Outstanding (and darkly humorous) post.

Alex — “the Samarra shrine was attacked, and by Sunni fanatics in the 19th Century”

So, you’re saying that it’s been over a century since the last sectarian attack on the shrine. Interesting. If Bush hadn’t waged an illegal war of aggression, that record would still be growing.

Wow, another ethnocentric bigot. Welcome, welcome, we promise to put you back in your place.

You said: nn

You people all seem pretty anti-American in my book, you better watch who you talk about, I mean the U.S. is the most powerful country on earth, and if they wanted to, the U.S. could destroy Iraq.

nn

Who is ‘you people’? You mean the ones who oppose this war? Yes, we oppose this illegal invasion and occupation of our country. In fact most people around the world opposed this war because they knew the Iraqi citizenry would pay the price in the end. And we have.

If by ‘you people’ you mean those who stand up to the lies in the US media which have obviously stripped you of a spine, sure, yes, that’s us.

Anti-American? Hell, no. America is as vast and expansive as it is diverse. There many wonderful American people, some I would defend with my life. Do not make the imbecilic mistake of equating criticism of US foreign policy with anti-Americanism. That is the same pathetic argument used against those who criticize the occupation policies of Israel — that they are anti-semites.

We condemn the vile terrorist attack on the US in 9–11 as readily and as passionately as we condemn the barbaric invasion of Iraq.

And please, veiled threats? Pffffft … 3afit youba 3afit.

Secondly, the rebuilding of Iraq as you put it was never on the agenda. Must we yet again educate this simpleton and review the corruption, the embezzelment and thievery of Iraqi money by Bremer’s people?

Go look up Order 39, please. Also, I would suggest you review the history of Iraq before talking — it seems being stuck in the Green Zone taught you nothing.

I am Iraqi, get it, bra? Mislawi. I am not a terrorist but I am here to bury YOUR terrorist lies. Aight? I finished college long ago and never want to take another course.

If you really wanted to help Iraqis then you would put aside your ethnocentric drivel and listen. Listen to us. We are telling you, you have ruined our country.

Yes, Iraq under Saddam was difficult but it was safe, and it was stable. And our children could go to school without fear of a mortar shell falling on them, or a suicide bomber attacking a police convoy, or kidnap.

Brookings Institute has just revised its figures — up to 30 kidnappings in Baghdad alone. Thirty! That was unheard of before.

Most young Iraqis — young professionals who can rebuild their country are leaving. Half the Iraqi bloggers in Iraq now have already made preparations to leave?

Blame someone else for the carnage. You always do. Never look to your own mistakes. Your own greed, your own bigotry.

Leila, do Sunnis have mosques of their own in Iran? No, it is prohibited.

Iran wouldn’t do it. period. It’s the Imams’ shrine. You’ve GOT to be kidding me

The US– I doubt it (though I don’t discount it)– reason why– why not do it before eh? Why not bomb Karbala, that’d really freak ‘em out. No, instead the shrine that’s bombed is in Samarra, where control has been tenuous at BEST, and where there’s a very large non-shi’i population (hence, far easier to penetrate, unlike Karbala or Najaf)

In the end, this isn’t a sunni-shia thing. Most average sunnis would never do such a horrific thing.

As for shrines never being attacked in Iraq in history– that is not true. Look at Wahhab’s followers trying to take over Karbala in the 1800s. It’s not a new thing.