Iraq requires calm thinking, Gulf News

Opinion, August 2003, www.aljazeerah.info

Iraq requires calm thinking

Gulf News, 31-08-2003

Iraq needs both calm thinking and visionary national leadership, and it is short of both as it absorbs the impact of the assassination of Ayatollah Mohammed Baqr Al Hakim, one of Iraq's most important Shiite clerical leaders. The attack has raised the spectre of civil war and sectarian strife in Iraq, after two massive car bombs outside Najaf's main mosque went off after Friday prayers, killing more than 90 people.

Accusations of responsibility for the killings have been made in all directions, against Sunnis, Shiites, Israelis and many others.

However, in the midst of all this emotional speculation, one fact is that over 10 people have been detained for questioning of whom four have been identified by Haidar Mehdi Matar, the Governor of Najaf, as two coming from Basra and belonging to the former regime, and two others as Arab Wahhabis.

It will be important that the accused are put through a proper process of investigation and evidence against them is weighed in a court of law.

In the heated atmosphere of today's Iraq, it is all too easy to accuse Sunni (or any other) groups of this kind of act. Indeed, the Americans have repeatedly alleged that "militants" from Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran are infiltrating Iraq, which has been strongly denied by Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef as "baseless."

Those anxious to profit from chaos are working to destabilise Iraq, as the use of violence becomes more frequent and more targeted.

Friday's attack will harm the coalition's efforts to rebuild Iraq's civil society, since Al Hakim was one of the more moderate Shiite leaders who often asked the Shiites to be patient with the United States.

The response from the coalition leadership has been wrong. It seems that Paul Bremer, the U.S's coordinator for Iraq, has no plans to return from holiday early because of the bombing. He should make the effort to show the Iraqis that he cares, which is an essential part of the political leadership that the U.S. has given itself.

There is no easy solution, but the way forward includes good police and intelligence work, and much better security in the country for which the U.S.-led coalition is at present responsible.

Beyond that, more authority should go to the Iraqis with immediate effect, and the American forces should give way as soon as possible to an international force run by the United Nations, even if it includes U.S. forces.

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).