This is an opinion, worthy of reading, of a very close Iraqi friend (since high school):
"I think that anyone truly interested in freedom and democracy for the Iraqi people should carefully read the following good article and absorb its implications. It elucidates the real reason for Rumsfeld's recent visit to Iraq. He wanted to ensure that these ‘elements’ are not removed by the new government in Baghdad.
The new emerging Iraq is a composite of:
1. Saddamist core of the American-supported fighting force that is the foundation of the ‘new’ Iraqi army whose primary mission is to ‘fight the insurgency’ and to protect the political organs established by the US.
2. A ‘Lebanon’ style political structure that is led principally by ‘expat’ politicians. These leaders, in spite of serious political differences among themselves, are committed to a very long-time US presence in Iraq; and on mass privatization of Iraq national assets, whether it makes economic sense or not.
3. An economic structure that is based on these war barons intending to owning every thing in Iraq including oil, water, and land.
4. A political process that is based on show elections that produce political organs that is supposed to do many things but resolve the real challenges: economic hardships of the people of Iraq; the return of sovereignty to Iraq; demand removal of foreign presence and control; or, bring social and political harmony to enable the Iraqi people to determine their future.
In spite of the tons of talk about ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy’, the new Iraq is being reconstituted to be as repressive as the ‘old’ Iraq; and with even more corrupt political leadership."
S. Al-B.
The Way of the Commandos May 1, 2005
An Update: Iraqi commando battalion pulled out of Samarra May 5, 2005
General Adnan Thabit, center, and his American adviser, James Steele, at a meeting with local sheiks near Samarra.