what is going to happen?
The news this weekend reported the executions of two of Saddam Husseins officials who were convicted of the same crimes that the President-for-Life was hanged for. Though there was no video, the event was again marred by an unfortunate mishap that caused one of the men to be decapitated by the noose.
Let me say that the deaths of these men matters not one bit to me. I am not a believer in the death sentence, but there are some things that life in prison just doesn't do justice for. But the manner that the sentences were carried out, (in both cases the rule of law was sidestepped, to one degree or another), leaves me wondering what will happen to this country, even if we "win" the military battle.
As I see it, (and I might be wrong), we are battling a couple of sectarian insurgencies in Iraq, in support of the elected government. So far, so good. But it appears to me that the government is one of the sects that we are seeking to quell. Iraq is a predominantly Shiite nation, and the makeup of the government reflects that. The Sunni segment of the population, (Saddam and his government were Sunni's), now out of power and influence, seem to be rebelling against the tyrrany of the majority. The new majority is using their own militia's to enforce the new political line. Those militia's, to a great extent, are embedded in the Iraqi military, the ones we are training, to go after the guys causing all the hub-ub....
This just doesn't add up.
What is needed, if we are going to surge the military presence in Iraq, is to establish certain political parameters that won't be easily undone when we leave, that will empower the various groups and interests , locally, while preserving the federal authority.
That sounds easy enough, but it is a lot like erasing the racial tensions that have existed since the Civil War in the U.S. A speech and a policy just don't cut it. What we can do is immediately help to rebuild the national infrastructure that has been destroyed or debiliated by Saddam and then us. Every citizen should have access to clean water, usable roads and a communications network, (even if it means by satellite). Haliburton, Bechtel, are you listening? Time to pony up with a little effort here guys, break loose some of that spare change that the administration sent, and get it moving.
It is clear that the end of this is not in sight, even under the most optimistic circumstances. if we are to be involved, our participation must show the Iraqi's, and the world, that the American people, (as opposed to the government), are trying to get it right.
Let me say that the deaths of these men matters not one bit to me. I am not a believer in the death sentence, but there are some things that life in prison just doesn't do justice for. But the manner that the sentences were carried out, (in both cases the rule of law was sidestepped, to one degree or another), leaves me wondering what will happen to this country, even if we "win" the military battle.
As I see it, (and I might be wrong), we are battling a couple of sectarian insurgencies in Iraq, in support of the elected government. So far, so good. But it appears to me that the government is one of the sects that we are seeking to quell. Iraq is a predominantly Shiite nation, and the makeup of the government reflects that. The Sunni segment of the population, (Saddam and his government were Sunni's), now out of power and influence, seem to be rebelling against the tyrrany of the majority. The new majority is using their own militia's to enforce the new political line. Those militia's, to a great extent, are embedded in the Iraqi military, the ones we are training, to go after the guys causing all the hub-ub....
This just doesn't add up.
What is needed, if we are going to surge the military presence in Iraq, is to establish certain political parameters that won't be easily undone when we leave, that will empower the various groups and interests , locally, while preserving the federal authority.
That sounds easy enough, but it is a lot like erasing the racial tensions that have existed since the Civil War in the U.S. A speech and a policy just don't cut it. What we can do is immediately help to rebuild the national infrastructure that has been destroyed or debiliated by Saddam and then us. Every citizen should have access to clean water, usable roads and a communications network, (even if it means by satellite). Haliburton, Bechtel, are you listening? Time to pony up with a little effort here guys, break loose some of that spare change that the administration sent, and get it moving.
It is clear that the end of this is not in sight, even under the most optimistic circumstances. if we are to be involved, our participation must show the Iraqi's, and the world, that the American people, (as opposed to the government), are trying to get it right.
posted by eccentric recluse at 10:28 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home