WASHINGTON, D.C. (4/26) -
Although attacks have slowed down from a few weeks ago, there are
still an average of forty-two attacks a day on U.S. and others
forces in Iraq. Is it getting better or worse?
Today, the U.S. sought to move in on a building in Baghdad
where it was thought that chemical weapons were being made. As the
building was being approached it exploded .
The deadly explosion
killed two American soldiers, wounded others and destroyed two
U.S. Humvees. The Monday explosion in Baghdad was followed by a
weekend which included a new strategy in Iraq - involving
the synchronized explosion of three boats by sea in a port at Basra
-
resulting in four American deaths and a some disruption of Iraqi
oil distribution.
Today, al Qaeda claimed credit for the Basra
boat attack.
Fallujuah, Najah as al Sadr
may provide flashpoints for greater violence. Although the U.S.
has exerted a degree patience and military restraint
recently, the situation is very volatile.
On one side, it is argued that the purported ceasefire is
permitting the resistance to U.S. to strengthen itself and
fortify. Some, including Aljazeera assert that many of the
resistance forces are returning to their homes and that the time
is permitting political division among what appeared to be a
Sunnni Shi'ite uprising which is weakening the al Sadr incited
movement.
In Najah, there are assertions that al Sadr and his militia are
storing weapons in mosques and using the mosques as shields for
their resistance. Although, mosques and churches are not immune
from military attack if they are used for military purposes in a
war, the political and social consequences of damaging or
destroying any of the historic and religious symbols of the Muslim
religion would be immense.
Al Sadr continues to defy the U.S and remains held up in Najah.
After strongly and repeatedly asserting that al Sadr would be
arrested for the murder of a moderate Muslim cleric last year,
restraint has been exercised and the language soften by the U.S.
Although there may be no silver bullet solution, more patience
with the situation is required than that which lead to the Iraq
war and the failure to permit further U.N. inspections.