More Friendly Chats

"The news today of a terrorist plot stopped in its tracks hit Iraqis sideways. According to authorities, a plane was to be hijacked from Najaf airport and flown into the resting place of Imam Ali in a plot that mirrored the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washingon. It will be intresting to see how the western papers report this tomorrow.

Many people here say it's a sign at how desperate the terrorists are to stir up sectarian violence. They haven't been able to ignite it with smaller attacks, and they are under pressure to do something big. They feel a need to stage an attack as devestating as that on the Golden Mosque attack of 2006. Sure it may sound like nonsense. Just as it is important to listen to the experts who might have an objective perspective on Iraq, I'd like people to listen to Iraqis for insight.

Take how the vacuum in the Iraqi government has been examined. For example, the Carnegie Endowment's Marina Ottaway writes: "There is a distinct possibility that neither Nouri al-Maliki nor Iyad Allawi will form the next government, although they head the two coalitions with the largest number of seats."

Here people say it's either Maliki or Allawi. I talked with a group of young men who gave some thoughts."
IraqPundit