QUOTES OF THE DAY
[Note: light blogging today, as I try to catch up on work and sleep, unfortunately in that order. You can still catch my piece on Chester, "The God Complex"--and look for a sequel on his site this Thursday.]
Jumping the Shia gun
UPDATE: CNN reported just minutes ago that Ibrahim al-Jaafari is the Shia coalition's nominee for the prime minister position.
I believe I have a majority of the [UIA] votes on my side right now.
-- Media-wise Ahmad Chalabi, appointing himself the favorite to become Iraq's new prime minister. At the same time, however, sources within the Shi'ite coalition announced that Dawa party leader Ibrahim Jaafari would be its candidate for the top slot.
(AFP)
Update: we now read that Allawi is stepping back into the fray, having garnered the support of several non-Shia parties for his bid to retain his Prime Minister post. This is good news, of course--not that Allawi is the best man for the position, but it indicates the degree of horse-trading taking place among Iraqi leaders, and the fact that the Shia may not have the lock on victory as everyone has assumed.
(Mariam Karouny, Reuters, via Informed Comment)
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Declaration of independence
It is my civic duty as a Lebanese to take part in this uprising. Enough bloodshed and disasters. It is the 21st century, and people should be able to govern themselves. The situation has become unbearable and we have to regain our country.
-- Youssef Mukhtar, a 47-year-old engineer in Beirut
Karam's writes that "tens of thousands" of people marched in the streets of Beirut to register their opposition to Syria's continued illegal occupation of Lebanon. DEBKAfile reports, however, that only "thousands" marched--"not a massive turn-out"--and that opposition hopes were further set back by when Lebanese parliament speaker Shiite Berri declared his support for the pro-Syrian government. Still, with those two cowboys, Bush and Chirac, gunning for Assad, how long can the varmint stay in control?
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Reality TV
They told me I had to fight a holy war against the Americans. [Terrorist leader] Abdullah told me my children would be killed if I did not obey.
-- Saad Ghanim, confessing in a videotape broadcast on Iraq's state-run Iraqiyya TV network that terrorists paid him $500 to rob a man of $30,000, then kill him. Ghanim's concern for his children only went so far, it seems: he further admitted on TV to spending his share of the loot on "gambling."
(Michael Gregory, Daily Times)
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Boycotters' regret III
We made a big mistake when we didn't vote. Our votes were very important.
-- Sunni Sheik Hathal Younis Yahiya
When we said that we are not going to take part, that didn't mean that we are not going to take part in the political process. We have to take part in the political process and draft the new constitution
-- Adnan al-Duleimi, the head of Sunni Endowments in Baghdad.
(Patrick Quinn, AP)
This increasing awakening of Sunni leaders comes even as U.S. officials and "resistance" commanders have opened "back-channel" negotiations.
Obviously, this is fantastic news. But I don't think we should go as far as Power Line and suggest the fascists are ready to surrender--not when when New York Times' James Glanz reports how the paramilitaries are essentially attacking Baghdad's fuel, water and transportation lifelines. This is the 21st century form of siege warfare and militants with this level of knowledge and sophistication are not ready to surrender, not soon, at any rate.
Having said that, however, I find it ridiculous--almost offensive--to read Juan Cole state that "the anonymous elections have not had a significant impact in this guerrilla war." It almost sounds--and I know this can't be true because Mr. Cole is a honorable man--the good professor would be disappointed if the case were otherwise. Still, since his comments are so informed, he can remind us once again: what exactly are the goals of this "insurgency?"