Comments on: Sunni Awakening Leader Killed

By: Tlaloc

Tlaloc — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:43:00 +0000

Some political violence may simply be a fact of life; after all, the Israelis continue to endure it and nobody contends that they’re a failed state

There you go, attacking my ego again...

By: Hal

Hal — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:11:21 +0000

Okay. I can't remember the last time I saw the term "civil war" applied to Iraq in anything but the past tense and I probably frequent lefty blogs more than you.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:40:27 +0000

Hal: I'm neither saying that Iraq is currently at a level of stability comparable to Israel's or countering anyone in particular's charge that Iraq is in a civil war (although I do continue to see that term bandied about). Rather, I'm continuing my ongoing musings about how to define "good enough." Clearly, we're not going to turn Iraq into Sweden anytime soon. Just as clearly, things aren't as good as they could be at this point.

By: Hal

Hal — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:17:49 +0000

Some political violence may simply be a fact of life; after all, the Israelis continue to endure it and nobody contends that they’re a failed state and almost nobody calls what they have there a “civil war.”

So, you think that even what the current rate of suicide bombings and such is in Iraq is even remotely comparable to what Israel experiences? If you do, I think you're smoking something. Your logic is pretty seriously flawed here. Israel has incredible control over their situation. The Iraqis? Not even remotely in the same league.

Also, let's just point out the straw man your arguing against. Pretty much everyone thinks the civil war is largely over - i.e. it's past tense. I would really like to see who you have on the record stating that Iraq is currently in a civil war... I would really be surprised to see any quote at all you can dig up affirming your implied assertion.