Saddam, death, and the surge

Some Iraqis are probably going to view Saddam's death in the same light as that of Atlahualpa (see last post). Others not. Here is a quote from The Washington Post's article today about his execution.

As the Shiites [in the execution room by government selection] chanted and proclaimed their loyalties to Sadr, who heads the Mahdi Army militia, which the United States is pressuring the Maliki government to dismantle, an Iraqi official turned to Haddad. "Now how are we going to disband the militia when we have such things?" the official asked.

After the outbursts, as Hussein recited his Islamic prayer for the second time, the chief hangman asked for silence. Then the floor of the gallows was opened.

The official's question is a good one. These were the official reps of the Iraqi government. They did not chant in the name of the Iraqi people, nor Islam, nor even the Shi'ite community. But in the name of one murderous militia leader who until recently was not even respected by most Shia.

Are these the people we are getting ready to send tens of thousands more of our soldiers and marines to fight for? Will they be fighting for this government? Against Sadr? Against the Sunni insurgents? The foreign jihadists? All of the above?