Juan Cole: All Pressure off Reform in Baghdad after Crocker/Petraeus Report

[RedEarth]

Colonial logic is always circular. Thus, Condi Rice: the US needs to stay in Iraq to protect the US from Iraq. Also, the US needs to stay in Iraq to protect Iraq from Iran. The next part of the circle will be that the US needs to stay in Iran to accomplish both of these aims much more efficiently.

Robert Reid of AP reports that Iraqi politicians in Baghdad feel *no* pressure to move forward quickly with reforms or reconciliation, in part because they are assured that Bush will keep a big US troop presence in Iraq through early January 2009. Money graf:



' Iraq's national security adviser was asked Wednesday to explain why the government has been so slow to enact power-sharing agreements that Washington deems necessary for lasting peace. He had nothing new to offer. "Of course we want to do it, but they are so complicated," Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said. '

http://www.juancole.com/2007/09/rices-circular-colonial-logic-all.html

[Raven]

1. This is ultimately the truth of the matter.

The leadership in Iraq is not suffering, the Iraqi people are suffering and the leadership doesn't care. I will bet the leadership has electricity and running water and that they are getting paid. Why should they tackle the tough decisions? As someone recently said, there is no Ghandi, no Nelson Mandela...lots of folks on the gravy train for as long as it lasts.

Our problem? The President has seen the Iraqi government the way he sees himself...mendacious, opportunistic, let me get mine.... this is familiar to Bush, business as usual.

[librechik]

2. gradually "insurgents" took over the power stations

then they give electricity to their own neighborhoods, and cut it off to opposing sects.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/iraq/2003822245_iraq05.html