RSS« Iraq & Reconstruction: local views | CPA-I: Iraq and Responsibility »
September 01, 2003
Reflections - Bombing in Najaf
Well, I am running low on octane after a perfectly horrible flight -it was perfectly horrible, overbooked filled with children, 7 hours late, etc. etc. - however a few thoughts on the Najaf bombing on Friday.
This is the sign of an increasingly bad turn, above all when we take this in the context of the emergence of serious ethnic violence in the North and the continued chaos in the center of the country.
al-Hayat, the respected international Arab dialy reported yesterday that Iraqi police claimed to have four suspects in custody, two Saudi nationals and two Iraqi nationals - with indications of al-Qaeda connections and Sadaam. Remains to be seen if this holds up, Arab police are not well known for a deep respect for accuracy in investigations.
However, that aside, presuming the claim stands, we have a terrible stew which can lead to civil war. Rather as disturbing is the analysis coming from certain quarters. I read an editorial by Gerecht in the NY Times wherein he makes an argument -by implication- of an American alliance with Shiite interests. Wrong headed tripe. Committing exactely the same kind of strategic error as in Lebanon - becoming partisan in the context of the local power struggles. Hard not to do, but deadly.
No, these are not good developments at all.
Posted by The Lounsbury at September 1, 2003 10:47 AM
Filed Under:
Jan-Dec 2003
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.aqoul.com/movabletype/mt-tb.cgi/1784
