We know for a fact Muslims feel their governments are 'blessed' by Allah. There are very strong ties between religion and government in these countries. When the citizens feel their governments are 'bad' in the face of their well being the people preceive this as a reason to act against the government. Many of these Islamic states have been laced with violence against their citizens such as noted with Saddam Hussein, so there is plenty of reason for citizens to maintain chaos in the face of a government that benefits them.
By Paul Tait
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two people were killed in mortar attacks on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Wednesday, the second serious attack in two days, as a search for three U.S. soldiers held by al Qaeda south of the capital intensified.
Violence raged across Iraq, with police confirming on Wednesday that 45 people had been killed the previous day by a chlorine gas truck bomb in Diyala, one of the most volatile areas since a security crackdown began three months ago.
The truck laden with canisters of the deadly gas was detonated in a market area in Abu Sayda, a mostly Shi'ite town north of Baghdad, police said.
U.S. President George W. Bush is deploying 30,000 more troops in a last-ditch effort to stop a slide into all-out sectarian civil war between majority Shi'ites and Sunni Arabs who were dominant under Saddam Hussein.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two people were killed in mortar attacks on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Wednesday, the second serious attack in two days, as a search for three U.S. soldiers held by al Qaeda south of the capital intensified.
Violence raged across Iraq, with police confirming on Wednesday that 45 people had been killed the previous day by a chlorine gas truck bomb in Diyala, one of the most volatile areas since a security crackdown began three months ago.
The truck laden with canisters of the deadly gas was detonated in a market area in Abu Sayda, a mostly Shi'ite town north of Baghdad, police said.
U.S. President George W. Bush is deploying 30,000 more troops in a last-ditch effort to stop a slide into all-out sectarian civil war between majority Shi'ites and Sunni Arabs who were dominant under Saddam Hussein.
Bush Taps Skeptic of Buildup as 'War Czar' (click here)
Lt. Gen. Lute Accepts Position Others Spurned
By Peter Baker and Robin Wright
Lt. Gen. Lute Accepts Position Others Spurned
By Peter Baker and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff WritersWednesday, May 16, 2007; Page A01
President Bush tapped Army Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute yesterday to serve as a new White House "war czar" overseeing the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, choosing a low-key soldier who privately expressed skepticism about sending more troops to Iraq during last winter's strategy review.
In the newly created position, Lute will coordinate often disjointed military and civilian operations and manage the Washington side of the same troop increase he resisted before Bush announced the plan in January. Bush hopes an empowered aide working in the White House and answering directly to him will be able to cut through bureaucracy that has hindered efforts in Iraq.
President Bush tapped Army Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute yesterday to serve as a new White House "war czar" overseeing the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, choosing a low-key soldier who privately expressed skepticism about sending more troops to Iraq during last winter's strategy review.
In the newly created position, Lute will coordinate often disjointed military and civilian operations and manage the Washington side of the same troop increase he resisted before Bush announced the plan in January. Bush hopes an empowered aide working in the White House and answering directly to him will be able to cut through bureaucracy that has hindered efforts in Iraq.
There has not been one military strategy that has worked in that country. Additionally, Bush's generals have all left at one time or another, some before the invasion. The only ones that support any of this are the ones that work for military contractors that sell their wares as consultants on talk shows. There aren't any self respecting generals that stayed in Iraq because they were 'winning.' Bush can't even define winning yet alone POINT TO THE FACT it is burgeoning. Cheney stated on May 31, 2005, NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO, that the war in Iraq is in "in the last throes." He obviously was lying. The basic premise to any OCCUPATION, which is what the USA's actual position is, in Iraq is that leaving would be worse. Can't be. There are huge numbers of people dying. We cannot continue this. Bush even 'dabbles' in interference in Iraqi politics. That is an occupation, not a war.
What also 'blind sides' the American people is the fact Bush and Cheney continue to 'pretend' Iraq is a National Security issue. It is not. It never was. I strongly suggest the Democrats start demanding the defense of the USA over the occupation of Iraq.
We don't belong in Iraq.
We never did.
