Another possibility is that the "insurgents" may have actually helped the Iraqi government as the Sunnis and Shia unite against violence. There were reports of many demonstrations of Iraqi Sunni and Shiites standing together demonstrating unity against violence. 500 in Mousul. 3000 in Hillah. 15000 in Amarah. 10,000 in Basra.

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com
http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/
Greg | 02.27.06 - 11:38 am | #

I am puzzled by Buckley's position. One article I read about it yesterday pointed out that he cited in his article basically only from NY Times and one soldier. That's all. William Buckley would and should normally know better than that. Curious, especially when someone like Thomas Friedman of the NY Times has apparently come around to the position that Al Qaeda is losing in Iraq and knows it, hence these extreme actions like bombing the mosque and yesterday shooting at boys playing soccer and killing two of them. Barbarians.
Arnold | 02.27.06 - 12:14 pm | #

Al Qaeda is losing in Iraq and knows it

Al Qaeda is not the problem in Iraq. The problem is the growing Insurgency and Civil War --- of which Al Qaeda are only minor players at best.

And what does Al Qaeda have to do with it anyway??????

Bush told us we were going to Iraq for regime change, to topple Saddam, and to find those WMDs. It was only after it becamse evident and completely undeniable that there never were any WMDs that Iraq has become about Al Qaeda.

Saddam never had anything to do with Al Qaeda. He and bin Laden were enemies.

Sadly, I suspect Buckley is right. And Governor (not President) George W. Bush was right: The United States should not engage in national building. We are not the world's police force.
Mark S. (not for Shea) | 02.27.06 - 1:35 pm | #

If you think al-Qaeda is only a minor player in contemporary Iraq, I have to question your judgement with regard to assessing any other aspect of the situation over there. Do note that this is a separate issue altogether from the Saddam/al-Qaeda stuff.
Dan Darling | Homepage | 02.27.06 - 2:57 pm | #

Both the Shiites and the Sunnis in Iraq believe that the mosque bombing was the work of the foreigners, i.e. Al Qaeda. That's why.
Arnold | 02.27.06 - 3:09 pm | #

If you think al-Qaeda is only a minor player in contemporary Iraq...

Al Qaeda members represent a minority in Iraq. (And they were confined solely to the north before the US invasion brought chaos to the country.) Are they an active, destructive minority? You bet. But the Insurgency isn't being run by Al Qaeda.
Mark S. (not for Shea) | 02.27.06 - 3:12 pm | #

Buckley has never been the same since he began smoking pot. As a historical figure I have a lot of respect for him, but many of his opinions have gotten increasingly off the wall as the decades roll by.
Donald R. McClarey | 02.27.06 - 4:22 pm | #

When this started, an Administration Official was quoted as saying, "This is either the begining of of the end; or the end of the begining."

The major goal in Iraq was to establish a sane and modern government in the most Westernized of the Arab states and so push the region towards peace and prosperity.

Now, we have only achieved the limited, but necassary aims of making an example of the most powerful tyrant in the Middle East--and a major supporter of terrorism; and tying down Al-Qaida in Mesopotamia. We have also estblished firm bases on the boarders of Iran and Syria, two of the worst offenders.

Unfortunatly, this really is turning into Isam vs. West--which has only been going on since the 8th Century. That just means that this will be far bloodier and longer lasting than most expect.
AB | 02.27.06 - 4:59 pm | #

The major goal in Iraq was to establish a sane and modern government in the most Westernized of the Arab states...

Depends on what you mean. If you mean in terms of government, then yeah, I'll give you that one. But if you mean in terms of the general population (which is what really matters), then Iran is FAR more Western than Iraq.

...tying down Al-Qaida in Mesopotamia.

Huh? Al Qaeda has significant factions throughout the world, especially in places like Indonesia and the Philippines. We haven't "tied them down" anywhere. If anything, we have swelled their ranks.

We have also estblished firm bases on the boarders of Iran and Syria...

The ancients had a word for such thinking. They called it Empire.

Which, if you'll take a look at the goals of the Project For a New American Century, is exactly what the neo-cons want. Such thinking is only going to hurt the US.
Mark S. (not for Shea) | 02.27.06 - 5:58 pm | #

Buckley smokes pot?!
Anne | 02.27.06 - 6:15 pm | #

Buckley smokes pot?!

"A Libertarian is simply a Republican who likes to get high." --- Drew Carrey

Seriously though. I don't know that Buckley has ever toked, but he does support the legalization of marijuana. That doesn't necessarily mean he's a user.
Mark S. (not for Shea) | 02.27.06 - 6:30 pm | #

At least once, Buckley famously smoked pot on a yacht quite purposely beyond the jurisdiction of U.S. law. But one can come to the conclusion that he must have stopped smoking the stuff to finally come to his senses on Iraq, even if imperfectly.

Both Fukyhama and now Buckley. Must be starting to get lonely on that sinking ship among the Lesser Gods of War left behind.
Celine | 02.27.06 - 6:58 pm | #

At least once, Buckley famously smoked pot on a yacht quite purposely beyond the jurisdiction of U.S. law.

Buckley was kidding himself if he thought that smoking pot, on a U.S.-registered vessel, was not a violation of U.S. laws. I wouldn't have wanted to be him if the Coast Guard had caught him toking away, even on the high seas. (Also, I'd want to know how he got the marijuana. Assuming he brought it with him, then he was violating laws against possession before he even left territorial waters.)
Seamus | 02.27.06 - 7:57 pm | #

A firend of Chris Buckley's provided. It was thirty years ago. He has not, shall we say, made much of a habit of it.
Ed the Roman | 02.28.06 - 10:54 am | #

"He has not, shall we say, made much of a habit of it."

Let's hope not Ed. However considering the wretched quality of some of of his Blackford Oates novels, I would hate to think that Mr. Buckley was producing those pretentious potboilers completely drug free!
Donald R. McClarey | 02.28.06 - 12:29 pm | #