This Just Might Work
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Iraqi citizens are mounting a defense against those trying to loot a local community center. Specifically, a Jewish community center. Yes, you read that correctly. The Muslims are defending their Jewish neighbors - a fact which these Jews are no doubt going to remember. Forget Camp David and Oslo - if the Israel/Palestine problem is going to be solved, the solution may start in downtown Baghdad. These Iraqis are viewing the Jews as members of their community — people that they live with, work with, and, if needed, fight with. That sentiment is vanishingly rare in the Arab world, and its presence in Iraq is a hear tening sign about the chances for a post-war peace in Iraq.
Between this and the news that Iraqi policemen are going back to work in Baghdad, things are finally starting to look up for Iraq. It’s not over yet, but it’s getting a lot better.
(Hat tip on community center: The Command Post)
At 3am, I saw two men, one with a beard, on the roof of the Jewish community house and I cried out to my friend, “Hossam, bring the Kalashnikovs!” - Hassam Kassam, (unarmed) guard of the community center