On Black Fridays and Ominous Sundays
American shoppers hit the stores on what is euphemistically called "Black Friday". But for Iraqis, that term holds a far different meaning. For contrary to the spin from the Bush administration and their supporters, Iraq is continuing its descent into chaos. Thousands flee their homes each day to avoid the violence. Thursday was one of the deadliest days for civilians since the invasion began. Friday saw retaliatory strikes against Sunnis, including one in which six men were burned alive. A bloc of the government loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has threatened to boycott should Prime Minister Al-Maliki attend the scheduled meeting with President Bush next week.
1,346. That is the number of days the United States was involved in World War II. On Sunday, the war in Iraq will surpass that number. Yet in all that time, we haven't achieved victory (at least as defined by the Bush administration). Perhaps that is because unlike WWII, there is no "win" to be had in our occupation of Iraq. The Iraqis must deal with their own themselves, our presence only makes it easier for them to resist what eventually must occur for them to have any kind of future. And as the events of this past week dramatically illustrate, blood will continue to be shed regardless of whether we are there or not.
More from Paradox, Jeff Huber, Tony Karon, Shakes', Georgia10, Rosa Brooks, Glenn, and Sen. Chuck Hagel.
(Filed at State of the Day)
1,346. That is the number of days the United States was involved in World War II. On Sunday, the war in Iraq will surpass that number. Yet in all that time, we haven't achieved victory (at least as defined by the Bush administration). Perhaps that is because unlike WWII, there is no "win" to be had in our occupation of Iraq. The Iraqis must deal with their own themselves, our presence only makes it easier for them to resist what eventually must occur for them to have any kind of future. And as the events of this past week dramatically illustrate, blood will continue to be shed regardless of whether we are there or not.
More from Paradox, Jeff Huber, Tony Karon, Shakes', Georgia10, Rosa Brooks, Glenn, and Sen. Chuck Hagel.
(Filed at State of the Day)
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