Iraq’s Shiite majority threatened three days ago not to finish the formation of their nation’s first fully democratic government. It was a disturbing turn.
Why did they issue such a threat? Because after Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s thugs fired on a unit of 50 Iraqi troops and 25 U.S. trainers on a Baghdad mission, the troops shot back. Sixteen of Sadr’s goons were killed in the firefight.
Of course, that’s not how Sadr’s Mehdi Army militia described the battle. They hid most of the thugs’ assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, and told the world the Americans "cold-bloodedly" had attacked a mosque, killing up to 37 unarmed worshippers.
Well-armed ‘mosque.’ Witnesses to the battle said Sadr’s mobsters were shooting at the Iraqi-U.S. unit from every room of the "mosque," which might have been called a mosque, but really was a well-armed former office of the Baath Party. The witnesses said shooting came from the building for more than an hour.
Who was shooting back at the thugs? Not the Americans. According to witnesses, the Iraqi troops handled the thugs on their own.
And why were these Iraqi troops there in the first place? They were there to rescue a hostage held either by Sadr’s thugs, or by thugs protected by Sadr’s thugs. The thugs had threatened to kill the hostage the next day if $28,000 was not delivered.
The Iraqi troops freed the hostage.
Punishment demanded. When it was all over, 16 Shiites lay dead. Never mind they brought death on themselves, but because the 16 were Shiites, and because of the wild reports, the Shiite leaders elected to Iraq’s parliament immediately turned on the Americans.
They said they would halt negotiations on naming Iraq’s first constitutionally elected prime minister until "the Americans" who killed "the innocents" in "the mosque" were punished.
In other words, the Shiites were ready to further delay the completion of an Iraqi government, adding to the hazards already facing Iraq’s infant democracy, over lies from the Sadr mob.
Accept responsibility. The Shiites have been all too content when U.S. and Iraqi forces have gone into Sunni neighborhoods, occasionally using force to break up illegal activities. The Shiites have to learn the law must apply to all.
More importantly, the Shiites, as the majority, have to learn to act responsibly as they build a free nation. They can’t respond to every disappointment by threatening national suicide.
They should get on with their democracy. They might start by putting Sadr behind bars.
Frank Warner
It's as if these people want to go back to the "bad old days".
What's wrong with them?
Posted by: Nicholas | March 29, 2006 at 08:25 AM