In the spirit of other threads that are inquisitions to what's not entirely well known, I'd like to know what's going on in Iraq. It started out, shortly after "Mission Accomplished," as a lot of talk about al-Qaeda operatives committing terrorism in Iraq, but lately I've gotten the impression that recent resistance has gone from terrorism to guerrilla warfare. And that step doesn't often happen without the help of large numbers, which often indicates popular support.
http://www.dawn.com/2004/08/13/top12.htm
Quote:
NAJAF, Aug 12: US marines backed by tanks and aircraft seized the heart of Shia holy city of Najaf on Thursday in a major assault on guerillas of Mehdi Army that drove world oil prices to record highs.
[...]
DEPUTY GOVERNOR RESIGNS: Shortly after the attack began, Najaf deputy governor Jawdat Kadam Najem al-Kuraishi resigned in protest "against all the US terrorist operations that they are doing against this holy city."
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After the shutdown of al-Jazeera in Baghdad, and earlier the shutdown of Al Hawza in Fallujah, it's just seeming more and more like we replaced a dictatorship with a dictatorship. I'm also of the understanding that certain officials are afraid of holding free elections for fear that religous figures would win the elections and a theocracy would be put in place. I'm bummed out by that, but to hold off on elections because of fears over people you don't like being democratically elected is un-democratic.
So, what exactly is the status in Iraq in terms of who's fighting, why we're fighting back so hard, and when free elections are going to be held?