Anger in Baghdad as Americans finish wall

[rodeodance]

Source: telegraph



Anger in Baghdad as Americans finish wall

Last Updated: 2:04am BST 03/05/2007

American forces have completed construction of a concrete wall around the Baghdad district of Adhamiya despite protests from the Iraqi prime minister and local residents who claim that they are now at the mercy of militants.


The wall was intended to help control the activities of militants in the predominantly Sunni Muslim district. But it remains a bastion of extremist al-Qa'eda linked groups. Parts of the district are so thick with armed militants that they are no-go zones to coalition forces.

Capt Mohammad Jasim, an Iraqi soldier manning a checkpoint on the Adhamiya bridge, said: "The Americans did not listen to us. We think this wall has made the area inside the wall more dangerous for people.
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Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/02/wiraq202.xml

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Umm... I thought we had stopped building?????

[AndyA]

1. I wonder how long it will be until this wall has a hole blasted in it.

Think about the message this sends to the Iraqi people. America is supposed to represent freedom. Yet we're putting up walls to separate.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

7. Well it's in Iraq.

How long does anything we've built last before someone blasts a hole in it?

The only reason it will stay is if the militants decide that it's good for them for whatever reason.

[orpupilofnature57]

2. ' We don't need no Segregation ,all in all it's just another Brick in the wall"

All in all it's just Shrub and all his gaul.

[maddezmom]

3. Iraqi military says no plan to halt security barriers across Baghdad 4/23

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- An Iraqi military spokesman said Monday that moveable, temporary security barriers are being built and used in hot-spots across Baghdad, but denied any plans to wall off the Sunni neighborhood of Adhamiya.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that he ordered a stop to the construction of a wall around Adhamiya, a Sunni enclave in northern Baghdad near a large Shiite community. The neighborhood has been plagued with violence.

Brig. Gen. Qassim Atta said al-Maliki was responding to "groundless" media reports that a permanent wall -- 40 feet high (12m) and 3 miles (5 km) long -- was being constructed.

"The prime minister is in agreement with the work of the security forces and the issue of security barriers," Atta said at a news conference in Baghdad. "We will continue to set up these barriers in Adhamiya and other areas."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x276828#276837

[SledDriver]

4. OK can we at least drop the "coalition" forces bullshit?

There are no "coalition" forces forces doing house-to-house. It's all US forces at this point.

[HereSince1628]

5. Clear evidence that Iraq doesn't have a functioning democracy

or clear evidence that America doesn't have a functioning democracy? Both? :shrug:

No functional democracy would allow it's elected officials orders to be overridden by an alien force.

No functional democracy would allow it's forces to ignore the orders of an allied elected official.

And I'm guessing clear evidence that the US can't leave because Iraq can't stand up because America has it's foot on their neck.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

13. Iraq has never been a functioning democracy.

The Iraqi government is a joke. Iraq has one functional security apparatus: the United States military. That is it. The Iraqi Army is a joke and their police force is riddled with militia members and death squads. They rely totally on the US for security when it comes to the government.

Maliki: We'd really rather not have you building this wall.

US: Well sure, we'll stop building it. And we'll stop guarding your motorcade, too.

Maliki: Wait! On second thought...


I'm not suggesting that this is what happened. What I am suggesting is that when you have that level of power in a country, the country can't really be said to be a functioning democracy in any meaningful way. Sure, they hold elections, but that's it. It's not democracy. It's chaos with voting booths.

[SpiralHawk]

6. Something there is that doesn't love a wall (or an AWOL war monger)

It's called reality, and the BushCo republicon cabal of corrupt cronies hasn't got a clue...

[LynnTheDem]

8. No one REALLY believed George W. bUsh's claims that Iraq was

SOVEREIGN, did they??!

I mean, other than the 28% ignorant MFing rightwingnut freepers.

[bemildred]

9. This is what failed in Fallujah.

It is an indicator of how far they have fallen that it is being done now in Baghdad, in an attempt to buy a little time.

[TexasLawyer]

10. "protests from the Iraqi prime minister and local residents "

What do the Iraqis think? That it's THEIR country? Sheesh! :sarcasm:

[krkaufman]

11. What total lack of concern for the civilians whom they've walled-in with the "terrorists"

Just appalling.

And ya gotta love how our military responded to the Prime Minister's call to stop building the wall.

[TacticalPeek]

12. K & R

:kick:

[StarryNite]

14. Mr. shrub, tear down that wall.