Into the Valley of Peace
It is facile to say that Muqtada is an Iraqi problem. His current appeal and resulting power rests on his opposition to the general presence of foreign troops in Iraq and their particular presence in Iraq's Shi'ite holy cities. This popularity among the now well-armed, unemployed, poverty-stricken population in Baghdad's Sadr City poses the classic challenge to the stability of any government susceptible to someone willing and able to manipulate the masses for his own ends. The dilemma is harder to resolve when the "legitimate" government cannot provide services, cannot provide security, and is considered to be a pawn of or otherwise is identified with an alien authority and culture.
As of August, Iraq remains, and is largely perceived to be an artificial creation of the Bush administration and the US Congress and heavily reliant on 160,000 foreign troops.
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Among Washington's justifications for the continued presence of foreign military forces is the need to stabilize Iraq. Yet the presence of foreign military forces is a major cause of the instability.
Dan Smith/AsiaTimes 20.Aug.04
more articles by Colonel Daniel Smith, USA (Ret.) at Foreign Policy In Focus
