Iraq Fears Return Of Sectarian War, This Time With Added Political Dimension -- The Guardian
Shias and Sunnis increase attacks amid concern Syria war could raise violence to levels of deadliest period in nation's history.
Abu Muhammad lies in his front room and tells a story depressingly familiar by Iraqi standards. A public servant, he was travelling to work when he hit traffic at the nearest checkpoint to the highway out of his neighbourhood. So he took a detour and used another checkpoint that would take him through a predominantly Shia area.
One hundred metres from the checkpoint he was blocked by two cars and dragged from his vehicle by masked, armed men. "They didn't seem to know my name. They swore at me and when I asked what they were doing, I was hit on the head with a pistol. I fought and then they shot me in the foot. They tried to put me in the boot but I managed to break free. Then I was running. That's when they shot me again."
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My Comment: Sunnis and Shiites have been at conflict with each other for centuries .... so fears of a return to the sectarian violence of a few years ago are completely justified. But unlike a few years ago .... there is no U.S. military presence in the country to clamp down on such a surge of violence. For the moment .... the Iraqi security forces and military are loyal to the government .... but if the violence continues (and it is continuing) .... who knows how long this unity can last.
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