Out of Control Iraq

The enemies of the new Shiite- and Kurdish-dominated Iraqi government are taking advantage of its weakness -- reflected in its failure to finalize a cabinet list and its dearth of Sunni Arab representation -- in order to launch a major terrorist offensive that has killed almost 200 people since the government was announced last week, with 21 killed today:

"The scene was like a slaughterhouse with body parts everywhere, heads, hands, eyes," [17 year-old Abdul-Razaq] Sarmab said. "It was terrible. Those who are doing this are animals because it is all against Islam."

If this new government is going to survive, it needs to assert its strength and authority as soon as possible. The first step must be finalizing the composition of the government itself by reaching a compromise with the Sunni Arabs over suitable Sunni candidates for the remaining cabinet posts. Once these posts are filled, the government leaders from all ethnic and religious groups must stand together and call on all Iraqis to support the government and denounce terrorism.

Next, the new government should emphasize its power by beginning the trials of Saddam Hussein and his cronies immediately. The continuing presence of the former Ba'ath party leadership is a destabilizing factor that gives hope to those who wish to restore Ba'ath party rule. Trying Saddam would deflect attention away from the anti-government attacks and signal that the new government has superseded his power. Convicting and executing him will close his chapter in Iraqi history, eliminating any chance that he will one day return to rule Iraq and demoralizing the Ba'athist contingent in the insurgency.

In the face of a strong, inclusive, and assertive government, a terrorist insurgency that slaughters innocent people cannot last. With the people and the government united against it, it will gradually be destroyed. However, if the government remains weak or sectarian, the bloodshed may continue indefinitely.