“In the capital, however, the calm has been achieved in part because the city is now ethnically divided.”

No shit! You’re not telling me anything new here. This was government and US army policy. Who put up the walls cutting of Sunni districts from the rest of the city?

Ummm…when they weren’t divided, they were killing each other. What would have been your solution instead?

While Shia neighbourhoods prosper Sunni districts look like ghost towns the article says. True again.. Maybe I hate it for being this blunt.

Well, to be blunt. This is a bed that Sunni Arabs made for themselves, no? They positioned themselves as “wronged” in the overthrow of Saddam. There were no Sunni Arab organization in direct opposition to Saddam (why do you think that is?). They were dragged to the (messy) table of democratic Iraq begrudgingly at best and kicking and screaming at worst. The resistance that was nurtured in Sunni Arab neighborhoods almost dragged Iraq into a sinkhole. Now they are 4 or 5 years behind the rest of Iraq.

The Sunnis on the other hand were left to fend for themselves.

Well, the Sunni Arab militias were used to directly oppose the democratic government. If they had only been devoted subverting it as Sadr’s militia did, then things might be different today. The Sons of Iraq might grow into something like that, but they are –again– well behind the rest of Iraqis in organization and legitimacy (as you sorta said).

If you ask me that’s the fear that’s keeping Baghdad’s peace.

In general, people aren’t nice and good law enforcment is about Fear of Law Enforcement Officers. Japan famously has a 98% conviction rate but relatively little crime. The reason the Japanese don’t live in “fear” is because they have developed a Trust of their government. That’s what is missing in Iraq, I think. Give it time.

Don’t know if that worked (above)- I took it off google translator. Amazing tool- we use it at work to communicate with Polish nationals who are working in our area.

I used to have newspaper clippings of the 2003 war and day Sadam’s statue was torn down- mostly from The Independent newspaper. Not sure where they are now. I had this idea that I should keep them for ‘when the children are older’.

As in 2003,whether in Iraq or UK, newspapers today always have a political agenda, don’t they? The front page of the Guardian a few days ago had a picture of the gold, jewel-encrusted fish (very pretty) given to Major General Andy Salmon, though it does not say who gave it. (So long and thanks for the fish- UK begins Iraq farewell) I expect you have seen it? Funny what makes a front page!

The scans are great. And I see you still have your deck of cards. I featured your entry today over at IBC.

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I thought you might like to read a blog entry from Touta, another Iraqi blogger, that offers a recent scene from her neighborhood about what can happen when Iraqis return to their homes:

And That’s How It Goes Down.

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