Two men grieve over the body of their brother,

killed in a suicide bomb attack in Baquba, June 22.

Fifteen were killed and 35 wounded in that attack.

Azzaman, Iraq

Iraq On the Verge of a 'Fresh Wave of Violence'

"All indications are that Iraq is on the verge of a fresh wave of violence. Real stability hasn't been achieved … If government leaders and their counterparts across the table in Parliament are caught up in the orbit of other countries, all steps the government takes to put Iraq on a safe and secure path will fail to take hold."

By Fateh Abdulsalam

Translated By Jenny Oliver

June 19, 2008

Iraq - Azzaman - Original Article (Arabic)

The U.S. Army has said that a "Special Group" connected to a surprising name was responsible for the recent car bombing in the Al Hurriyah district of Baghdad ["Special Group" is the U.S. military's term for fighters attached to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia - although they could be dissidents ]. On a day that U.S. troops thought they'd be enjoying the fruits of their successful security crackdown on militias and gangs in the capital, the attack resulted in the deaths of 63 Iraqis . But regardless of whose name is linked to these "Special Groups," and whatever links Iran has to the bombing attack, there is a clear and resurgent determination to carry out attacks within Baghdad and some of the provinces. These attacks serve to re-ignite the conflict between religious communities that had only recently settled down. This is the reality created by “politicians” and “parties” that took four years to “wake-up” to the fact that this method of seed-planting doesn't germinate very well politically, an example being how certain politicians have justified the existence of militias by citing the need to counter al-Qaeda. The identity of one such politician, who is the key sponsor of two of these militias, is no longer a secret to anyone [Muqtada al-Sadr].

All indications are that Iraq is on the verge of a fresh wave of violence. Real stability hasn't been achieved because non-political issues contribute to an atmosphere of violence. Among these are unemployment, deteriorating public services and the absence of electricity during Iraq's hellish summer of scorching temperatures, not to mention the dirty secret agendas of the country's major political parties.  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

In this context, if military units were to be withdrawn from residential areas, villages and provinces, leaving behind real security and the foundations of stability, the ongoing national security operation might be regarded as a campaign for positive national transformation.

But what's the point of operations with fancy names if the chaos roars back as soon as police and military forces are withdrawn? This is part and parcel of the confused nature of political and security management across the country. If government leaders and their counterparts across the table in Parliament are caught up in the orbit of other countries; and if their proposals fail serve the nation during its current trials; all steps the government takes to put Iraq on a safe and secure path will fail to take hold. The impact of such steps won’t survive even an hour after they're completed. It's absurd to have the army spread in perpetuity throughout residential areas that are supposed to return to normal civilian life. But the practice does ensure that one essential missing link remains missing: the trust of the people.

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US June 26, 2:15am]