Just an Observation
Iraq nowdays March 3rd, 2008Yesterday, Mr.President (Ahmedinajad) paid a visit to the Iraqi Government in Iraq. My odd observation is that in that nice day he came, there were no bombed cars, no roadside bombs, no killings, no kidnappings, and no Al-Qaeda attacks in Baghdad in the norm that we got used to in the past few months.
I wounder why was that?
The reason can be one of three things;
The terrorists are his boys and they can't hurt the master.
They government CAN control the security and they did secure the area because they can't afford hurting their master.
Or,
We were merely lucky because all of the terrorist groups in Baghdad took a day off.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
There was a security lockdown that temporary suppresses violence but at the cost of inconveniencing Iraqis and the local economy.
This isn’t sustainable in over a sustained period of time.
Note that there have been many days recently with little violence in Iraq. Violence hasn’t been this low overall inside Iraq since 2004.
I am optimistic that as US troops withdraw the ISF will be able to maintain security and restrain violence.
See SoldiersDad2.blogspot.com
He has had a couple articles recently about violence in Iraq.
Of course Iraq retains many problems longer term. MNF-I maintains a cease fire with Muqtada. Corruption and poor governance are huge problems within the GoI. Several provincial IP continue to have major challenges.
Iraqis are going to have to solve these issues on their own.
I feel very sad that a large part of the $40 billion in US taxpayer funded grants to Iraq have had such poor returns (measured in terms of improving the lives of the Iraqi people.) I am also deeply saddened by the many mistakes America made in 1991, the sanction years, 2003-2004. All of these mistakes have made Iraq’s challenges much tougher today.
I really hope Iraqis make it.
March 4th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Leila Fadel: “To secure visiting dignitaries and show them the improvement in the capital, roads are blocked and life comes to a halt for a while. When Ahmadinejad was whisked to the airport, our staff applauded. No more road closures.
Ahmadinejad did not experience the violence in the capital during his two-day visit. But as he wrapped up his trip at least 16 Iraqis died in two car bombs. Fifty six more were injured. ”
http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/baghdad/2008/03/road-blocks.html
March 4th, 2008 at 8:20 am
anand,
The roads were not totally blocked as it was on the days of the Muharram 1st Shiite ceremonies. While on the other hand many people were killed inside Baghdad and out of it during the ceremonies.
Anyway,
I wish I can share your optimism.
Mojo,
Two bridges between Karkh and Rusafa were closed and much fewer roads were blocked than the ones in the 40th ceremonies few days ago. And no curfew was imposed.
In the few months I spent in Baghdad last year, I have heard daily explosions taking place in the “Green Zone” (which is by the way sooooo not green). The palaces are hit with mortars on daily basis, of course this is reported in the media only once or twice a month. And when Mr.President (I am calling him Mr.President because I feel that he has more control than anybody else in Iraq) came, no explosions took place.
The two explosions you are talking about took place yesterday not on Sunday.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hello blogiraqi,
Well, although I am not living in Baghdad but I agree with what you said, while yesterday was the oposite, car bombs, killed civilians and that explains the clue!
Nice post
March 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
“The two explosions you are talking about took place yesterday not on Sunday.”
Leila wrote the article Monday, March 3rd: http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/baghdad/2008/03/road-blocks.html
March 4th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Marshmallow,
You are welcomed.
Mojo,
The bombed cars were on Monday, as he was leaving. I am talking about Sunday. I wrote the post on Monday’s(March 3rd)morning and the first word I said was “yesterday”.