Why aren’t Americans hearing more about the Iraqi awakening?
by Transmontanus, 13 November 2007
The Columbia Journalism Review is curious:
I couldn’t remember a single instance of an American paper or magazine bothering to interview any of the leaders of the “awakening” movement, which has turned the Anbar province from a bloody gantlet for American troops into a place where the Marines can sponsor a marathon in the now peaceful streets of Ramadi. So, where are the interviews of these Sunni sheiks who have changed the face of the war so dramatically? And if they don’t exist, what possible explanation can the Baghdad bureaus of major publications have for not digging into this story?
Tuesday 13 November 2007 at 9:51
Maybe the “Concerned Citizens” are under-reported because the US press does not want to deal with the reality of Petraus COIN strategy: The press want to give the impression that the US is “promoting democracy” to beat Al Qaeda, whereas actually meeting the “Concerned citizens” would show Petraus is just hiring one set of crazy killers to chase off another crazier set- Dogs to fight cats .
Tuesday 13 November 2007 at 22:08
“Mustaffa was a captain in Saddam Hussein’s army. He served as an administrative officer in Baghdad, reported Lieutenant Colonel Ken Adgie, the commander of the 1/30. While Arab Jabour is predominantly Sunni, Mustaffa is married to a Shia and has given one of his four sons a Shia name.”
He’s a crazier killer? Sure Saddam’s army had problems, but the allies didn’t hang every single nazi officer after WWII. The biggest mistake the US made was disarming all the Ba’athists. Sure, a lot of them needed and might still need to go, but there’s got to be a few who were just good soldiers who joined the party to get a promotion. Granted that quote is from Long War Journal so it’s somewhat biased. But it seems logical that semi-decent people should’ve existed in Saddam’s army.
Tuesday 13 November 2007 at 22:12
I mean he could be just a warlord in the trappings and suits of civilisation. But, even if I’m against the USA’s actions in Iraq, I still have to hope that there are decent people in Iraq who want to live in peace.
Wednesday 14 November 2007 at 8:19
No, here is the crazy killer:-
If you read the CJR piece you will find it says “This failure [to report the awakening] hit home Saturday, when the UK’s Guardian published an excellent profile of Hajji Abu Abed, one of the Sunni leaders of the “awakening” movement. The profile paints a harrowing picture of the warlord, offering a kind of good news (he’s fighting al Qaeda) / bad news (he appears unstable, and has no intention of joining the Shiite-led government once his Qaeda-killing is over) assessment.”
You can read the full Guardian piece (by the very impressive Ghaith Abdul-Ahad) here:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,331225411-110878,00.html
Wednesday 14 November 2007 at 11:23
“…but the allies didn’t hang every single nazi officer after WWII.”
Says my grandpa, soldier in the Wehrmacht: “That they did not just shoot us all, was a mere act of mercy.”
Wednesday 14 November 2007 at 13:28
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/11/13/2007-11-13_in_book_fbi_agent_says_saddam_hussein_cr-2.html
Somebody pass this on to Hitchens.