Iraq
Salama Na’mat
The terrorists in Iraq are not really trying to force U.S. troops out, said Salama Na’mat in the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat. Their real goal is “to prolong the occupation.” Just look at their targets: elected Iraqi officials, Iraqi police, Iraqi army recruits. The terrorists “and those Arab governments that support them” want to make sure that Iraq remains unable to provide its own security. As long as the violence continues, the U.S. occupying force must stay in Baghdad. And as long as that force is there, Iraq is not really independent or democratic. It’s easy to see why most of Iraq’s neighbors—Syria, Jordan, Iran—don’t want Iraqi democracy to thrive. A functioning Islamic democracy on their doorstep would provoke democratic activism among their own oppressed peoples. Perhaps those countries are actively supporting the terrorists or perhaps they are merely, through the media, giving them aid and comfort. Either way, we must hope they fail. Because one success in stifling Arab democracy will only inspire another. “The hired killers will move on from Iraq to Lebanon.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
Tips and tricks for VeganuaryThe Week Recommends Here are some of our best recommendations for a plant-based start to the year
-
FBI bars Minnesota from ICE killing investigationSpeed Read The FBI had initially agreed to work with local officials
