Iraq suffers bloodiest month in five years

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Source: Telegraph.UK

This rising drumbeat of violence reflects an increasingly bitter political conflict. Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister of a Shia-led government, has been accused of naked sectarianism, purging members of the Sunni minority from his administration.

Having boycotted the previous poll, Sunnis voted in large numbers during the last election in 2010 and the party they mainly favoured, Iraqiya, came first with 91 seats compared to Mr Maliki's 89.

But the prime minister put together a coalition that allowed him to stay in power and then used his victory to sack key Sunni politicians, notably Rafie al-Issawi, the respected finance minister, who was dismissed in December.

When Sunnis demonstrated against what they viewed as a Shia sectarian government, they were often bloodily repressed. Last month, the security forces destroyed a protest camp in the Sunni town of Hawija, killing at least 20 people.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10033757/Iraq-suffers-bloodiest-month-in-five-years.html

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1. Freedom! Peace! Oil!

Another stunning success for American foreign policy.

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2. Another stunning success for those of us who predicted the breakup of Iraq as a consequence,

and that the only winner would be Iran, before the dumb ass Neocons lied us into that war.

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3. It's a jingoist country

Looking for enemies and finding them everywhare.

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4. Amazing to juxtapose this with Bush saying he feels secure with his legacy, nt