Iraq: Civil war precipice

Wednesday, March 1, 2006

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

Even U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad lacks the power to wish away civil war in Iraq. Explosions blew holes Tuesday in the ambassador's upbeat assessments. Americans, Iraqis and most of the world can continue to hope a full-scale civil war may still be avoided but the sectarian violence shows the threat has grown.

Tuesday's new outbursts of violence should spur Iraqi politicians to work harder than ever to settle their differences. Ultimately, only Iraqis can mend their country.

But the job is going to be even tougher than imagined immediately after the destruction of a landmark mosque sparked Sunni-Shiite confrontations. Emerging reports show that many more Iraqis had died in the sectarian attacks than authorities wanted to admit.

That's no surprise. The Bush administration's capacity for self-delusion remains robust three years after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld bullied his commanders into sending a too-small force to do a job he suggested would take months.

The non-governmental International Crisis Group has a cautious attitude about Iraq's prospects. The Christian Science Monitor said the group issued a report Monday warning: "The international community, including neighboring states, should start planning for the contingency that Iraq will fall apart, so as to contain the inevitable fallout on regional stability and security."

The Bush administration has displayed a remarkable ability to hear and see only what it wants. Iraq demands attention to real dangers.

Soundoff (Read 36 comments)
Tell us what's on your mind.


Should U.S. troops stay in Iraq if the violence grows into a full-scale civil war?
11.7% Yes	19.8% Yes, but we may have to be ready to assist in a division into three nations
20.2% No	44.9% No, we should leave immediately
3.4% Not sure or other
Total Votes: 615