What Can We Do?

This month old article in the Globe and Mail highlights the problem of ethnic cleansing in Iraq:

The Islamic State of Iraq, an organization affiliated with al-Qaeda, announced it carried out the cathedral attack to force the release of Islamic converts allegedly being detained by the Coptic Church in Egypt. The group later declared Christians everywhere to be “legitimate targets.”

As Christians converged on their churches Wednesday to seek counsel from their religious leaders, the capital's Syrian Catholic archbishop made an emotional appeal for Western countries to come to their rescue.

“It would be criminal on the part of the international community not to take care of the security of the Christians,” said Athanase Matti Shaba Matoka as he tried to console members of the Baghdad cathedral’s congregation.

I'll admit I feel helpless. I don't know what to do to help these embattled Christians. This is a country that our American allies paid dearly to liberate. Unlike Afghanistan, I don't think the Americans could credibly threaten to withdrawl their support from the country. There are far too many risks by simply leaving the country for Iran to meddle in.

I shall simply pray and hope whatever pressure our governments are able to apply will have some effect. In the meantime I will take some small comfort in the fact that the Iraqi Prime Minister is at least saying the right things:

Wednesday’s attacks came just a day after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited the scarred cathedral and urged Christians not to leave the country. Iraqi security forces would protect them, he promised.

Winning Iraq

Check out the News from Iraq this week. On Sunday an under dog Iraqi soccer team won the Asia Cup beating Saudi Arabia in the final.

On Monday respected critics of the war from the left leaning Brookings Institute outlined the progress in Iraq this year and argued for a continued American presence in Iraq. It's an important article, if the last link didn't work try here. The article generated some excellent discussion at the National Review.

On Tuesday it was reported that July had the lowest casualty count in Iraq this year!

The good news keeps pouring in, although I read it all online. The radio news still carried the boilerplate a bomb exploded somewhere stories. This should be cause for Americans and all the Western World to be hopeful. Regardless of your opinion on the war success in Iraq is vital to our freedom and the struggle against terrorism.

More Encouraging News From Iraq

The White House released an excellent Fact Sheet on Iraq yesterday. According to the White House recent gains include:

+ The Iraqi government has completed the deployment of three additional Iraqi Army brigades to the capital. These additional forces join the nine National Police and seven Iraqi Army brigades already in the Greater Baghdad area.
+ Iraq's leaders have lifted restrictions on Iraqi and Coalition forces that prevented them from going into certain areas, and U.S. and Iraqi troops are now pursuing the enemy in neighborhoods like Sadr City, where our operations were once restricted.
+ About half of the joint security stations have been established in neighborhoods across Baghdad.
+ Iraqi and U.S. forces have rounded up more than 700 people affiliated with Shia extremists and have recovered large weapons caches, including mortar weapons systems and rocket-propelled grenades.
+ Iraqi and U.S. forces have launched successful operations against Sunni extremists, recently killing al Qaida terrorists in Baghdad, who were responsible for numerous bomb attacks.
+ In the past two weeks, U.S. and Iraqi forces have uncovered large stockpiles of Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs), which are used by extremist groups to attack our troops.

Iraqis Are Beginning To Deliver On Benchmarks To Achieve Political Reconciliation.
+ Iraq's Council of Ministers approved a national hydrocarbon law that provides for an equitable distribution of oil revenues throughout the country. The draft law will need to be enacted by the Iraqi Council of Representatives when it returns from recess, but the prospects for passage are excellent because all the major parliamentary blocs are represented in the cabinet.
+ Last month, the Iraqi government approved a $41 billion budget that includes $10 billion dollars for reconstruction and capital investment.
+ Iraq's leaders must meet the other pledges they have made. These include:
1) Narrowing the limitations of the de-Baathification law; 2) Establishing the framework and setting a date for provincial elections; and 3) Pursuing the constitutional review process.

In addition to the President's message. Brian Williams from NBC has noted that Americans are in total control of Hit and Ramadi, two cities that were former hot spots for insurgents. Williams also quoted several military officers making statements like, "The people here are very glad to see us — very hesitant for us to go. They want us to stay and to keep beating down the insurgents."

Just today CBN News reports:

The locals appear to be noting the changes as well. Since US and Iraqi troops made their joint push into Baghdad, streets are getting busier. Stores that were closed down are re-opening and murders are down. There has even been little resistance in Sadr City.

For the sake of Iraqis and the whole world, I hope the good news from Iraq continues.

The Surge is Already Working

Muqtada al-Sadr is no dummy. He has successfully transformed himself from a two-bit Imam to one of the most powerful influences in Iraq through his firebrand speaking, political posturing, and thuggery. He even intimidated Prime Minister Maliki into delaying a summit with President Bush. He must also be scared out of his wits. Since George Bush announced his change of strategy in Iraq, three events have demonstrated al-Sadr's weakening position:

1. One of his chief assassins was captured.
2. He realized he had to call off his party's boycott of the Iraqi parliament.
3. Today the Iraqi Prime Minister withdrew his protection for al-Sadr's Milita.

Al-Sadr has gotten his power by playing the strongman in a field of weak leaders; I'm interested to see if he can keep it up as the American military clamps down on his thugs. At least with respect to al-Sadr President Bush's surge in troops has already shown results.

President Bush's Change of Strategy in Iraq

I have to admit that today was the first time I read President Bush's address to the nation, or given his change of strategy any thought. To listen to media coverage, it seemed like more of the same, throwing more troops at a problem that troops have not been able to solve.

However, on a little thought and reading one piece of analysis in the Washington Post; it looks to me like this time may really be different. The President is committed to tightening security in Baghdad and stomping out the sectarian violence in the city. He is also prepared to push to allow former Bath party members to return to work, and according to the article in the post to get more state run factories back online.

All three of these strategies make sense. (1) Support for America's effort both in Iraq and in the US will only continue to erode if people in the capital cannot live safely. (2) The former Bath party members who were instrumental in the civil service were probably talented but pragmatic, recognizing that under the former government party membership was simply a good career move. (3) Allowing state-run businesses to operate in the short run will get people back to work and create jobs, turning off the tap for new insurgents.

I want to be hopeful about Iraq and this change of direction makes me more hopeful. But people need to start seeing results now. I hope that US and Iraqi governments will also put resources into spreading good news. Information on every successful battle to clear a neighbourhood of insurgents should be released to the media as soon as it is safe. When former high-ranking bureaucrats return to work, there should be video of them tearing up their old membership cards and stating their commitment to improving people's lives. When every state run factory opens up there should be press conferences where media are allowed to interview people returning to work.

The President understands that success in Iraq is absolutely essential:

The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time. On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life. In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy, by advancing liberty across a troubled region. It is in the interests of the United States to stand with the brave men and women who are risking their lives to claim their freedom, and to help them as they work to raise up just and hopeful societies across the Middle East.

In the age of instant media, the President needs to do more than be right. He needs to clearly demonstrate success to Iraqis, Americans, and the world.

Comedy, Iraqi Style

Great article here about the new Iraqi Comedy show, "Hurry Up, He's Dead." Some highlights:

After a summer of the worst violence since U.S. troops toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, tens of thousands of Iraqis are finding solace and amusement in a new television show whose dark satirical humor makes it an Iraqi version of Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show."

...

In the next day's episode, Saaed joyfully announces that the Americans are finally leaving Iraq. Referring to the U.S. secretary of defense, Saaed, sitting behind his news desk, says: "Rums bin Feld said the American forces are leaving on 1-1," referring to Jan. 1.

He's giddy, raising his arms in the air. Then he realizes he's made a mistake. The soldiers are leaving one by one, not on 1-1. He computes in his head what leaving one by one means and announces that the soldiers will be gone in 694 years. He starts to cry; Iraqis watching the show howl.

Political Satire; I wonder how long that would have lasted in Saddam Hussein's Iraq. This is good news for freedom, and the best part is the show might actually be funny.