I was horrified to learn this morning of more violence in Iraq, indicating at least 36 more dead. Apparently this round of violence was in response to a Shiite leader being killed. Although I supported the Iraq War (mainly the removal of Saddam Hussein), you can not help but wonder at this point why the United States is still involved, considering the fighting apparently is now a distinct, civil war (my opinion based on the AP release from Baghdad). And although I am not a theologian, you can not help but pause but when you read that the basis upon which the Shiites and Sunnis are still fighting is due to a schism that developed as a result of the Battle of Karbala (680 A.D.). What makes any of us think that keeping U.S. soldiers over there for another year or two will make a difference when they have been fighting for over 1300 years? Maybe someone could enlighten me to help me understand?
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Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI got back at the end of June from Ramadi, Iraq. I was glad to have served. Most people are glad that Saddam is history. But the longer we stay there the more they are going to become frustrated with our presence. After the successful elections in 2005, a lot of the Ramadi area sheikhs asked “what are you still doing here?” We need to turn over the running of the country to the people who live in the country. We can’t stay there forever.
I have written a lot of my feelings on these and other issues at my weblog called “Serving Iraq”.