Iraq military official: Barrier will be built

[babylonsister]

http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=45306

Iraq military official: Barrier will be built


By Monte Morin, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, April 24, 2007

BAGHDAD — The fate of a controversial, concrete barrier under construction in one of Baghdad’s roughest neighborhoods remained uncertain Monday as Iraq’s prime minister ordered the barrier removed because it served as a reminder of “other walls that we reject.”

Less than a day after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for the wall’s removal, an Iraqi military spokesman insisted that work would go ahead as scheduled.

The statement from al-Maliki was an apparent reference to the Palestinian wall in Israel’s West Bank — a sore point in the Arab world. Al-Maliki issued his Sunday comments from Cairo, Egypt, as he is currently conducting a regional tour of neighboring countries.

“I’ve ordered it to stop and to find other means of protection for the neighborhoods,” al-Maliki said.

The comments follow several days of heated criticism for the project and charges that military commanders failed to seek adequate input from local residents. Al-Maliki’s comments have further muddied the already-confusing situation.

The barrier, which some U.S. soldiers have jokingly referred to as the “Great Wall of Adhamiyah,” consists of numerous, 12-foot-tall concrete barriers, which would stretch roughly three miles when fully assembled. The barriers are intended to divide Adhamiyah’s primarily Sunni population from surrounding Shiite neighborhoods and funnel traffic between the areas through checkpoints.

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[Ron Green]

1. Another U.S. export: Gated "communities"

[cliss]

2. Then my reply is: Go ahead and build it, then.

Once it's finished, it will raise such a stink around the world, it will be unbelievable. I've already read some comments on foreign online newspapers, and there is disgust, disbelief.

Disbelief.
How the US could do this, with the Berlin Wall + other walls still a sore subject for many people.

Another thing that's becoming apparent is the level of disarray with the US military. There doesn't seem to be a single voice, no real leadership. There are conflicting reports of things, he said this, no wait we'll build it anyway, we'll respect the prime minister of course, and then we got right ahead and do it.

NOT a good sign for the US troops in Iraq. It means that they are vulnerable. This is what Don Rumsfailed did to the Pentagon, by the way, when he gutted it. He arranged it so everyone would be his sycophant. Problem is, he got thrown out himself so there's a vacuum of leadership.

[ixion]

3. winning the hearts and minds... one wall at a time.

:eyes:

[angstlessk]

4. Soooo, this government is now run by its military..is there not a name for this?

Fascism? was there a coup when no one was watching? The military can override the highest civilian authority in the country??? Wow..I did not know this!