Double Standard

There are recent reports that the latest suicide bombings by Iraqi insurgents/terrorists have involved Chlorine bombs. Chlorine when inhaled could cause severe burning to the throat and lungs and could kill within seconds. This deadly and frightening method is only the most recent terrorist tactic used against Iraqis by Iraqis. So whats the Arab reaction to such a heinous crime against fellow Muslims and Arabs...NOTHING!! The double standard in Iraq is beyond belief right now. The US is blamed for everything (largely because of its bullish style and methods), while the insurgents/terrorists get a free pass especially from the Arab/Muslim countries. I think this double standard or the idea of looking the other way at the atrocities caused by these so called Jihadists are a big reason why the West (specifically the US) will NEVER win in Iraq. As long as no Muslim or Arab leader (be it a political or a religious one) speak up against these acts, the perception will remain that all the deadly acts inflicted on the Iraqi people are caused by the Americans which is not true. If we are to look closer at the activities of these Jihadists who claim to defend Iraq against the American conquerers you will see that they are committing as terrible if not worse crimes against the Iraqi people. The difference however is that these insurgents are not held accountable for what they do. The American soldiers are held somewhat responsible for their actions because the American government has to answer to the media and albeit it a mild but still transparent policing system within the military that punishes or condemns war crimes. However these Jihadists do not have a government to report to, no populous that voted them in to hold them accountable.



Lets start with a bit of history. Suicide bombings were controversial in Palestine during the second Intifada (beginning in 2000), but eventually and sadly it became a normal method to fight off the Israelis. This was the beginning of the problem, no one influential enough or significant enough in the Muslim/Arab World spoke up against it. No Muslim/Arab country made it clear to the Palestinian Authorities that they must stop or condemn this tactic. It grew more and more popular. It became tragically heroic and gave meaning to someone's life (ironically) and a purpose to the young who otherwise lived in despair. Palestinian youth are living under a modern style aparathied in Israel with no real hope of improving their lives. This tactic unfortunately was encouraged by the likes of Hamas and gave these young people a sense of belonging. The US didn't stop Israel from its brutality (Israel has the right to defend itself, but its brutal in sending its message and thus leads to more damage, more resentment than before). The Arab countries just speak rhetoric to make sure that their own populous do not get angry at them (they blame Israel for everything but doesn't really take any steps to make Israel feel more secure in the region to help secure a sovereign Palestine). The Arab leaders at the end of the day wants nothing more than the Status Quo, they don't really care about the Palestinian cause and at the same time love the fact that Israel could be the scapegoat for things going wrong. In any case, the Arab world grew to accept suicide bombing as the only method of defiance against the US supported Israel aggression against their Arab brothers. This was a dangerous step, the normalization of an abnormal and criminal act into a culture. This was the precursor to what is going on in Iraq right now.[Photo]
In Iraq brutality has branched off to areas that no one could have imagined. Suicide bombing was initially used against the US Marines and personnel. It was justified as Iraqi defenders against occupiers. Then when that tactic wasn't as successful as before (US and British forces stayed in a highly secure Green Zone thus limiting their casualties), they started kidnapping non-military personnel. Again controversial but still falls under the label of Foreigners and Profiteers in Iraq, so the Muslim/Arab World looked the other way. The US would not negotiate with these Insurgent groups, then it got really ugly. There were beheadings, shooting, and burning of American and British contractors. All these acts (as horrible as they are) could still possibly be fall under the "Foreigners/Occupiers" Umbrella. But it went further. Shiite militant groups started sending suicide bombers to Sunni neighborhoods, and Sunni militants dispatched theirs in Shiite neighborhoods. Mass killings were underway between the two Muslim factions while the Arab/Muslim world stood still. All they could do is blame America for everything. It didnt' stop there, these insurgents starting bombing schools, hospitals, Universities, and more. Mosques of rival sects were bombed and school classrooms were used for urban fighting. These insurgents have such confidence and complete lack of respect or regards for anyone outside of their goals...political gain through religious Jihad pretext fueled through extremism.

How can they possibly justify the killing of common workers? Seniors? Children? Really? But no one is stepping in, because everyone wants the US to fail, but the problem is...IRAQI CIVILIANS ARE DYING!! That has to take priority over proving Bush wrong!