A BETTER BAGHDAD
After years of what seemed to be a hopeless worsening of conditions in Iraq, things are finally turning around. IED attacks across the country are at their lowest point since 2004. Whereas suicide car bombs were going off four to five times a day and killing scores of people, there now hasn't been a successful car bomb in over five weeks. Overall, the civil war in Iraq seems to be at a standstill. Most Shiite militias are honoring their truce. Iran has temporarily stopped shipping deadly weapons into the country. Baghdad, easily the most dangerous city in the nation, is looking more normal than ever. Shops are staying open later, people are going to dinner more, and even the Baghdad Zoo is reopened with two new lionesses as their premiere attraction. One criticism about all of this positive progress is the Iraqi government's inability to use peace to their advantage. Many believe that this is the time for the government to bring together Shiites and Sunni and end the civil war. One reason for the growing peace may be the separation of the two tribes into different neighborhoods, with U.S. forces keeping them apart. It also may be attributed to the mutual growing dislike for the Al Qaeda terrorist organization. More former insurgents are becomming willing to fight alongside American and Iraqi troops in order to root out the organization.
Newsweek. 26 November 2007. 30-34.
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