Soul Searching Regarding Iraq

From Informed Comment today:

Guerrillas detonated two huge car bombs in a Shiite neighborhood on Monday, killing 25 and wounding 41. The guerrillas set both off in the Talbiyah district of Sadr City, a stronghold of the Sadr Movement of Muqtada al-Sadr. Sunni Arabs accuse a Sadrist militia of having massacred 42 Sunnis in the al-Jihad district on Sunday.

Guerrillas set off two other bombs in the capital, as well. A bomb exploded outside a restaurant, killing 6 and wounding 28. A roadside bomb killed 5 policemen. Gunmen also killed two bodyguards of a judge.

Gunmen ambushed a bus in the Sunni Arab district of Amiriyah in the capital, killing 7 [late reports say 10].

That is 44 dead in the capital alone.

This is just one day.

This is why, I believe, we need to reflect on what the situation has become in Iraq because of our invasion. We did not kill the 44 people in Baghdad. But, we have created the conditions that led to their deaths. We must recognize our responsibility for failing to protect them- due to the Rumsfeld Doctrine of minimum troop involvement.

In our outrage over the videotaping of mutilated US soldiers we need to reflect on our actions. On Abu Grahib. On GITMO. On photos- taken by our military- of al Zarqawi and Hussein's sons broadcast round the world. On Hadditha. On Mahmoudiya. On the cycle of Sunni/Shiite violence-which we cannot stop- that continues to eat away at Iraq and damage it's hope for democracy.

When we have engaged in this reflection, then we can move beyond our own outrage and understand the outrage of others. Then perhaps we can take actions that will lead to the greater likelihood of peace.

GP