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November 25, 2006
Civil War
It's time for the media and politicians to recognize that Iraq is no longer "moving" towards a civil war. It's in a civil war and unfortunately our troops are in the middle of all this instability.
I don't care what the academics and foreign policymakers say about what constitutes a civil war, but the latest surge of Iraq violence continues a downward spiral.
Recent headlines and exerpted text (my emphasis underlined):
Shiites burn 6 Sunni worshippers alive
"With the government trying to avert a civil war, two simultaneous bombings in Tal Afar, in northern Iraq, killed at least 23 people."
Al-Qaeda blamed for attacks on Shias that kill 150 in Baghdad
"Sadr City, a suburb of three million people, nearly all of them Shia, has been bombed with an increasing frequency during Iraq's slide towards civil war this year, with its militias, mosques and markets a target for Sunni militants seeking to deepen the country's sectarian divide."
Today's Scrabble word is fetor, a strong, offensive smell.
Posted by dan_nt at November 25, 2006 12:00 AM
Comments
Among the uncountable tragedies with this terrible situation is that it was all foreseen. If one read the international press or the US alternative press in 2002, it was apparent that Iraq was not involved with 9-11 and had no WMDs, and that attacking would only unleash hellish conflicts between the three sectors in Iraq that would spread to other countries. It was so obvious, that somewhere between 15 and 20 million people protested against the planned on invasion on Feb. 15, 2003. They were the largest demonstrations in human history, and the first that occurred before the war.
Locally, the E-R's readers could only read pro-war propaganda, along with derisive comments directed at antiwar realists. I recall clearly the E-R running a fawning editorial of Powell's speech at the UN in 2003, laying out the "evidence" for invasion that the rest of the world knew to be false.
Has the E-R yet run an apology for their wrong-headed and tragic promotion of this god-awful war? Not that I've seen. I wouldn't count on it either, given their editors' ability to rationalize and excuse any lopsided coverage.
Posted by: Chuckles at November 25, 2006 09:53 AM
Public commentary is meaningless without public acknowledgement of one's identity. For all we know, Bozo the Clown is Chuckles. Sorry Chuckles ...at least the ER prints its contributors' names. It takes no amount of courage to speak out anonymously in public. Actually it detracts from the validity of your comments.
Shuck off the shackles of Chuckles. Start posting your own name and no one will ever know the difference.
Posted by: Jennifer Oman at November 25, 2006 09:40 PM
Actually, Jennifer Oman, you are full of crap.
How would knowing Chuckles' name make what he said any different?
He doesn't claim to be an expert, he doesn't claim some special knowledge based on his identity.
The truth is the truth, no matter what the orifice it issues forth from.
Posted by: Tasker at November 26, 2006 10:53 PM
Hey "Tasker",
That could be tough with a size fifteen boot stuck in it.
Truth is, if you don't have the backbone to stand behind what you say in broad daylight, then how do you expect anyone else to believe it?
I'd be happy to discuss this in person if you two ever come out of the closet.
Gregg Payne
Posted by: Gregg Payne at November 27, 2006 01:58 PM
An interesting read from The Washington Post on the "civil war":
White House Wages War of Words Over 'Civil' Term
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/28/AR2006112801557.html
Posted by: dan_nt at November 29, 2006 11:05 AM
You've talked to me often in person, Gregg.
You're welcome to try to put your boot in my ass anytime you want.
Pack a lunch though, I've got some anger issues to work out.
Dirk
Posted by: Tasker at December 5, 2006 01:07 PM