Sirened

Secretary of Defense Bob Gates said today that it was disappointing that Sunni leaders have been difficult in the Iraqi parliament. He also said the Bush administration underestimated how difficult it would be to reconcile differences between Sunni’s and Shia’s. Shocker!

It’s not surprising that the minority group which held greater power under Saddam and have subsequently lost that power are not happy about not getting what they want. Especially when it’s what the US wants them to do-things like properly distributing oil revenues and gaining more control of their country while also being occupied.

When things get heated in the Iraqi parliament, it has been common practice for Sunni’s to just walk out. Hell, why bother when you can just leave right? And now that there’s even more pressure by the US to get things done, their vacation could not have come at a better time.  

There are difficult issues that need sorting and they will need the month to clear their heads (and hell, maybe flee the country like a lot of other educated Iraqi’s have). So when they return they will be more level headed when they get upset and decide to walk out the door again.

Gates did express optimism in that security in Iraq is better than he expected it to be a few months ago. And this comes when just today a bomb when off in front of a police station in northeast Baghdad killing at least 13. No biggie though, just another day in Bagtown.

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