I wanted to write this post after the bestial attack in Falluja last week which killed four U.S. security guards. But I was away in New York and didn’t get any time to write until now. Sorry to say, but subsequent events have borne out what my predictions for the future would have been after the horrible Fallujah ambush: a widening crescendo of violence against the Occupation.
Carousing mob celebrates
ambush and slaughter of four
U.S. security guards(credit: AP)
The drumbeat of headlines in the New York Times tell the whole sordid story of ever intensifying and unified Iraqi opposition to American occupation: Americans Are Jolted By Gruesome Reminders Of the Day in Mogadishu (April 1); 7 U.S. Soldiers Die in Iraq as a Shiite Militia Rises Up (April 5); 12 Marines Die in Raid as Fierce Fighting With Sunnis and Shiites Spreads to 6 Iraqi Cities (April 7); Iraq Uprising Spreads (April 8); Marines Battle Insurgents in Streets of Falluja (April 9)
The U.S. cannot win this fight. There are 30 million people in Iraq. While not all 30 million want us out, the tide is turning against us and soon–if events continue to spiral out of control–there will be a raging minority, if not majority, who will be demanding that we leave. Of course, we shouldn’t have gone in to begin with and we shouldn’t have even stayed this long. But the key point now is to get out before a tide of blood sweeps the entire countryside and swallows us with it.
Supporters of Shiite firebrand cleric
Al Sadr celebrate as flames engulf Army truck
in Baghdad (credit: Reuters)
The New York Times reports in Signs That Shiites and Sunnis Are Joining to Battle Americans that Sunnis and Shias are making commong cause in their fight against the U.S. While this is certainly shocking and almost unbelievable considering the level of hostility between the two groups–there is nothing for us to brag about in finally making mutual allies of two ethnic groups who’ve never seen eye to eye on any significant issue before.
I say we will have to withdraw and unfortunately leave the Iraqis to their own devices. The Arabs seems to have a habit, as Abba Eban used to say of the Palestinians to “never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” And this will certainly be the case if we withdraw and an interethnic bloodbath (Shias against Sunnis, Kurds against Sunnis, etc.) ensues (how can it not?). I don’t know whether it’s pride, nationalism or a sense of deep inferiority that causes them to turn their backs on opportunities that knock on their door. But they are in the process of doing this and our role cannot be to force down their throats a solution they reject.
That being said, the longer Bush stays in Iraq the bloodier the headlines and the worse his chances come November. While Bush is a shrewd and wily politician, his stubborn streak may compel him to draw this agony out far past the breaking point. Many greater men than he have allowed such hubris to bring ruination upon themselves, their friends and allies. Perhaps Bush will be yet another example. I wish no man or woman’s blood spilled over this useless war. But I would grasp hold of almost any opportunity to rid this nation of George Bush and his cronies.
