Iraq has an Iraqi government now. But in Baghdad, Iraq’s "law" is being enforced by the lawless militias of the Iranian-backed Shiites, Sadr’s Shiite thugs and the Saddamite Sunnis.
Check out Baghdad Burning and Healing Iraq for some harrowing accounts of life under the militias. It isn’t pretty, and some Baghdad neighborhoods have been emptying out.
Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq’s new prime minister, says he intends to eliminate the militias and the insurgents. But if you read the Iraqi blogs closely, it’s clear the Iraqis are counting on the Americans to liberate Baghdad again.
Iraq’s new role. Healing Iraq’s Zeyad hears the U.S. helicopters, as if they’re preparing to capture a militia or two.
"[R]esidents are whispering to each other about an imminent assault, as part of the American plan to 'liberate' Baghdad again. But to liberate it from whom? Its residents?"
The U.S. can help here, but as Zayed points out, the Americans on their own won’t be able to sort out the militias from the residents. The Iraqis will have to play a big role in this operation.
Frank Warner
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