Notice everything is Terrorism now.
The Iraqi PM has vowed to tackle Terrorism. Read more here. This seems to be the mantra of every government now. They can clamp down on all their dissidents under the banner of terrorism and get international support.I'm not really sure what to call the violence in Iraq now. It's bordering on so many things. As it looks to me like it's a civil war then is it terrorism? If it is because of the foreign invaders than again is it terrorism?
I still think the only way to fix this is to leave. OK the violence will continue but without our troops it will soon settle down. Of course the chances are we would end up with a different government and one that won't be friendly to us but I don't see there being a lack of people wanting to hit out at the foreign invaders even after this amount of time. The longer we stay the more they see it being permanent.
posted by Bag @ 7:02 pm
2 Comments:
Would you have refused to call the IRA terrorists? If anyone in Iraq doesn't like the way things are they have a simple choice- get involved in the political process; everyone is free to do so. If they choose instead to run around blowing up market places, car bombing people waiting in line to join the police or asassinating government ministers, I think it's pretty fair to label them terrorists.
The big problem with us leaving is that the violence wouldn't settle down- you'd have a full blown civil war. And then of course the most ruthless, vicious group will rise to the top- and chances are we'd end up with a Taliban like tyranny. Terrorists get a free pass to train and plan terror attacks and the entire region gets thrown into turmoil, along with an increased risk of anothe 9/11.
At the moment troops are already beginning to draw down (just last week it was announced an American unit due to go to Iraq has been delayed, because they may not be needed after all), the terrorist attacks are on the decline and the situation on the ground seems to be improving. Alongside that the Iraqi police and army are progressing and the Iraqi government appears to be just about sorted out.
A pretty bad time to cut and run.
I understand what you are saying but I don't agree with your view on the situation. I hear so many reports from Iraq and each seems to contradict each other and I see no signs the situation is improving outside them setting up an elected government which is a big positive step. But only that one after how many years.
As for your comment on leaving I see things slightly differently. I see that us being there gives legitimacy to the claim we are invaders and this provides recruits which while they have difficulty attacking us has no difficulty in attacking what are seen as collaborators. Once we leave this will stop. As you say this is likely to intensify the existing civil war. But without a common enemy they will revert back to tribal issues. This will eventually settle down and truces made. Iraq will never again be a real friend of the west and they will ally with other ME countries.
Iraq is not critical to enable the training of terrorists they can train anywhere. It was just easier for them under the banner of sovereignty but they don’t need it and now have already accepted that those times are gone. They have probably already adapted and found other ways to train.
The IRA was a completely different issue. A minority using terror to enforce their will on a government they had no hope of influencing. Like us frustrated with the government but, unlike us, willing to kill civilians in an attempt to change their policies. That is terrorism. I don’t see that being the case in Iraq.
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