Iraqis are using their freedoms to demand jobs and economic progress, including in Basra:
Hundreds of Iraqi demonstrators massed in this southern city Thursday to demand the local governor's ouster while protesters elsewhere stormed a local government building, the latest examples of the anger sweeping the country over poor government services and high unemployment.
About 600 people gathered in front of the Basra provincial headquarters, facing off against police who were protecting the building. With the exception of some pushing and shoving, witnesses said the protest was largely peaceful.
On the bright side, the Iraqis have the right to expect that their government will be responsive to them; and if not, the people can vote the bums out. Hopefully the government understands that peaceful protests are allowable and that the use of force should be severely constrained.
The focus on jobs rather than security is a sign that security is better in Iraq, even as we draw down our forces. The statistics bear this out:
Terrorist violence in Iraq was down 20 percent in 2010 compared to the previous year. Since the peak of 2006-7, such violence is down over 90 percent. Terrorists, mostly Sunni Arabs, including al Qaeda, continue to set off bombs and assassinate people, but most of the country sees little or no such violence. The terrorists prefer to make their most spectacular attacks in places, like Baghdad, where international media will notice, and make it seem like the war continues. But it doesn't.But by focusing on the capital where the media is concentrated, the dwindling terrorists can appear stronger.
Still, we'd rather have more than a token number of troops in Iraq after this year to help the Iraqis where they lack capabilities, as Secretary Gates testified:
Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a House committee Wednesday that the Obama administration is interested in having more military personnel in Iraq after 2011 than the roughly 150 who are currently scheduled to remain.
I still think we need 25,000 for a decade, at least, to protect Iraq's borders and fledgling democracy.
And hey, Iraqis are already learning to love pointless demands for money:
The Baghdad city government is demanding that the United States pay $1 billion and apologize for damage to the city caused by blast walls erected during the nearly eight-year long war.
Can a lawsuit be far behind? They grow up so fast!
UPDATE: Kurdish security forces overreact and kill two protesters. Sadly, the Kurdish leaders seem more interested in autonomy from Baghdad than real democracy.
