Cry Iraq

I am both angered and saddened by the increasing death toll in Iraq, but even angrier at the ongoing incompetence and deception of the Bush Administration in regards to Iraq. One administration official after another tells us how well things are going - contrary to what we see before our eyes. Bush tells us we need to be patient. Does he tell the people of Iraq the same? Three years after the end of "major conflict," Iraqi's still have only sporadic utilities; still have almost 60% unemployment; still have random and ongoing destruction. Be patient Iraq.

I watched Rumsfeld respond in a press conference to the question of "What would a civil war in Iraq look like?" His response was "I don't know." How convenient to have no gauge of when "sectarian" violence turns into a civil war. Likewise, the strategy is that the Iraqi forces will handle the brunt of the combat. Unfortunately, those Iraqi forces are operating without an Iraqi government. According to the CIA Factbook, as of January 10, 2006, Iraq had no government. Just who is the U.S. telling to take control. The Interim government's job is to approve a constitution - not run the country.

Even assuming that the Iraqi's battalions "strand up" so that U.S. forces can "stand down," who exactly do they report to? A Constitutional Congress? Or perhaps the U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad?

The constant referencing of "sectarian" violence is more than deceptive. This is not a religious conflict in Iraq. It is a power struggle between "sects" only in that Saddam Hussein was a Sunni, and the Sunnis had power under Hussein - not as a religious sect, but by virtue of clan. Likewise, the Shi'ites were often brutally repressed by the Hussein regime. Once again, not because of their religion. Iraq was under secular rule with Hussein - however brutal he may have been. When the U.S. removed Hussein and dismantled the government, the power vacuum drew in conflicting clans and religious forces (and fighters from outside Iraq). The U.S. created this situation, and demanding a nonexistent government step forward into the breach is less than useful. The fact that the corporate media unquestioningly accepts the terminology which distracts and deceives is "business as usual."

I do not know of a peaceful and healing way forward for Iraq. It was easier before bombing of the Shi'ite Askariya shrine in Samarra. The blame for that bombing was laid on Sunni's, but as the situation has evolved into what appears to be revenge for revenge, one wonders at that attribution. Prior to the bombing, the focus of anger was the U.S. occupation. Certainly the bombing and ensuing violence has conveniently shifted that focus.

Regardless, for the people of Iraq, there is no movement forward, and no recovery at hand. Instead, day in and day out the misery and violence and death continues. Having the Secretary of Defense of the United States say that he doesn't know what civil war in Iraq would look like is insulting. Having him say that it would probably look like the Civil War in the U.S. is hardly useful since no one now alive ever saw or experienced it, and it occurred well before the 24 hour news cycle. The situation in Iraq deserves a far more serious response than quips from the Secretary of Defense and platitudes and rhetoric from the President of the United States.

Prior to the preemptive invasion of Iraq, Colin Powell reportedly told Bush "if you break it you buy it." Well, the people of Iraq clearly do not consider themselves "for sale." The morass into which they have descended is not just unacceptable, it is immoral. Somewhere, there is a sane presence in Iraq. My guess is that it is the "average" person. Those "average" people who want to walk down the street without fear of explosion, or snipers. Those "average" people who want to travel across town without checkpoints and fears of being shot by patrols. Those "average" people who want to let their children out to play without fear they will be randomly blown to pieces. Those "average" people are the people of Iraq, and they are Sunni and Shi'ite and Kurd and Christian. They are not "sectarian," but Iraqi. They are like the "average" people everywhere who want peace and prosperity.

While the platitudes and nonresponses of the Administration may mollify the U.S. public, it is unlikely to have that effect on Iraqis. Given that they have the access to those same stories and speeches as the people in the U.S, it might behoove the Bush Administration to look significantly more assertive in its attempts to make things better for Iraq.

The "average" Iraqi is no different that the "average" American in their basic needs for both security and freedom. It might do the "average" American well, to think how we would respond to over three years of bloodshed, lack of water and food, lack of medical care and stability. It might do us well, to think how such a scenario might affect us and our children. Perhaps if we really thought about that we could find a constructive way to truly assist the people of Iraq to get on with their lives.