Not sure what to make of this, but the credentials of the polling company looks sound enough. It shows increasing confidence in Iraqi forces, and confidence dropping in US forces, particularly amongst Shias: the figure amongst Sunnis shows a small rise. Seems to be a very widespread hostility to Al Qaeda. H/T to Instapundit.
Interesting BBC article on an upcoming presentation and talk [Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, 17 August] by lecturer and broadcaster Stephen Price on the subject of his new book – The Earl Bishop. The 18th Century ”Earl Bishop” was Frederick Augustus Hervey, fourth Earl of Bristol and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry. Hervey was also elected [...] read our review »
Northern Ireland’s peace process has been promoted as an international success story. The Republic’s Department of Foreign Affairs has its Conflict Resolution Unit, which aims to disseminate the ‘lessons’ of the Northern Ireland peace process. And some of the prominent players in our peace process have travelled abroad to other troubled spots to share their [...] read our review »
I’ve been catching up on some reading, recently. Most pleasantly surprised by John Drennan’s latest opus from Gill and Macmillan, Cute Hoors and Pious Protestors… It’s early days yet, but I was struck by this paragraph, part of a dissection of Fianna Fail near the beginning: One of the more fatal consequences of our colonial [...] read our review »
Looks like the US need to go, and sooner rather than later. Job done?
Natural consequence of certain events — low risk areas have been turned over to Iraqi police and Army, releasing more US forces for hot-spots. Could create the impression that Iraqi forces are doing a “better” job than the US, hence the shift in perception.
As for the high anti-Al-Qaeda attitude, conventional wisdom seems to be that the indiscriminate attacks on civilians, i.e. car bombs and suicide bombs, are being performed by foreign interlopers, which most folks find repugnant. Likewise, as policy changes to “draw in” the Sunni, it is natural for the Shia to be suspicious.
Essentially Iraq was created (1919?) on the same basis that Yugoslavia was by the imperial powers at the time without regard for the cultural , linguistic and religous and historical differences between the peoples of Iraq up to that time .
The Kurds are not Arabs . The Sunnis are not Shiites . If the US withdrew tomorrow Iraq would split . That might well be for the best .
Time to re learn the Yugoslavian lesson
greenflag,
THE LESSON IS THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO IRAQ OR YUGOSLAVIA, WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IS THAT YOU ARE
***** A TOTAL COCK *******
THE NEWS ,
And you are shouting
As for my cock it’s never been described as total but unlike your brain it’s been more than up to the job
Next time you decide to go off half cock you might not want to shout . You only draw attention to yourself and someone may have you booted off Slugger for inappropriate language .
The News
What have we learned about you?
and, excuse my gross ignorance, but why is Mr G Flag wrong?
The stuff about it being a newly formed country is accurate