Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

An ‘Islamic civil war’ in Iraq?

Here is John "NightWatch" McCreary’s emphatic conclusion about the significance of an Iraqi security official’s charge that Arab states are behind the recent bombings in Basra: US forces have no relevance to this fight, would make themselves a Christian target in an Islamic civil war and need to leave before it gets worse. Any time ...

البصراوي/flickr
البصراوي/flickr
البصراوي/flickr

Here is John "NightWatch" McCreary's emphatic conclusion about the significance of an Iraqi security official's charge that Arab states are behind the recent bombings in Basra:

Here is John "NightWatch" McCreary’s emphatic conclusion about the significance of an Iraqi security official’s charge that Arab states are behind the recent bombings in Basra:

US forces have no relevance to this fight, would make themselves a Christian target in an Islamic civil war and need to leave before it gets worse. Any time the Muslims fight among themselves, it strengthens the security of Israel and limits Iranian meddling in Afghanistan. There is no need for American children-soldiers to die to stop an Islamic civil war. Once democracy was instituted in Iraq, this outcome was inevitable.

Not so fast! The AP reports that some American officials are contemplating whether to slow the pace of troops withdrawals from Iraq. Of the Iraqi elections and political situation, U.S. ambassador Chris Hill tells the AP, "This is really not bad." When ambassadors start talking like that it is time to make sure your exit visa is valid.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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