The walls come down in Baghdad
posted at 6:30 pm on October 10, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Send to a Friend |
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
In 2007, part of the new security plan for Baghdad involved building blast walls between neighborhoods. This created a lot of controversy at the time, both here and in Baghdad, for dividing the city and cutting into trade. Critics of the war accused the US of committing “ethnic cleansing”, but in fact the walls contributed to the rapid decrease in violence in the Iraqi capital.
Now, with the city pacified and life returning to normal, the time has come to take down the walls:
Market by market, square by square, the walls are beginning to come down. The miles of hulking blast walls, ugly but effective, were installed as a central feature of the surge of American troops to stop neighbors from killing one another.
“They protected against car bombs and drive-by attacks,” said Adnan, 39, a vegetable seller in the once violent neighborhood of Dora, who argues that the walls now block the markets and the commerce that Baghdad needs to thrive. “Now it is safe.”
The slow dismantling of the concrete walls is the most visible sign of a fundamental change here in the Iraqi capital. The American surge strategy, which increased the number of United States troops and contributed to stability here, is drawing to a close. And a transition is under way to the almost inevitable American drawdown in 2009.
Not all of the walls will come down soon. Blast walls still protect the Green Zone, for instance, and will for the foreseeable future. One or more Sunni neighborhoods still have blast walls isolating them. Many people have grown used to the security they have provided, and some of the people interviewed by the Times advise against removing them at all.
Still, it seems that Iraqis in Baghdad have growing enthusiasm for putting past injuries aside and joining their neighbors. The space of time and the peace within it has allowed bitterness to fade. Businesses want freer traffic as well, in order to attract more customers. Blast walls make it difficult for anyone outside the area to find the shops within their circumference, and they hope to boost the economy with more traffic.
As some of the walls come down, and if the peace remains, momentum will build towards peace and coexistence between former blood enemies. When that happens, the Iraqis will be well on their way to reclaiming their own capital and their own future.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Ain’t victory a wonderful thing!
tee866 on October 10, 2008 at 6:33 PM
HUZZAH!!!
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 10, 2008 at 6:37 PM
The War is Lost—Harry Reid!
We will pull out of Iraq—Barack(Hopeless)Obama!
General(Betray-us)Patraeus—The Liberal Democratic Party,
Code el Pinko’s!!
Remember,use the Liberals words against them!
canopfor on October 10, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Everyone, SEND THIS TO HARRY REID’S OFFICE.
Sakaki on October 10, 2008 at 6:39 PM
The efforts in Baghdad are the test of the ideals of democracy in the 21st century. Much as the civil war tested the new republic, the Iraq war is a test of democracy itself. If it can succeed in bringing a permanent peace to a people who have been killing each other for near on 1500 years, then I’d say the ideals of democracy know no boundaries.
csdeven on October 10, 2008 at 6:40 PM
Note to Obama, Surge=Success
THANK YOU U.S. MILITARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
freeus on October 10, 2008 at 6:41 PM
I blame Bush.
Mike D. on October 10, 2008 at 6:43 PM
Will anyone thank John McCain for this?
Steve Z on October 10, 2008 at 6:45 PM
It is about time they followed my advice…Biden
right2bright on October 10, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Thank you, military.
SouthernGent on October 10, 2008 at 6:47 PM
It must be a sad thing,for the left,to keep
viewing Iraq through their rose coloured mind-
set of the War is lost,and nothing(talking points)
has changed!!
In this election,holding up a Victory sign,with
your two fingers and saying Iraq would be like
holding a cross up to a vampire!!
Its great to see Iraq LIBERATED,and getting better
daily,thanks to America,and the US MILITARY!:)
canopfor on October 10, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Mike D. on October 10, 2008 at 6:43 PM
DING!!! that is the line of the day!
tee866 on October 10, 2008 at 6:47 PM
OOOOOOOWWW… LMAO… that was hilarious but I’m going to be smelling blue raspberry for the rest of the day!
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 10, 2008 at 6:49 PM
I think we need “blast walls” over on HA CT Gay Marriage Thread…
God bless our military. Job well done.
HornetSting on October 10, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Awesome!
becki51758 on October 10, 2008 at 6:58 PM
This is a sign that victory is near. McCain should give this article to Obama at the debate and ask him if after the evidence that he has seen if it was worth it. This war IS worth the blood we’ve lost!
OriginalPechangas_son on October 10, 2008 at 6:59 PM
We’ve got a long way to go, but yes, this is certainly good news.
Send_Me on October 10, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Bush and McCain both deserve credit for this. But most of the credit goes to our fighting men and women and the people of Iraq who decided enough was enough.
I hope this all works out.
Terrye on October 10, 2008 at 7:02 PM
God Bless the Men and Women of the Untied States and Coalition Military forces that sacrificed so much to make this possibe…………………….
……………. and to Harry Reid, Barrack Obama, and the rest of the Democrats and MSM that have done everthing in their power to cause the defeat of our forces in Iraq over the past five years, shove this story up your as#!
Might want to remember that come election day…….
Seven Percent Solution on October 10, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Our folks are the best. Good luck to the Iraqi people, we wish you well.
Cindy Munford on October 10, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Just imagine what the situation would be like if we had been forced into Barry’s surrender plan to withdraw all troops by this past April
Buy Danish on October 10, 2008 at 7:15 PM
I wish Bush and McCain would take the Dems and the MSM and stick their noses in this while beating hell out of their arses with a rolled up newspaper.
This is victory, and American heroes died for this freedom!!!
Obama and Biden wanted to run to Kathy’s restaurant and hide under a table.
McCain was right, Bush was also right. The Dems thankfully were powerless. Let’s keep it that way.
Hening on October 10, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Congratulations, Baghdad!
Frozen Tex on October 10, 2008 at 7:39 PM
Good news.
lexhamfox on October 10, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Thanks to our Coalition Forces to Generals Petraeus and Odorno and Sen. McCain for service above and beyond the call of duty. Raspberries for Sen. Obama who wants to take credit for other people’s judgment and hard work, just like his running mate.
eaglewingz08 on October 10, 2008 at 7:44 PM
Ummmm….has anyone told the Sunni’s this? The last I heard the Shite dominated government had not yet taken on administration of the Sunni provinces. The self superior Sunni’s are sure to demand much more than can be spared by the Shites. It is a stand off for the moment until the election is passed.
BL@KBIRD on October 10, 2008 at 7:46 PM
Suprised Barry isn’t on top of one of the walls taking credit.
profitsbeard on October 10, 2008 at 7:47 PM
God Bless them.
Glynn on October 10, 2008 at 7:48 PM
This will be Bush’s legacy.
ClintACK on October 10, 2008 at 7:48 PM
very nice, :salute:
trailortrash on October 10, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Dear US Troops,
You were always winners, from the very first day you set foot on foreign soil. To many of us, there was never a doubt. To the cowardice left, there was nothing but doubt.
The light of your success is shining bright on the world stage.
Thank you.
fogw on October 10, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Progress.
Yakko77 on October 10, 2008 at 9:41 PM
I’m wondering, why McCain? I seem to recall various occasions where McCain was questioning the competence of officers, such as GEN Abizaid, back in 2006. The Bush/McCain doctrine, summed up, is this: (1) War is about bigger guns and more of them.(2) If plan “A” doesn’t work, input more money. (3) If that doesn’t work, input more troops.
Counterinsurgencies are not won this way. More American troops is not the answer, never was. Two crucial mistakes were made in the beginning: (1) we accepted capitulation rather than surrender of the Iraqi army. (2) we instituted a de-Baathification policy, which effectively shut down essential services (i.e. all public works, police, fire, hospitals, etc.) throughout much of Iraq.
The surge, advocated by John McCain, in my opinion, is a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Imagine if you’re an insurgent. You see a lot more guys wearing US patches on their arms. Your wish to take over Iraq and do damage to the West is great. You have all the time in the world, whereas the Americans do not. You see that your ability to move and communicate dwindles due to the increased American presence. In response, you go to ground. Then, after the end of the surge of American troops, or after the Americans leave entirely, once the last American Soldier is out of Iraq and the President (whomever it may be) declares victory, you and every other insurgent will strike. Imagine the effect this would have on the United States, from a diplomatic standpoint, from an information operations standpoint, from a military standpoint.
Thankfully though, GEN Petraeus was able to convince the President and Secretary of Defense that the plan advocated by GEN Abizaid was a good idea: that plan was not the surge, but rather that we needed to (1) pair up Iraqi units with American troops for training, mentorship, and logistical needs until the Iraqis are capable of autonomous operations; (2) get the American troops we do have in theater out with the populace to win the fear, trust, and respect of the human terrain (e.g. fear from the enemy, trust from the locals, and respect from both). We are winning the war, but not because of McCain.
We give too much credit to McCain’s military wisdom. Not all who have military experience are great military tacticians and strategists.
Send_Me on October 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Semper Fi!
Johan Klaus on October 10, 2008 at 11:39 PM
I question the timing….
Kafir on October 10, 2008 at 11:59 PM