Another important read regarding current and past events in Iraq:
Sometimes it is difficult for people to look at events and their causes objectively. People tend to live in the moment and events which maybe news today are usually completely forgotten a week or two later.
A semi undeclared Iraqi civil war is more or less here, it might not be a full blown out faction v faction war in the classical sense, but it is a civil war none the less. Civilians are dying on all sides simply to serve the whims and greedy corruption of the few people at the top.
There is enough blame to go around:
I think the root of the current problems started way back when the American administration refused/ or were unable to capture Sadr and his gang back in 2004. That failure gave a very loaded message that there is a weakness in the coalition’s ranks and that has allowed a rag tag gang of 1000 or so criminals to escape, only to become now a very well armed militia of 10,000-20,000 men whom are well armed and emboldened by political and logistical support from Iran and it’s people in the current government.
Not a very hopeful read, but one worth absorbing for the context and perspective it provides.