"The article suggests that the Shi’ites are trying to ‘consolidate their hold
over Iraq,’ but what they really seem to be doing is competing for the right to
consolidate the Shi’ite majority…The EFPs, the murders of Shi’ite holy men who
are not aligned with Iran, these are not the mark of an ungovernable local
situation. They are the mark of intentional troublemaking — proxy warfighting —
by Iran against the United States. The planting of EFPs against American targets
becomes, then, not an expression of native anti-American hatred — a show of
disgust for an occupier — but part of a war fought by Iran to control the Iraqi
state by winning control of the Shi’ites…Rather than engage the political
question of what to do about Iran, I want to point to the military reality that
their involvement creates. What we are seeing here is not a national liberation
movement by Shi’ites against Americans come to be viewed as occupiers. What we
are seeing is a divided Shi’ite Iraq, engaged in deadly infighting; with Iran
backing some of the groups in a bid to control Iraq, and meanwhile also using
them to wage proxy attacks against the United States. A national liberation
movement directed against us would be a cause for despair indeed; less so the
situation as it is. We can debate separately how we deal with Iran, but when we
have dealt with them, a large part of this issue will resolve itself."
This is refering to the Article from the New York Times that I posted earlier today. This isn't a battle that is only between Sunni and Shia inside Iraq, and they are not the only ones who stand to win or lose in this battle. Iran is putting a lot of force into Iraq right now to try and gain power there. Finding a solution to deal with the growing power of Iran in the region is linked to the war in Iraq. If we leave Iraq, it is going to create a vacuum that Iran can use to its own advantage. The only solution to this war that is going to create a lasting settlement is a strong Iraqi government that can protect itself from terrorists, foreign involvement and sectarian violence.
1 comment:
As a soldier in the US Army who has also been to Iraq and seen the situation with my own eyes, I feel its important that we make an effort to get out of there. No matter what because of the roles being reversed between Shiites and Sunni, there is going to be a civil war and the US needs not be involved. I'm tired of hearing about my fellow soldiers losing thier lives over something so stupid.
Post a Comment