More Good News From Iraq

[Annie]

On another thread Yurt brought up how the terror attacks are slowing down the rebuilding. I agreed that where there were the attacks, things are moving at a slower pace than would be wished. Yet, as Comrade noted this morning, Iraq's economy is growing at over a 50% rate. Here one can find some of the reasons why:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110006724

The Dhia Muhsin Example
A roundup of the past two weeks' good news from Iraq.

BY ARTHUR CHRENKOFF
Monday, May 23, 2005 12:01 a.m. EDT

You may remember Dhia Muhsin, a carpenter from the working-class Baghdad neighborhood of al-Dora, who became a celebrity of sorts back in March, when he stood up to insurgents who terrorized his area. In a firefight lasting half an hour Mushin and his nephews killed three of them and forced the rest to retreat.

Well, two months on, Muhsin is still ready to take on any intruders: "I expect them [the insurgents] to come back and I'm ready to face them," says the 33-year old who seems to have inspired his neighbors:


Al-Dora residents had been too scared to face down the insurgents but after seeing Muhsin's bravery, some, it seems, have decided to fight back.
"We are ready to confront any terrorist and the people in the area, after they saw what I did, have become more daring and strong," said Muhsin.

Mudher Khudher, 42, a bakery owner, said he is proud of Muhsin['s] actions and he and others have decided to follow his example, "Dhia taught us that the terrorists are cowards and they can't face all Iraqis."

Saleem Barakat, 32, a student, called Muhsin a hero and noted that their street in al-Dora has been quiet since the insurgents were killed.

Al-Dora has not been violence-free since that day in March, but Mushin's example is a very important one for the Iraqi people. Insurgents and terrorists thrive on fear and passivity. They can't win when society turns against them.
This is a lesson that increasing numbers of Iraqis seem to be learning, and it is important more than ever, now that the past two weeks have passed under the shadow of a bloody suicide bombing campaign. This carnage around Iraq has dominated the media coverage, and once again it managed to overshadow most of the positive developments taking place around the country, in security and other areas of life. Below are some of these stories that you might have missed.

• Society. The selection of the new government finally reaches completion:


The Iraqi parliament has approved appointments for six cabinet vacancies, handing four more positions to the Sunni Arab minority. . . .
Less than half of the National Assembly, 112 of the 155 legislators present, approved Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari's six nominations on Sunday, including Shia Arab Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum as oil minister and Sunni military man Saadoun al-Duleimi as defence minister.

The other four designated ministers were Hashim Abdul-Rahman al-Shibli, a Sunni, as human rights minister; Mihsin Shlash, a Shia, as electricity minister; Osama al-Nujaifi, a Sunni, as industry minister; and Abed Mutlak al-Jiburi, a Sunni, as a deputy prime minister.

Reflecting an encouraging sentiment, Al-Shibili declined the nomination as Human Rights Minister, saying that "concentrating on sectarian identities leads to divisions in the society and state." As it stands:

The new government, most of which was sworn in last week, includes 17 Shia ministers, eight Kurds, six Sunnis and a Christian. Three deputy premiers have also been named, one each for the Shia, Sunnis and Kurds. A fourth deputy premiership remains vacant; al-Jaafari has said he hopes to appoint a woman to the position....

Lots more...

 

[Adam's Apple]

There is so much in that article that Americans would be interested in reading--and would read if it were available to them. Too bad the MSM has its own agenda and will only report on things that make the WOT look like a disastrous adventure. If the MSM were really smart, they would start looking around for articles like this to increase their ratings and gain back some of their lost credibility.

 

[Annie]

There is so much in that article that Americans would be interested in reading--and would read if it were available to them. Too bad the MSM has its own agenda and will only report on things that make the WOT look like a disastrous adventure. If the MSM were really smart, they would start looking around for articles like this to increase their ratings and gain back some of their lost credibility.

I was reading this on Chrenkoff's site before it was picked up by the WSJ. He still puts it on his own, but the WSJ at least helps get the word out!

 

[Annie]

Want some good news? Travel over here:

http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/002926.html

post is by someone recently back from Iraq.