New government doesn't slow Iraq killings
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/14443705.htm
This article linked from: antiwar.com
(as are many posts seen in this NG)
THOMAS WAGNER Apr. 27, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq - One year ago Friday, when Iraq
formed its first freely elected government,
Americans and Iraqis hoped it would lead to a drop
in violence. But Iraqis have continued to die in
the thousands, and this year the trend is up.
Figures compiled by The Associated Press over the
past 12 months show more than 8,000 people have
been killed and there are increasing cases of
civilians being kidnapped, killed and dumped in
public places.
The numbers offer a counterpoint of caution for
Washington's hopes that Iraq's second freely
elected government, being formed now, will help
curb violence.
American officials tout the selection of a new
prime minister April 22 as the start of a unity
government that could bring closer the departure of
U.S. troops. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited Iraq
on Wednesday to show their support.
But optimistic forecasts that accompanied other
milestones - the 2004 restoration of Iraqi
sovereignty after U.S. occupation and the formation
of the first elected government 10 months
later - turned sour.
Twice last year, on Jan. 30 and Dec. 15, millions
of Iraqis risked their lives to vote in free
elections for new parliaments, then watched their
chosen legislators squabble for months over forming
a government.
When the first freely elected government in decades
took office a year ago Friday, Prime Minister
Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Iraqis who had "challenged
tyranny" at the polls "will help this government to
succeed and will not be intimidated."
A year later, al-Jaafari has been denied a second
term, blamed for failing to deliver on that pledge.
When al-Jaafari took over, U.S. officials and many
Iraqis hoped security would improve, but the
insurgency soon resumed. Sectarian tensions also
began to rise and, with the bombing of an important
Shiite shrine two months ago, burst into outright
fighting.
AP's figures show that at least 8,107 Iraqis have
been killed and 10,519 wounded, most of them
civilians, in the year beginning April 28, 2005.
The top killer was bombs (3,895), followed by
gunfire (1,960) and the discovery of dumped bodies
(1,684).
In March alone, at least 1,038 Iraqis were killed
in war-related violence, according to AP
figures - the highest monthly total in the past 12
months.
Three of the five largest surges in violence during
the year have occurred since January. That is
especially true regarding the dumping of bodies.
Four of the five biggest increases in that category
occurred in the months of March and April.
When it comes to deaths by gunfire, the first,
third and fourth largest increases have occurred
since mid-January. Serious suicide bombings happened
throughout the year, but the worst such
attacks - killing more than 120 people - came
Jan. 5.
These numbers include civilians, government
officials, and police and security forces, and are
considered only a minimum based on AP reporting.
The actual number is likely higher, as many killings
go unreported or uncounted.
AP's tally is compiled from hospital, police and
military officials cited in news stories, as well
as accounts from reporters and photographers at the
scenes. The security personnel include Iraqi
military, police and police recruits, and bodyguards.
Insurgent deaths are not a part of the Iraqi count.
Also not included in this count are the nearly 1,000
Shiite pilgrims killed in August 2005 during a
bridge stampede caused by someone shouting there
was a suicide bomber in their midst.
AP began collecting this information on April 28,
2005, when the first freely elected government after
Saddam Hussein's downfall took office.
The AP study reaches back one year. Other studies
suggest that the violence has increased yearly
since the U.S. invasion. Iraq Body Count, a British
anti-war group, said more than 12,600 Iraqi
civilians were killed in the year ending March 1,
up 10 percent from the previous year and about
double the total for the first year after the U.S.
invaded.
In Iraq's widespread violence, it often is difficult
to tell whether insurgents, militias or common
criminals are responsible for killings.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad recently said
Iraq's militias are killing more people than
insurgents are.
And the protracted legislative squabbling before
the new prime minister-designate, Nouri al-Maliki,
was picked may have allowed the militias to break
free of the limited control that political parties
have over them and to step up sectarian killings,
said Toby Dodge, an Iraq specialist at the
International Institute of Strategic Studies in
London.
Civil war may already be largely under way in Iraq,
said Bob Ayers of the Chatham House think tank in
London. Either way, Iraq faces tough choices and
problems.
"The freedom to vote is unique. The Iraqi people
clearly wanted to do that," he said. "But imposing
democracy and changing the government structure
doesn't change the country's historical, cultural
and religious problems."
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/14443705.htm
This article linked from: antiwar.com
(as are many posts seen in this NG)
--
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
John J. Mearsheimer
University of Chicago - Department of Political Science
Stephen M. Walt
Harvard University - John F. Kennedy School of Government
http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/Research/wpaper.nsf/rwp/RWP06-011
( has polemical response from Alan Dershowitz at site )
Edited non-PDF version :
http://www.lrb.co.uk./v28/n06/mear01_.html
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