Iraqi Violence Shifting

On Washington Journal tomorrow

Iraqi Violence Shifting

… The Iraqi public's reaction to the violence has
been substantial. Since the shrine bombing, 30,000 to 36,000 Iraqis have fled
their homes because of sectarian violence or fear of reprisals, say officials
at the International Organization for Migration in Geneva. The Iraqi Ministry
of Displacement and Migration estimated at least 5,500 families had moved,
with the biggest group, 1,250 families, settling in the Shiite holy city of
Najaf after leaving Baghdad and Sunni-dominated towns in central Iraq.

(snip)

Commanders in Iraq say the insurgent groups in the
country, particularly Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, have shifted the focus of their
attacks in an effort to foment civil war and undermine negotiations to form
a four-year government. “What we are seeing him do now is shift his target
from the coalition forces to Iraqi civilians and Iraqi security forces,”
said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, a senior spokesman for the American command. “The
enemy is trying to stop the formation of this national unity government; he's
trying to inflame sectarian violence.”

Dozens of bodies, garroted or executed with gunshots
to the head, are turning up almost daily in Baghdad alone. The gruesome work
is usually attributed to death squads or Shiite militias, some in Iraqi police
or army uniforms. Meanwhile, powerful bombings, a favorite tactic of the Sunni
Arab-led insurgency, continue to devastate civilian areas and Iraqi bases
or recruitment centers.

The number of kidnappings of Iraqis is surging because
of an explosion of criminal gangs working for their own gain or with armed
political groups. Scores of civilians are abducted every week, usually for
ransoms of $20,000 to $30,000. In recent weeks, masked men have stormed offices
in Baghdad and hauled away all the workers. …

Civilians
in Iraq Flee Mixed Areas as Killings Rise

Getting ready to turn in with some research for tomorrow's Washington
Journal, which begins for me with a 4:00 a.m. wake-up call. But when I saw
the above story a little earlier, I just wanted to take the time to say a couple
of things. First, read the article. Second, if at all possible, please tune
in to see former General Anthony Zinni on “Meet the Press,” opposite
Senator Suck Up. Zinni versus McCain should be very interesting. Both men are war
heroes; the former keeping that reputation, the latter smashing his reputation and representing what has become of Ronald Reagan's Republicans Party: a sell out to the Pat Robertson/Jerry Falwell crowd.

As for Iraq, we really are reaching an even more dangerous moment, as it becomes
clear that we are less and less able to affect the violence, with Iraqis fleeing
areas, as an almost civil war refugee situation begins to percolate.

We need an Iraqi government and we need it now.

Here's more information on the U.S.
“enduring” bases, which will total four for On Washington Journal tomorrow

“>the U.S., when it's
all over, two for Britain, as it now stands.

Oh, and one last thing, I want to thank Jason
and Rachel at RaJa Tech for a flawless server change-over. These two are
GENUISES. I'm blessed to have them as my tech team. They'll have another big
change very soon. You'll like it. I promise.