war.