Over a dozen bombings in a single hour made today another grim part of the month of August, the latest month of deadly violence which has left Iraq on the precipice of another sectarian civil war.
As with most other days, the attacks centered around attacking Shi’ite districts, and later in the day a round of bombings hit Sunni areas, with both sides blaming the sectarian divide on the other. Tensions are ever worsening, and while officials try to downplay individual days, the reality is that Iraq, more than any time since the US occupation, is a powderkeg waiting to explode.
99 people were killed nationwide, with 266 others wounded. Iraqi officials reiterated its “high alert” status, with concerns that the US attack on Syria could lead to more cross-border violence.
Violence has been steadily climbing since April, with July the single deadliest month since 2007. Though August isn’t over yet and there isn’t a final toll, today underscores that the situation is no better, and a bloody summer is quickly giving way to a bloody autumn for Iraqis, with no end in sight.
Do you think they would put Saddam Hussien back in power? Iam wondering who is responsible for making Iraq a democratically fun loving nation.
I'd guarantee the number who would isn't anywhere near zero. Might notice a phenomenon that follows a successful demonization campaign that might make it difficult to gauge real public opinion in a post-oust country. Runs kinda like "now I'm not defending Noriega," "now I admit Saddam was a bad guy," or "now I'm not saying…" It sometimes comes from someone with some toothless critique of the ousting, and in any case it contributes to it's toothlessness. I.e., we're supposed to feel that there's something wrong with nostalgia for their witch; he isn't to become a hero. Press will also dredge up locals who'd absolutely condemn him and play that off as normal. Kinda like if Obama got regime-changed and China interviewed Tea-Party folks to justify his ouster to the Chinese. Though China probably wouldn't sink as low as 'we' do in 'our' burn-the-witch PR. Isn't there an expression … who says it? ~"May his name be forgotten?" It's an expression, and a type, to ponder.
Not clear what's meant by Question 2. Obviously people didn't appear to 'fight' each other nearly so much under Saddam; it was not a 'third world' country. There are third parties Saddam's state didn't tolerate who are pleased by the 'fighting' and likely contribute to it. There is nothing inherently adversarial about Sunni-Shia, but there would be recent grudges there. And some grudges may be mistaken in their object…