More bombings in Iraq
More bombings in Iraq kill five Iraqi policemen and two civilians, the latest in a week of bombings that have killed hundreds.
The motivation appears to be destabilization as the US and Iraq attempt to meet the pullout schedule. (They want the US to stay? Or is it an effort to undermine Iraqis confidence in government?)
The motivation appears to be destabilization as the US and Iraq attempt to meet the pullout schedule. (They want the US to stay? Or is it an effort to undermine Iraqis confidence in government?)
posted by mikevotes at
6:28 AM
8 Comments:
Sunnis feeling marginalized probably. The Shia more or less control Baghdad. And the Kurds just passed a new constitution in which they lay claim to Kirkuk.
So either the Sunnis want the US to stay or they want to make the Iraqi government look weak.
By
Anonymous, at 8:44 AM
Is there a strategy to the bombing, or is it merely an opportunity to inflict pain upon your enemy? An ends unto itself?
By
-epm, at 8:50 AM
Good question -epm. Probably no great strategy behind it. Now it's most likely just angry, insane people spreading their anger and madness.
By
Anonymous, at 10:04 AM
My hunch is that it's an effort by the hardcore Sunnis to restir up Sunni-Shia conflict right before the US pullback, to try and restart something of the civil war.
The targets are mostly Shia civilians or security.
By
mikevotes, at 10:28 AM
I've never really understood the Sunni/Shia divide. Could be some people just want their Baghdad houses back.
By
Anonymous, at 11:03 AM
There's a broader regional Sunni/Shia issue between Iran, Saudi, and some others, but inside Iraq, Sunni/Shia is aboput groups and power.
Saddam was Sunni, and ruled fairly ruthlessly over the Kurds and the much more numerous Shia. The current Sunni fear is that the more numerous Shia will dominate the government and impoverish the Sunni regions.
As for Baghdad houses/territory, it's about income for the militias and their leaders. Territory equals money, and beyond the strategic interests in the Shia pushing the Sunnis out of Baghdad, there's also alot of semi-official power at stake.
By
mikevotes, at 1:18 PM
I meant the original divide. Something to do with Mohammed and the Caliphate I think. But the Shia have the upper hand now for sure. All the kidnappings and torture in Baghdad were designed to drive Sunnis out of their homes....and it worked. Then the US built the walls which made the changes permanent.
By
Anonymous, at 1:38 PM
Yeah. The origninal divide is over who was the legitimate heir to Muhammed. One group says it was a relative, the other says it was his top disciple. I always forget which.
By
mikevotes, at 4:06 PM
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