Here and There

Though its origins are difficult to pin down, I don’t think I’ve ever been resistant to the idea that Iraq is at war with itself. This seemed apparent at least as far back as the summer after the U.S. invasion, when suicide bombers added Iraqi civilians to their target lists.

But my god, how can people like George Bush and Dick Cheney justify their refusal to call what we see in Iraq now a civil war? Bush, a recovered addict, especially should know that acceptance is key to understanding and being able to correct a problem.

The U.S. doesn’t have to take sides in a civil war. Instead, we can (get ready to be shocked) use our collective brain power and diplomacy to bring about a peaceful solution. My limited-brain-power pick would be something like the Biden-Gelb partition plan, ensuring shared oil revenue to sustain the national government and economy. And this plan should be backed by international peacekeeping forces.

Iraq isn’t Israel/Palestine. But it is Iraq. What I mean by that is the relationship between its main sects are dynamic and complicated. Saddam ruled by iron fist, and while that eventuality is least desirable, some sort of modern state-like solution seems possible. But the distrust, even the hatred between groups must be recognized to be understood. It must be central to any framework-building effort.

Admission of the significance of real events by the architects of this war would be a good start.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.