U.S. report warns of ethnic cleansing in Baghdad

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - U.S. officials in Baghdad fear that violence between Sunnis and Shi'ites in some areas will erupt into "ethnic cleansing" with the departure of U.S. forces, a government watchdog said on Thursday.

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction warned in a report that lower levels of sectarian violence attributed to President George W. Bush's surge strategy have not produced lasting political reconciliation in Baghdad and its neighboring Diyala province.

"Some of (the) districts and neighborhoods remain too 'hot' for reconciliation to take place," said the SIGIR report, which included a review of Bush's diplomatic initiative to stabilize Iraq with provincial reconstruction teams consisting of U.S. civilian and military officials.

"In areas that included mixed Sunni-Shia populations, we were told, the departure of U.S. forces would produce open battlegrounds of ethnic cleansing," the report said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18316551.htm

[TwilightGardener]

1. So...they'll trumpet that the "surge is a success", when it is only a temporary fix, and

then they'll use this threat of genocide as an excuse not to reduce troop levels any time soon--that's called having your cake and eating it too.

[jojo54]

2. History will say that the cake they ate, soured their stomachs.

That, at least, is a bright spot.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. "Let Freedom Reign!"

[lyonn]

4. What a crock...

We have been hearing for several years now how the Iraqis are forced to move from their homes due to their religion. Millions have left the country. Others are refugees in their country. Others are found dead in the streets of Baghdad. The bushies have no shame. They will say and do anything to baffle the people. Why not, it has worked for years now.

"Government Watchdogs" got that right, Dogs.