Comments on: The Real News…

By: verplanck colvin

verplanck colvin — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 15:35:08 +0000

Thanks jed, that’s what I meant. When you say ‘previous supression’, I imagine you mean shia suppression under saddam. Of prime concern is that the shia don’t turn around and do to the sunnis what saddam did to the shia.

Also, keeping the Kurds happy is important as well. There have been reports of an independence movement gaining steam, if they decide to secede then the whole country will probably go up in flames. Kirkuk could turn into a new Jerusalem, with Sunnis and Kurds fighting for the city they both think is “theirs”.

By: erik

erik — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 03:52:28 +0000

I guess I can see that POV.

By: jed

jed — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 01:07:02 +0000

I believe Mr. Colvin was suggesting that the need to have a voice representing the Sunni people is of a greater necessity due to previous suppression; I didn’t read into his comments that this group should be given more votes or greater governmental representation than their due… unlike the views of the US administration regarding this matter.

By: erik

erik — Tue, 28 Dec 2004 22:30:36 +0000

It?s hard to call the negative news ?spin? when Iraq cannot keep a standing army.

You missed the point of my post. I’m not against the media covering the negative aspects of the war. Certainly they need to be covered as much as anything. I’m only asking that the media consider covering just a meager few of the positive things that are going on as well.

As for the article you linked to, favorable public opinion isn?t good news, stability is good news.

Methinks stability cometh not without favorable public opinion.

In any event, the Sunnis need representation as much (if not more) than the Kurds and Shia.
…
That?s not democracy, that?s election tampering.

Wouldn’t giving ths Sunnis more representation than they are due be election tampering? Check your words next time, please, Mr. Colvin.

By: verplanck colvin

verplanck colvin — Tue, 28 Dec 2004 22:13:06 +0000

It’s hard to call the negative news “spin” when Iraq cannot keep a standing army. Its fledgling police force is falling apart, as witnessed in Mosul (where most of the 5000 militia units deserted) or Faluja (where up to 1/3 of the forces defected and fought for the insurgency).

As for the article you linked to, favorable public opinion isn’t good news, stability is good news. If the media doesn’t have attacks that leave many innocents dead every day to report on, then that is good news. I’ll start worrying about media bias when they are breathlessly reporting on attacks in the middle of nowhere that wounded a couple of people (as opposed to massive car bombs exploding at the walls of the Green Zone that kill dozens).

In any event, the Sunnis need representation as much (if not more) than the Kurds and Shia. I’m not sure what the significance of “just 20%” means, but I’d think that 100% of the Iraqi people need a voice. And the current administration is contemplating rigging the vote to get more Sunnis into the government (since the last major Sunni party withdrew from the elections). That’s not democracy, that’s election tampering.