Iraq - Positive Example for Middle East?

Just last week there was yet another of the much-lauded "turning points" in Iraq - a bunch of citizens defended successfully themselves against insurgency terrorists. Which was a great sign as other times and places have proven again and again that terrorism only dies when the populace supporting the terrorists finally turn against them. Until then, killing insurgents only makes more insurgents. That is why I have always critisized the details of US occupation tactics in Iraq - too many gunships and artillery barrages, not enough hearts and minds, too much corruption and profiteering, not enough reconstruction and repair.

Yesterday, there was another turning point - in the other direction. A group of around 50 guards from the Science and Technology Ministry were protesting at only receiving part of their paychecks (sounds understandable). They were unarmed. Bodyguards on the personal payroll of the Science and Technology Minister, Rashad Mandan Omar, fired on the protesting workers, killing one and wounding three.

Today, the Interior Minister defended the bodyguards' actions and warned citizens not to protest.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi parliament which was lauded as the biggest turning point of all, and certainly has the potential to be exactly that, is stalled while the various factions haggle over who should have cabinet posts. Two months after the election, they still have not met in full session as a governing body.

Iraqis, already frustrated with drawn-out negotiations, were angered by the meeting.

"They haven't been able to even name a parliament speaker, so how will they rule Iraq when they're only after their personal interests and gains?" said 35-year-old Sunni Sahib Jassim. "They don't care about the Iraqi people."

In an interview Sunday on CNN, Army Gen. John Abizaid, also expressed concern, saying: "The more uncertainty, the greater chance for escalated violence."

Chief Ostrich Bush said "The free people of Iraq are now doing what Saddam Hussein never could: making Iraq a positive example for the entire Middle East."

No government, no wages, forbidden to protest, killed if you do. Some example.

postscript Robert Novak, who obviously has the hots for "dominant" but "willowy, vulnerable-looking" Condi (it must be those Dominatrix-R-US boots), says that she is in favour of getting the US out of Iraq by the end of the year whether the country is still broken or not. I wonder if she has told her husb...President?