National Unity? In Iraq?
So much for General Petraeus's assurances, and President George W. Bush's reassurances. Or was that the other way around? Who patterned whom?Let's just say that General Petraeus scrambled the egg that allowed President Bush to coax a chimera of a chicken out of. In any event, the American public and the body politic were advised on the best authority that re-unification of Iraq was a fact, and a success resounding positively on the American presence.
Yes, well, the idea, one of the signposts of success, identified and premised by Prime Minister Nouri al-Miliki was the eventual - actually imminent - absorption of the Mahdi Army into the national armed forces. With the assent and assistance, needless to say, of his Shia ally, Moqtada al-Sadr.
Who blows hot and cold, when conditions demand. Who slips away to Iran when orders are required. Replicating, in fact, the actions of Mr. al-Miliki himself, in conferring with his good friends in Iran.
This is also a signal time in the Islamic world of great annual celebration: Ramadan. A time of worship and contemplation. A celebration of the Koran being received by the Prophet Mohammad. A time of great meaning and pious reflection. The Koran which enjoins the followers of Islam to practise good fellowship along with keen observance of the laws which every good Muslim should practise.
Which, presumably, does not include slaughtering other Muslims, let alone those of other faiths, other nations, other ethnicities, other social and political systems. For Islam is a religion of peace, as we well know. We know this because we have been thus informed. Which is itself a conundrum, for we also observe during this holy month how radical Islamists who embrace the Koran and interpret its injunction to Jihad murder at leisure and repent not.
So how about re-unification in Iraq and its current state of health, as brought to our attention by President Bush and General Petraeus? One assumes that although their assurances pleased Prime Minister Nouri al-Miliki mightily, it cut no ice with Moqtada al-Sadr, since he has experienced no qualms about removing himself from the Shia Alliance which in part makes up the government of Iraq.
That very same ruling coalition of Shia and Sunni adamantly intent on serving the whole of the country to the very best of their abilities has now found itself reeling under additional defections by Sunni lawmakers. The governing coalition is in a state of political and actionable paralysis, incapable of satisfying the demands of Sunni and Shia; already crippled by previous defections.
The usual Middle East rhetoric of success nevertheless prevails.
And the future of this injured beast of a country....?
Labels: Conflict, Middle East
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, September 16, 2007
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