Friday, September 15, 2006

The War for Iraq: Arab Silence, American Blindness

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A leading Iraqi Sunni politician, a Mr. Adnan al-Dulaimi, today condemned ‘militia’ attacks in Baghdad and other towns. The ‘militias’, or ‘sectarian militias’, is now the new catch phrase used among the Sunnis in Iraq and across the Gulf region in referring to Shi’a armed groups. The term has even crossed continents and become de rigueur among the savvy politicians looking toward ‘08 and among the media in Washington. Which makes sense, since these groups are militias and they are Shi’as, and they are widely suspected of being involved in killings based on identity. They are part, but only part, of what is tearing Iraq apart.

But the Iraqi politician refrained, with admirable self-restraint, from condemning the Salafi jihadists and Baathist terrorists who have been wreaking havoc in Iraq for three years. Unfortunately, he is not alone in that selective restraint- the political and media elites of the whole Arab World have watched silently as the slaughter, mostly of Shi’as, accelerated in Iraq. Just as they watched silently while the Baathists of Anfal gassed the Kurds and razed their villages, and expelled hunderds of thousands in ethnic cleansing operations in the 1980s. The best of them watched silently, others were eager cheerleaders. Not a single one has apologized or expressed regret for a past position- not a newspaper editor, not a leader.

In Iraq, the daily scenes of death and misery became part of a subtle bargaining process: not only to reverse the democratic process in Iraq, but also to keep at bay the wolves at the Arab doors howling for reform and accountability. Then came a day when in Jordan, and in some other Arab states as well, they suddenly discovered that al-Zarqawi and his group were terrorists who could kill non-Shi’as as efficiently. But that came after the bombings in Amman extinguished the gleam of pride in the native son who had done well by himself and his sect.

Some must have been doing more than just watching the carnage take its toll not only in human lives, but also on the fabric of an Iraqi society devastated by 80 years of oppressive minority rule. The men, materiel, and the hundreds of millions of dollars in annual funds must come from some sources with deep pockets. And it obviously cannot be a Shi’a source. Hint: Iran is the only Shi’a source with that kind of money, but it probably prefers to finance Shi’a organizations like Hizbollah rather than Sunni/Salafi groups who are its enemies. So, whence come all the massive funds needed for the men, food, shelter, trucks and other equipment? (Another hint: Syria is almost a basket case and cannot afford to finance the intensive Jihadist campaign). So, let us start the search from the beginning....for the organizations with deep pockets that want to provide the financing.

Perhaps someone needs to explain these sectarian nuances to the leaders and their advisers, their Arabists, in Washington D.C. Or perhaps they understand these things and are playing the card for all its worth with a view to a future confrontation with the stubborn mullahs and Ahmadinejad, the often incoherent little man who is needling the clerics from the right in Tehran. Perhaps the experts are intellectual Clark Kents doing their best to look awkward for a purpose. In that case, it is time to head for the phone booth and show Lois their real stuff.

Cheers
Mohammed

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