Blood In The Streets

by Teresa Beau

I'm certain it's not the first time blood has run in the streets of Baghdad, but it's certainly the worst. Yesterday, over 100 people were killed in bombings and shootings in Iraq's capitol, including attacks on Baghdad University.

Four of those killed were United States soldiers assigned to the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

Prime Minister al-Maliki's response to the killings was to blame Sunnis, claiming the killings were reprisals for the brutally botched hanging of Sadam's brother-in-law, which resulted in his decapitation. Al-Malaki stated, "the remnants of the previous regime were dealt a severe blow that put an end to their fake dreams forever."

It is becoming more and more obvious that all dreams for a peaceful, free Iraq are "fake dreams." The United Nations has reported that 34,000 Iraqis were killed during 2006, and 2007 is starting out with more massacres.

Additionally, Iraqi cabinet ministers and legislators loyal to Shia death squad militia godfather, al-Sadr, were instructed to end their six-week boycott of the political process, giving al-Sadr the controlling voice in the Iraqi legislature.

In the midst of this ramped-up sectarian violence, and blood literally running through the streets of Baghdad, our President has ordered that approximately 21,000 American troops be added to those in-country, by extending the tours of those already in Iraq and by returning those recently cycled out of Iraq before their scheduled date. He is sending our young men and women, exhausted from the horrifying day to day carnage, without the promised respite, to Iraq to guard the "inmates in the asylum," in some futile attempt to keep them from slaughtering each other.

These words may sound harsh, but just what else would you call it at this point? There's no new strategy, no new ideas, no new diplomatic or political solutions. NOTHING! And NOTHING our troops can do will stop this 1,400 year old hatred and blood-letting. Pres. Bush is merely sending them to stand, and even die, in the blood-filled streets between two raging monsters determined to gnash each other to pieces. If Israel were killing Muslims at the rate Iraqis are killing each other, there would be a cry of outrage like no other from many of the very same people who are now doing or sponsoring the killing!

Of course, I agonize over the global consequences of a middle east that is enthralled in a sectarian war for the ages, but I wonder if there is anything at all our presence there can do to stop it. There are forces who can have an effect, and perhaps even broker peace in Iraq. They are Arab forces, such as Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, etc. Not only do they speak with the same voice as the Iraqi people, but they have much more credibility with those in Iraq than President Bush.

Our Congress must act, where our President is unwilling, and bring Iraq's neighbors to the table, and they must act to stop the escalation of our forces. In a country where the violence is already escalating, on a moment by moment basis,U.S. escalation will only add more of the blood of our young men and women to the blood flowing through the streets.

(Please take a moment to listen John Edwards' speech Silence is Betrayal in which he describes OUR responsibility to speak out, act, and make a difference: http://www.johnedwards.com/media/video/mlk-day-riverside-church/)