QandO

June 25, 2004

Talking the talk
Posted by McQ

Well, they're talking the talk, it still remains to be seen as to whether they can walk the walk, but I do think they've got the right attitude:

In Baghdad, the country's new leadership, due to assume sovereignty in five days, promised stern action against the insurgents, claiming much of the unrest was directed by foreigners but offering no proof.

``Our culture, our customs have been destroyed,'' interim Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan said. ``The time has come for a showdown.''

As we've mentioned here countless times, after June 30th, things are going to be done by the Iraqi government that we didn't dare do.

As the situation worsened, Iraq's interim vice president warned that a drastic deterioration in the country's security could result in the implementation of emergency measures or martial law - however undesirable that may be in a democratic society.

``Announcing emergency laws or martial law depends on the nature of the situation. In normal situations, there is clearly no need for that (step),'' Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shiite and member of the Islamic Dawa Party, told The Associated Press in an interview.

``But in cases of excess challenges, emergency laws have their place,'' he said, adding that any such laws would fall within a ``democratic framework that respects the rights of Iraqis.''

It'll be interesting to see how the Iraqis choose to confront the terrorists when the ball is completely in their court. My guess is we'll see a marked change in attitude and success against the terrorists. It has to do with having a vested interest, being part of the culture and wanting peace (and realizing that the only way it will happen is to participate). It may get some of the more reticent Iraqis off the fence and committed to seeing an end to the violence and chaos.

On Thursday, the coalition turned over the last 11 government ministries to Iraqi officials.

During the handover ceremony, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said the attacks were ``only acts of disturbances conducted by cowards'' meant ``to foil the democratic process.''

Yup ... now do something about it so they don't succeed in foiling it.

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