Sunni Areas of Iraq in Open Rebellion

by Mary

The military reports Fallujah is now 80% subdued. Nevertheless, Iraq seems to be going down hill quite fast now.

Despite the apparent success in Fallujah, violence flared elsewhere in the volatile Sunni Muslim areas, including Mosul, where attacks Thursday killed a U.S. soldier. Another soldier was killed in Baghdad as clashes erupted Friday in at least four neighborhoods of the capital. Clashes also broke out from Hawija and Tal Afar in the north to Samarra -- where the police chief was also fired -- and Ramadi in central Iraq.

The most serious incidents took place in Mosul, a city of about one million people, where fighting raged for a second day. Gunmen attacked the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party in an hourlong battle that a party official said left six assailants dead.

Militants also assassinated the head of the city's anti-crime task force, Brig. Gen. Mowaffaq Mohammed Dahham, and set fire to his home.

And it seems that the only way to keep an "Iraqi" face on the battles where Americans are supposed to be backing Iraqi troops in their battle to overcome the insurgents is by using Kurdish troops. Neither the Sunni nor the Shite populations are willing to be part of the Iraqi army in the battle against the Sunni cities. It is a serious mistake to use Kurdish troops if your goal is prevent a civil war.

Juan Cole says that the Arab press indicates that the guerrillas have taken over Mosul and there are no more Iraqi government police left. The US military is now working to subdue this latest rebellion. With 49 American soldiers dead just since the election and the uncounted Iraqi civilians that have died in the past two weeks, Iraq seems to be an open seeping wound.