Sunday, April 04, 2004

Iraq

First of all, I would just like to acknowledge that I am fully aware of the horrific atrocities of last week. I am referring to the execution style killings and subsequent display of four Americans.

I am still attempting to get a sense of just how bad things are in Iraq. The security situation for anyone suspected or known to be assisting the 'coalition' seems especially imperiled. I am not discounting the fact that the average Iraqi also faces death on a daily basis.

This morning, MSNBC via the AP is reporting that at least 18 have been killed in another round of clashes in Najaf. Four Salvadorans and fourteen Iraqis are reported to have been killed. More than 130 are reported wounded.

The clashes followed demonstrations by Iraqis over the reported detention of Mustafa al-Yacoubi, an aide to Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The situation is by all accounts dismal in Iraq. It's easy to point fingers at the Bush Administration and state that they didn't follow through with the numbers of troops as assessed by other departments of our government. This does nothing to help the situation we now find ourselves in, as well as the Iraqis.

I don't know - nor does anyone with intellectual integrity - what is going to happen during the transferal of 'power' to the Iraqis on 30 June, but our record of Iraq security doesn't bode well for the future.

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