Study says ethnic cleansing, not surge, reason for drop in violence in Iraq

[Wetzelbill]

Satellite images show ethnic cleanout in Iraq

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Satellite images taken at night show heavily Sunni Arab neighborhoods of Baghdad began emptying before a U.S. troop surge in 2007, graphic evidence of ethnic cleansing that preceded a drop in violence, according to a report published on Friday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080919/sc_nm/iraq_lights_dc

on edit:

I dedicate this post to John McCain.

[blogslut]

1. I'll kick this

But I hate the term "ethnic cleansing" with the force of a million white-hot suns.

The word is genocide.

[sasha031]

2. I remember reading Baghdad Burning and the ethnic cleansing

the horror, it was a slaughter. There was a time when Sunni or Shiite wasn't an issue in Iraq. They lived together in peace.

[The Magistrate]

3. This Is Common Knowledge Among Informed People, Sir

The violence began to subside when people started running out of easy targets; that is generally what stops violence.

It is good to see Yahoo giving this some billing.

[Wetzelbill]

5. that along with the Sunni Awakening and Shia militia ceasefire

Very common knowledge, you just have to pay attention to the situation a little bit. But when you have a whole political party polluting the debate without knowing a Shia from a freaking Sunni.. oh hell you know. :)

[bunnies]

4. k&r. Proof that Obama was right. Again. nt

[AntiFascist]

6. K&R, this needs much more exposure...

next they will be trying to cleanse out the Shiites, just wait. (Recall McCain: "Bomb, bomb, bomb...bomb, bomb Iran")

[central scrutinizer]

7. Is "Anbar Awakening" another euphemism for ethnic cleansing?

[Wetzelbill]

9. hmmmm...

Well most inhabitants are Sunni to begin with, but I don't think too many Shia stuck around once the civil war began. Immediately after the fall of Baghdad the province was pretty quiet. Most of Anbar's violence was Sunnis fighting among themselves and against U.S. soldiers, although, like I said, I doubt too many Shia stuck around, and if they did they probably didn't live too long.

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. I've been saying this since they started this "success" shit.

[Wetzelbill]

10. oh yeah

It doesn't take a genius to assess the situation and see that. But our debate is so polluted in this country, it's just infuriating.

[tandot]

11. K & R

[olegramps]

12. Americans should hang their head in shame

The United States military has provided the Shia with the cover to conduct one of the most disgraceful ethnic cleansing in recent history. Millions of Sunni have been driven out of the county under death threats with over two million, mostly women and children huddling in refuge camps after their husbands and fathers have been slaughtered. The only surge that took place was the surge of millions fleeing for their lives. Don't forget that the Shia have unleashed a campaign against the few remaining Christians and other minority religions that enjoyed a degree of protection under the Saddam government. God only knows how many men, women and children have been killed or maimed by our reckless bombing of civilian targets. Mission accomplished. What a disgraceful use of our military forces. Its no damn wonder that so many returning vets are suffering from traumatic syndromes.

[Wetzelbill]

13. my cousin was in Iraq

He's about to go to Afghanistan too. I guess it's made him a changed man, pretty tough on him.

[underpants]

14. Needs a Saturday...

SURGE!!!!!!!!!!

:kick: