How To (re)Shape Baghdad

With the sectarian violence growing in Iraq and especially Baghdad, what will Bush need to do to secure a victory? There have been many answers from many different sectors of the political world. From both Democrat and Republicans. It seems that the main thrust of the insurgency has moved from the rural areas of Iraq to Baghdad itself. But the primary question lies as to why they have moved back into the capital and why they are going almost untouched. The answer just might lie from within Iraq not from outside.

An article published on the 17th of January, in the Azzaman, an Iraqi paper, tells it from the Iraqi side what must be done to retake Baghdad and secure it. While I agree with how the violence can be stopped, I disagree with who should do it. In the article, it describes the US as being the main thrust into securing Baghdad. However, I think that the Iraqi Army should be the tip of the spear so to speak on leading the retake of the city. It describes US troops being the ones as needing to not just crush the violence but also take charge in capturing and detaining the leaders of the militias.

This is a step that the Iraqi government and army take the forefront in. The US would act in a supportive roll providing air and tactical support. But the actual door to door securing of the city should be done by the Iraqi forces and the civilian population. Yes, the civilian population needs to come behind their closed doors and start working with those that are truly concerned in securing a democratic country. For as long as the civilian population continues to hide and shelter these thugs and militia members no safety is in sight. The country has spoken, they want a democracy. Now they must take part in securing these freedoms that they want to enjoy. Will deaths occur? Yes, plain and simple. But as I have stated so often in many other posts, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

As long as leaders such as MUQTADA Al-SADR continue to run free and have little to nothing to fear from its own government, violence will continue to hold the main title in headlines. It is true that thousands of Iraqi's have died since the fall of Saddam, what even more relevant is that they are being murdered by other Iraqi's. Yes there are insurgents mixed in, but the basic thrust of the violence is being conducted by Iraq's militias upon Iraqi's. The US has laid the foundation by taking care of their one time dictator, now they (Iraqi's) must stand up and be a major part in making this change work.