U.S. Erects Baghdad Wall

[Felix]

From the New York Times:

BAGHDAD, April 20 — American military commanders in
Baghdad are trying a radical new strategy to quell the
widening sectarian violence by building a 12-foot-high,
three-mile-long wall separating a historic Sunni enclave
from Shiite neighborhoods.

Soldiers in the Adhamiya district of northern Baghdad,
a Sunni Arab stronghold, began construction of the wall
last week and expect to finish it within a month. Iraqi Army
soldiers would then control movement through a few
checkpoints. The wall has already drawn intense criticism
from residents of the neighborhood, who say that it will
increase sectarian tensions and that it is part of a plan by the
Shiite-led Iraqi government to box in the minority Sunnis.

East Germany, Israel, our own Mexican border, now Iraq. Walls.

The expected objections from Sunnis and others have already begun. How long before IEDs blow holes all along the wall?

[legaltender]

It's our country and we can do whatever we want with it. No one gives a rip if Iraqis feel isolated or outraged. Religious and ethnic separation has worked well in the past, no? And real estate values should skyrocket with "gated community" selling features.

Strangely, defacing the capital could be a turning point, galvanizing Iraqis against U.S. occupation. A symbolic rallying point that overlays sectarian revenge sprees and ignites national pride. It's better, after all, for the Iraqi's to have more contempt for Bush than each other.

[Jay]

Yah....this is going to work.... Mind as well just divide the country up in 2...

[legaltender]

Well, that was quick:

CAIRO, Egypt: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Sunday that he has ordered a halt to the construction of a barrier that would separate a Sunni enclave from Shiite areas in Baghdad, saying there are other ways to provide protection.

Maliki shot way up in my estimation, insofar as he recognizes he owes less to Bush than his own people.

Who equates a wall with "building freedom?"

[Homebrew Dave]

jay said:

Yah....this is going to work.... Mind as well just divide the country up in 2...

Make that 3. We can't forget the poor Kurdish peoples up in the northwestern region of Iraq who have been targeted for genocide by both Shi'a and Sunni factions for hundreds of years.


Dave

[stray]

Walls don't work.

Moats of fire, crucified dead babies, and land mines work.

[LimitedRecourse]

And yet we have the old adage: "Good walls make good neighbors."

[bernardjenkins]

I don't need no arms around me
And I don't need no drugs to calm me.
I have seen the writing on the wall.
Don't think I need anything at all.
No! Don't think I'll need anything at all.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall.
All in all you were all just bricks in the wall

Roger Waters Pink Floyd

[TNBear]

Stray, I think you may want to talk to your Dr. about the benifits of Zoloft. Actually, I would highly encourage it.