The Attack on the Askariya Shrine in Samarra

Let’s start with a statement that the attack upon the golden domed shrine in Samarra was an attack against the Iraqi people and an attack against humanity in general. Regardless of what one thinks about religion, the wanton destruction of a building with historical significance, cultural significance and that is viewed with veneration by millions of people is a crime, period, end of discussion.

Distress would be justified. Anger would be justified. A grim determination to find and bring the perpetrators to justice would be justified. But retaliation against people that most likely had nothing to do with the attack is most certainly not justified. It’s a sign of ignorance and barbarity.

Depending upon who you believe anywhere between 19 and 168 Sunni mosques have been attacked in response and some 111 people have been killed. The dead include Sunni clerics and three journalists who’s only crime appears to have been reporting on the destruction in Samarra.

Add this to the violence over the Danish cartoons and all I can say is WTF is wrong with these people? Civil war in Iraq always has been a real possibility and the events of the last few days haven't reduced the chances any. I think it’s time to start backing away from this cur, saying “nice doggie” while we’re doing it, until we get a chance to bolt and get the hell out of there.

We definitely DO NOT want our guys in the middle of another civil war like back in Vietnam. What was it the man said back then? Oh yeah, “The colors of a civil war are louder than command.”

I don’t think we can stop this thing if it isn’t going to stop itself, so let’s make like a shepherd and get the flock out of there as soon as possible.

What that country needs is a strong secular leader that would keep the religious fruitcakes under control. What’s that you say? Doesn’t that describe Saddam before we stuck our nose in and kicked him out you ask? Now that you mention it, I think it does. What’s the old truism, “a people get the leaders they deserve?”

Given the recent antics, not only in Iraq, but across the whole Muslim world, Saddam might have been too good for them.