By Jon P. Dorschner
Thu Nov 29, 3:00 AM ET
Tallil, IraQ - America's media and pundits' view of Iraq has been too Baghdad-centric. This year, they have judged whether the US surge succeeded almost solely by looking at violence levels in the city. Critics also pointed to the Baghdad government's failure to produce reconciliation legislation as a bellwether for the country.
But progress does not have to be measured by the security and politics of Baghdad alone. Maybe it is time to reframe the debate. Maybe the real trend line is elsewhere.
<...>
Dhi Qar's story is much different from that of Baghdad.
Almost 100 percent Shiite Muslim, its inhabitants participated in two abortive "uprisings" called by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Now instead of calling for uprisings, Mr. Sadr has ordered his Jaish al Mahdi militia to stand down, and violence has dramatically declined.Governance and security there have been in the hands of Iraqis for more than a year. The governor and popularly elected provincial council make policy, construct a provincial budget, and implement development plans, while the Iraqi Army and police maintain order.
US Army forces are seldom seen in Dhi Qar, while my PRT pursues projects in the area virtually unmolested.<...>
After years of violence, insurgency, and uprisings, the current window of relative peace may present an unprecedented opportunity to move ahead economically and politically. Provincial people and their governments appear determined to grab this opportunity and run with it,
with or without the government in Baghdad. And that is a legitimate sign of progress for the country.
• Jon P. Dorschner is a career foreign-service officer and the Iraq provincial affairs officer in the Italian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Dhi Qar Province.
This piece was subject to State Department review.(emphasis added)
Summary:
The author not only acknowledges the lack of political reconciliation in Baghdad, but also casts doubt on the security situation there, offering what he calls a "real trend line."
A city with an almost 100-percent Shiite population is being used as a model for security, and, even so, Moqtada al-Sadr's ceasefire plays a factor in the calm.
U.S. forces are seldom seem in the city.
The author concedes that this is real progress and the Iraqis should "run with it, with or
without the government of Baghdad."
"This piece was subject to State Department review." So does that mean the State Department acknowledges all of the above, and what does this say about their williningness to accept ethnic cleasing and partitioning?
edited typos
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