Many Iraqis will celebrate Ashura today.
The Iraqi government has worked very hard to ensure the safety of pilgrims this year. Last year, there were many coordinated attacks on celebrants. Keep your eyes on the news today – how Iraqi security forces deal with today’s events will be used by both pro and anti-war pundits as a yardstick to measure progress or lack of progress in this nation.
The bottom line is this: if the insurgency wants the coalition to leave Iraq, they should stop killing Iraqis and attacking the fledging government. They should stop blowing up school children and people in markets. They should stop attacking one another based on past differences. It is time to grow up. Iraq can’t develop if people aren’t allowed to go about their daily business in peace. And the coalition isn’t going to leave until Iraqis can manage their own security. The insurgency is only holding things up. Iraq must evolve.
Today will be an interesting day here. I hope the Iraqi security forces perform well and the world sees progress in this nation that needs rebuilding, not further tearing down.