The fate of 2 Iraqi’s poses a key question. (Los Angeles Times – Front Page, April 29, 2009, by Ned Parker, reporting from Alrifoosh, Iraq). “They were unlikely comrades…the security guard, (Abu Maroof), and the stockbroker, (Abu Azzam), who stepped out of the shadows of the insurgency to fight Al Qaeda in Iraq.”
The two Iraqi’s mentioned above were instrumental in establishing the Sons of Iraq, an anti – Al Qaeda organization of former Sunni insurgents, who aided U.S. troops in quelling the insurgency. Their efforts in combination with the ‘surge’ helped turn the tide on Al Qaeda, ( despite this fact our current self absorbed President and his merry band of liars and tax cheats, will not admit any successes achieved in Iraq during the Bush administration). The upshot of this article is that PM Malaki in the best tradition of a tribal Shite sheik has turned on these men.
The problem, from my assessment, is that Malaki does not want any strong Sunni influence in the Iraqi government despite the fact that the U.S. with the help of the Sunni’s made possible what little stability there is in Iraq. The Shites are the majority in the current government and they have influenced Malaki to orchestrate a campaign to undermine and discredit Marrof and Azzam because they fear the influence these two men may have in the upcoming election.
The end result so far of Malaki’s actions against these two men have allowed Al Qaeda to hunt the two who now are in fear for their live’s. Malaki’s actions rather than diminish the two men’s influence among the Sunni’s may well have the opposite effect. Malaki, despite his attempts to disarm the Sons of Iraq is not having much success in that endeavour - and it is very possible that his actions may well ignite another civil war in Iraq.
What effect this action against the two Sunni leaders will have on stability in Iraq remains to be seen. The majority Shites have never been a match for the Sunni’s. Keep an eye out on the upcoming elections - they may be bloody.
Beaudreaux
