Link: Abadi serious about reforming Iraqi government.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has made it obvious that his attempts at reforming the Iraqi government aren't limited to sacking a few corrupt ministers and eliminating a redundant post or two. Abadi is determined to reshape the government, and in doing so, will no doubt strengthen his own political base. At the moment, Abadi is controlling the conversation, and has yet to meet with any focused opposition. On 21-22 August, the Babil Provincial Government imposed a curfew to frustrate the efforts of demonstrators. Abadi promptly ordered the Babil Operations Command to cancel the curfew, and ordered the Iraqi Army to provide security for the crowd. Abadi has carefully maneuvered around a number of political minefields, as he plays the demonstrators off against his political rivals. But Abadi has to be careful not to be lulled into a false sense of security. As of today, popular and sometimes reactionary Shi'a cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has ordered his followers (practically the entire population of the huge Shi'a slum to the northeast of Baghdad known as "Sadr City") to participate in Friday's anti-corruption demonstration in central Baghdad. But Sadr has always been a wildcard, at times proving difficult even for his Iranian handlers to control. Most political analysts are supportive of the Abadi reforms; the Iraqi government that evolved out of the ashes of Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Ba'ath Party was often ineffectual, redundant and practically encouraged corruption. So far, every step taken by Abadi will simplify the governing process, increase accountability, and safe money. But when a government makes changes that result in financial savings, then someone isn't getting their "take". The functionaries, civil servants and politicians who have made a living sucking on the teat of Iraqi corruption, will no doubt attempt to thwart Abadi, and opportunities to cause problems are plentiful.
The planned demonstration in central Baghdad on Friday, 28 August, will be the largest demonstration yet. Not only will the Iraqi Police and related security forces have their hands full keeping ISIS SVBIEDs from crashing this party, but the potential for conflict between political groups is also a serious concern. Sadr's people and the folks from Ahl-al Haq (League of the Righteous) may be protesting corruption together, but neither side will pass up a chance to make trouble for the other, and a huge public demonstration will provide ample opportunity. Also, Maliki's supporters in Dawa and SLA (State of Law Alliance) can cause the Abadi Administration great embarrassment if the security arrangements go south. Lets face it, Abadi has signed off on this demonstration, and he needs it to come off without too much drama. Eventually, opposition to Abadi will coalesce, probably around Maliki; but by then, he may be too strong to defeat.
ISIS fighters continue to make the ISF pay a high price for every bit of ground gained in the neighborhoods of Ramadi. The ISF has yet to puncture ISIS' main defensive perimeter around Ramadi, choosing to roll-up neighborhoods block-by-block, street-by-street. True to their modus operandi, ISIS fights tooth-and-nail for territory, and then before retreating, they wire and booby-trap everything including stray dogs and urinals. The Iraqi government is determined that when the actual residents of Ramadi return, they may find nothing but piles of rubble, but at least their won't be an IED hidden amongst the rubble. While the attention of the world seems to be focused on Ramadi, ISIS continues to cause headaches in Baiji and probe Iraqi defenses in Haditha and Samarra. ISIS has proven time and again, that it can conduct operations on numerous fronts simultaneously. In the past, one of the reasons why ISIS has been able to survive high-profile defeats is because they are able to mount offensive operations simultaneously in other areas. This type of strategic distraction has a habit of making the enemy take their eye of the ball, so to speak. In the last few weeks, as the clashes around Ramadi and Fallujah have intensified, ISIS has been able to launch spectacular VBIED attacks in both Diyala Province and Baghdad. The key for the Iraqi government, the military High Command, and the militias/Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs), is to step up the pressure when ISIS conducts an operation aimed at distraction. ISIS has been astonishingly effective at predicting the actions of the enemy, in both Syria and Iraq. The goal of the offensive in Anbar which commenced in July, was the liberation of both Fallujah and Ramadi, followed by the breaking of the siege of Haditha. Once the ISF and its allies reach this point, then they can turn north to Salad-ad-Din Province and Baiji, and roll-up isolated ISIS units along the way.
*(One more than a few occasions, we have been critical of the allied air campaign that President Barack Obama announced on June 15, 2014. For an extended period of time, it appeared as if this united effort, which included the Air Forces of the United States, Kuwait, Iraq, U.A.E., Qatar and Bahrain, was severely handicapped by the political sensitivities of some of the Arab members. One country would expressly forbid its jets to participate in the bombing a particular group, and another nation would forbid its planes to target some other group. This development received a good deal of airtime in the western press; probably more than it actually deserved. Be that as it may, there also seemed to be an ongoing problem getting real-time reporting on the actions of the allied air units. But in the last two months, these issues seem to have been addressed, as the air campaign has really started to inflict serious casualties on ISIS, and successfully disrupt its attempts at movement and resupply. The arrival of Iraqi Air Force F-16s has invigorated the Iraqis, and together these military air resources have become an invaluable part of the effort to push ISIS out of Anbar, and out of Iraq altogether.)
Showing posts with label Sadr City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sadr City. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
The Sunnis of Iraq..what does the future hold? (Part I)
Link: The Sunni of Iraq - caught in the middle again.
Although plenty of Iraqi Shi'a and Kurds would disagree with me, I'm beginning to develop a real sense of sympathy for the Sunni of Iraq. For half of century, they had one of their own running the show in Baghdad, but Saddam Hussein showed just as much disdain for his fellow Sunni as he did for the Shi'a, Kurds, Christians, Jews and Assyrians in his country. Sadly, though, the non-Sunni Iraqis will forever associate Saddam Hussein and his rule with the Sunni community. Its the name of the game in Mesopotamia this century. While Europeans and Americans many times are never even aware of the particular religious affiliation of their neighbors, in this part of the world, it means everything. Although the Sunni suffered under Saddam Hussein, it is true that a semblance of a middle class developed in Iraq.....and it was mostly Sunni. Those who were lucky enough to belong to this small middle class had the opportunity to attend university in Baghdad, and following graduation, join the ranks of physicians, architects, engineers, teachers, and businessmen who kept the country from following any further into chaos. It was no surprise that by the arrival of the U.S. Army in 2003, the Sunni reputation as being the educated and "established" demographic in Iraq, was well established. It was an easy assumption to make; the Shi'a seemed to prefer living in the south, and engaging in small-scale agriculture for sustenance (with the exception of the half-million or so living in the squalid slums of Sadr City, in northeast Baghdad). As for the Kurds, well, they preferred to keep to themselves in the north of the country. In fact, a large percentage of northern Iraq actually functioned for some time as a separate political entity, run by and representing the Kurdish people. With a "de-facto" capital city at Sulimaniyah, a functioning economic system and large urban centers in Erbil and Mosul, the Kurds were able to demonstrate to the world, just how ready they were an independent state. But Turkey absolutely refused to sign-off on the idea, as they always had and probably always will.
The Sunni are spread out in Iraq, as are all the different ethnicities. There is a substantial Sunni community in Basra in the south and in Mosul in the far north. But the Sunnis are the dominant ethnic group in central Iraq, west of Baghdad in Anbar Province, and just north of Baghdad in Salah al-Din Province, including the cities of Samarrah and Tikrit. With the end of the Ba'ath Party, a great deal of influence was returned to the Sunni tribal leaders and the "Shaykh" system of authority. The United States was well aware of this development following the ouster of Saddam and the emergence of the Sunni insurgency. The United States military and CIA (and to a lesser extent, Dept. of State) were able to co-opt the Sunni tribal leaders and bring the Sunni community onto the side of the good guys. It took a great deal of influence and suggestion (read: money), but in the end, the Sunni rose up against Zarqawi and Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and helped bring peace and stability to their nation. But for a few years following the U.S. entry into Baghdad, the Sunni were connected to the violence caused by Zarqawi just because of their shared religious affiliation. And Zarqawi played this to the hilt by sending suicide bombers into Shi'a religious gatherings, and then repeating the heinous act at the funeral for the victims. For a time, the U.S. had to be concerned that open hostilities were going to break put between the Sunni and the Shi'a. And all the while, the U.S. is trying to help Iraq stand back up on its feet, by rebuilding the transportation network, repairing the electrical grid, refurbishing the international airport, building schools, repairing refineries, and most important, organizing national elections. These efforts were confounded by Zarqawi because of his daily use of suicide vehicles. But Zarqawi went to far. He was killing just as many Sunni as he was anyone else, and the Sunni were tired of the destabilization and the bloodshed. This fact was a large factor in convincing the Sunni tribes to support the U.S. effort and defeat the insurgency for good.
Although plenty of Iraqi Shi'a and Kurds would disagree with me, I'm beginning to develop a real sense of sympathy for the Sunni of Iraq. For half of century, they had one of their own running the show in Baghdad, but Saddam Hussein showed just as much disdain for his fellow Sunni as he did for the Shi'a, Kurds, Christians, Jews and Assyrians in his country. Sadly, though, the non-Sunni Iraqis will forever associate Saddam Hussein and his rule with the Sunni community. Its the name of the game in Mesopotamia this century. While Europeans and Americans many times are never even aware of the particular religious affiliation of their neighbors, in this part of the world, it means everything. Although the Sunni suffered under Saddam Hussein, it is true that a semblance of a middle class developed in Iraq.....and it was mostly Sunni. Those who were lucky enough to belong to this small middle class had the opportunity to attend university in Baghdad, and following graduation, join the ranks of physicians, architects, engineers, teachers, and businessmen who kept the country from following any further into chaos. It was no surprise that by the arrival of the U.S. Army in 2003, the Sunni reputation as being the educated and "established" demographic in Iraq, was well established. It was an easy assumption to make; the Shi'a seemed to prefer living in the south, and engaging in small-scale agriculture for sustenance (with the exception of the half-million or so living in the squalid slums of Sadr City, in northeast Baghdad). As for the Kurds, well, they preferred to keep to themselves in the north of the country. In fact, a large percentage of northern Iraq actually functioned for some time as a separate political entity, run by and representing the Kurdish people. With a "de-facto" capital city at Sulimaniyah, a functioning economic system and large urban centers in Erbil and Mosul, the Kurds were able to demonstrate to the world, just how ready they were an independent state. But Turkey absolutely refused to sign-off on the idea, as they always had and probably always will.
The Sunni are spread out in Iraq, as are all the different ethnicities. There is a substantial Sunni community in Basra in the south and in Mosul in the far north. But the Sunnis are the dominant ethnic group in central Iraq, west of Baghdad in Anbar Province, and just north of Baghdad in Salah al-Din Province, including the cities of Samarrah and Tikrit. With the end of the Ba'ath Party, a great deal of influence was returned to the Sunni tribal leaders and the "Shaykh" system of authority. The United States was well aware of this development following the ouster of Saddam and the emergence of the Sunni insurgency. The United States military and CIA (and to a lesser extent, Dept. of State) were able to co-opt the Sunni tribal leaders and bring the Sunni community onto the side of the good guys. It took a great deal of influence and suggestion (read: money), but in the end, the Sunni rose up against Zarqawi and Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and helped bring peace and stability to their nation. But for a few years following the U.S. entry into Baghdad, the Sunni were connected to the violence caused by Zarqawi just because of their shared religious affiliation. And Zarqawi played this to the hilt by sending suicide bombers into Shi'a religious gatherings, and then repeating the heinous act at the funeral for the victims. For a time, the U.S. had to be concerned that open hostilities were going to break put between the Sunni and the Shi'a. And all the while, the U.S. is trying to help Iraq stand back up on its feet, by rebuilding the transportation network, repairing the electrical grid, refurbishing the international airport, building schools, repairing refineries, and most important, organizing national elections. These efforts were confounded by Zarqawi because of his daily use of suicide vehicles. But Zarqawi went to far. He was killing just as many Sunni as he was anyone else, and the Sunni were tired of the destabilization and the bloodshed. This fact was a large factor in convincing the Sunni tribes to support the U.S. effort and defeat the insurgency for good.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
My Thoughts On "American Sniper"
Link: Official Site For "American Sniper"
Last Friday my friend Jennifer and I fought the crowds to see Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" on opening night. I had no preconceived notions about the film. I met Chris Kyle a few times. I used to wear a Cowboys baseball cap and he would call me "Tex" whenever I was around. Chris was about as Texas as you could get. I can make that claim without really knowing the man. I can tell you a few other things as well; I may have been a virtual stranger to Chris but you can be guaranteed everything I say is Gospel truth. Chris Kyle was a kind, decent man. He wasn't loud or obnoxious, and he carried that "Texas Gentleman" attitude everywhere he went. He believed one-hundred percent that his job, and my job, were necessary as part of the effort to deny the enemy any rest. The few times that I saw Kyle, I had no idea that he was highly decorated sniper, and it was apparent that he preferred it that way. If he was guilty of anything, it would be of having too much pride. Not personal pride, mind you, but pride in his country, and in Texas. Even more so, he was proud of his kids and his amazing wife. I don't respect Chris Kyle for doing his job anymore than I would the next guy. But I respect and admire him for doing it without complaint. It's a job that I couldn't do. I admit that without hesitation. I don't have the mountain of faith that Chris kept in his back pocket. I'm a bit jealous of Chris Kyle, I admit it. Who wouldn't want to have that lovely family, those beautiful kids and a wife as true as sunshine is warm. But I'm most jealous of his faith and the strength of his relationship with his Maker. I know Chris had that conversation with God, that gave him his piece of mind and ramrod faith. Chris understood that he was servant of God and a servant of the good on this planet, because he single-handedly gave thousands of children their father back. And how many husbands came home from Iraq because of Chris' dedication and gift? How many mothers were able to hug their children JUST ONE MORE TIME, just like they had asked God in their prayers, "please Lord, let my child come home, just one more time, please...."
The film itself was sensational in all the predictable ways. I remember looking over at Jennifer and expressing wonder at the landscape of Baghdad from above Sadr City. Is it possible that they filmed on-site, I asked Jennifer? Much like the film "The Hurt Locker", the makers of this movie recreated Iraq and Baghdad as if the entire theater had been transported to Karadah. And the combat scenes were terrifying. Clint Eastwood pulled out all the stops when it came to emotional segments, both stateside and in Iraq. In one scene, a woman gives a "potato masher" hand-grenade to a young boy, and he starts walking towards the unsuspecting U.S. patrol. Kyle had to decide if this boy was going to throw the grenade. I can say without hesitation that I would have assumed that the boy was actually trying to get rid of the weapon as opposed to using it. My mind created a scenario in which his mother didn't like her husband keeping the grenade at home because it was dangerous, and the thing to do is to give it to the soldiers. Kyle had his decision; I would have made mine, as we all would have in the same circumstance. This movie is full of moments that require you to ask yourself that difficult question, "what would I have done"? I spent enough time in Baghdad to say that this movie really brought everything back to life. As we were leaving the theater, I could see a number of veterans in the crowd that was filing out of the building, some with stone-cold frozen expressions and others wiping their eyes. Psychologically, emotionally, Iraq and Afghanistan are the Vietnam of this generation, although soldiers today are much more prepared for combat than the eighteen-yr. old draftees were then. The movie does a nice job of introducing us to Taya, Chris' future wife, and the happy times before the war. The movie is broken into segments: first tour, second tour, third tour, fourth tour. During each tour, we get a glimpse of what Kyle was charged to do: finding and killing the enemy before they take the lives of his comrades, his fellow soldiers, his brothers. And on each return home, its obvious that he has left a part of himself behind, in Iraq. Poor Taya has no idea what to do, as each time her husband returns, he seems to be more and more of a stranger. Can you imagine the thousands of wives who had to struggle through very similar situations?
I have one serious criticism of the film. We expended a great deal of time and emotion as Chris' and Taya's struggle with his Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) played out on the screen. We had a bit of a climax after the fourth tour, then a short conversation with a PTSD specialist (I assume. . . he popped up and vacated the scene quicker than a popcorn fart), and Chris seemed to be cured. I understand the message, that Chris was able to channel his struggles with PTSD into something positive, a way to help his fellow soldiers as they rebuild their lives stateside. No doubt Chris was all about his duty to his fellow troops. Chris explained that he felt a terrible guilt for not being in Iraq, and continuing his obligation to help his brothers. Thankfully, Chris discovered a way to help fellow veterans of Iraq, especially wounded warriors and those with serious PTSD issues. Many times they really needed someone to listen, and Chris was that guy. On occasion they would go target shooting, which allowed Chris the opportunity to share his natural gift. I didn't feel that the film paid enough attention to the issue of PTSD. Kyle returned home after his fourth tour, was a complete mess, spoke with a specialist, and in all of five minutes the movie cleared up the PTSD issue that we had watched grow over the first one and a half hours of the film. I'm sure it wasn't that easy for Chris, or anyone who suffers from PTSD. Given the absolutely gut-wrenching manner in which this saga ended, I left the theater feeling that the average movie-goer needed to know more about the condition. I think the movie was overloaded with external combat scenes in Iraq, and did not have a requisite number of internal combat scenes stateside, as Chris went through therapy, or some form of treatment (or someone did). The audience was dealing with the issue of PTSD almost from the beginning, although it wasn't identified. We watched the buildup of the illness in Chris Kyle for the better part of the film. The resolution was too quick. As for the heartbreaking end, I think it was handled beautifully, although if my memory serves me correct, as the funeral procession headed down I-35, there was an equal number of Lone Star State flags as there was Old Glory.
God Bless Chris Kyle; my life may have been one of the many he saved.
Last Friday my friend Jennifer and I fought the crowds to see Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" on opening night. I had no preconceived notions about the film. I met Chris Kyle a few times. I used to wear a Cowboys baseball cap and he would call me "Tex" whenever I was around. Chris was about as Texas as you could get. I can make that claim without really knowing the man. I can tell you a few other things as well; I may have been a virtual stranger to Chris but you can be guaranteed everything I say is Gospel truth. Chris Kyle was a kind, decent man. He wasn't loud or obnoxious, and he carried that "Texas Gentleman" attitude everywhere he went. He believed one-hundred percent that his job, and my job, were necessary as part of the effort to deny the enemy any rest. The few times that I saw Kyle, I had no idea that he was highly decorated sniper, and it was apparent that he preferred it that way. If he was guilty of anything, it would be of having too much pride. Not personal pride, mind you, but pride in his country, and in Texas. Even more so, he was proud of his kids and his amazing wife. I don't respect Chris Kyle for doing his job anymore than I would the next guy. But I respect and admire him for doing it without complaint. It's a job that I couldn't do. I admit that without hesitation. I don't have the mountain of faith that Chris kept in his back pocket. I'm a bit jealous of Chris Kyle, I admit it. Who wouldn't want to have that lovely family, those beautiful kids and a wife as true as sunshine is warm. But I'm most jealous of his faith and the strength of his relationship with his Maker. I know Chris had that conversation with God, that gave him his piece of mind and ramrod faith. Chris understood that he was servant of God and a servant of the good on this planet, because he single-handedly gave thousands of children their father back. And how many husbands came home from Iraq because of Chris' dedication and gift? How many mothers were able to hug their children JUST ONE MORE TIME, just like they had asked God in their prayers, "please Lord, let my child come home, just one more time, please...."
The film itself was sensational in all the predictable ways. I remember looking over at Jennifer and expressing wonder at the landscape of Baghdad from above Sadr City. Is it possible that they filmed on-site, I asked Jennifer? Much like the film "The Hurt Locker", the makers of this movie recreated Iraq and Baghdad as if the entire theater had been transported to Karadah. And the combat scenes were terrifying. Clint Eastwood pulled out all the stops when it came to emotional segments, both stateside and in Iraq. In one scene, a woman gives a "potato masher" hand-grenade to a young boy, and he starts walking towards the unsuspecting U.S. patrol. Kyle had to decide if this boy was going to throw the grenade. I can say without hesitation that I would have assumed that the boy was actually trying to get rid of the weapon as opposed to using it. My mind created a scenario in which his mother didn't like her husband keeping the grenade at home because it was dangerous, and the thing to do is to give it to the soldiers. Kyle had his decision; I would have made mine, as we all would have in the same circumstance. This movie is full of moments that require you to ask yourself that difficult question, "what would I have done"? I spent enough time in Baghdad to say that this movie really brought everything back to life. As we were leaving the theater, I could see a number of veterans in the crowd that was filing out of the building, some with stone-cold frozen expressions and others wiping their eyes. Psychologically, emotionally, Iraq and Afghanistan are the Vietnam of this generation, although soldiers today are much more prepared for combat than the eighteen-yr. old draftees were then. The movie does a nice job of introducing us to Taya, Chris' future wife, and the happy times before the war. The movie is broken into segments: first tour, second tour, third tour, fourth tour. During each tour, we get a glimpse of what Kyle was charged to do: finding and killing the enemy before they take the lives of his comrades, his fellow soldiers, his brothers. And on each return home, its obvious that he has left a part of himself behind, in Iraq. Poor Taya has no idea what to do, as each time her husband returns, he seems to be more and more of a stranger. Can you imagine the thousands of wives who had to struggle through very similar situations?
I have one serious criticism of the film. We expended a great deal of time and emotion as Chris' and Taya's struggle with his Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) played out on the screen. We had a bit of a climax after the fourth tour, then a short conversation with a PTSD specialist (I assume. . . he popped up and vacated the scene quicker than a popcorn fart), and Chris seemed to be cured. I understand the message, that Chris was able to channel his struggles with PTSD into something positive, a way to help his fellow soldiers as they rebuild their lives stateside. No doubt Chris was all about his duty to his fellow troops. Chris explained that he felt a terrible guilt for not being in Iraq, and continuing his obligation to help his brothers. Thankfully, Chris discovered a way to help fellow veterans of Iraq, especially wounded warriors and those with serious PTSD issues. Many times they really needed someone to listen, and Chris was that guy. On occasion they would go target shooting, which allowed Chris the opportunity to share his natural gift. I didn't feel that the film paid enough attention to the issue of PTSD. Kyle returned home after his fourth tour, was a complete mess, spoke with a specialist, and in all of five minutes the movie cleared up the PTSD issue that we had watched grow over the first one and a half hours of the film. I'm sure it wasn't that easy for Chris, or anyone who suffers from PTSD. Given the absolutely gut-wrenching manner in which this saga ended, I left the theater feeling that the average movie-goer needed to know more about the condition. I think the movie was overloaded with external combat scenes in Iraq, and did not have a requisite number of internal combat scenes stateside, as Chris went through therapy, or some form of treatment (or someone did). The audience was dealing with the issue of PTSD almost from the beginning, although it wasn't identified. We watched the buildup of the illness in Chris Kyle for the better part of the film. The resolution was too quick. As for the heartbreaking end, I think it was handled beautifully, although if my memory serves me correct, as the funeral procession headed down I-35, there was an equal number of Lone Star State flags as there was Old Glory.
God Bless Chris Kyle; my life may have been one of the many he saved.
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