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Reports from Baghdad revealing |
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Saturday, 05 May 2007 |
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
The Associated Press Baghdad bureau chief recently addressed members of the media at a statewide gathering in Columbus.
Steve Hurst, who directs the AP Baghdad office in six-month increments, provided interesting observations about the war in Iraq.
Hurst declined to divulge the location of the AP office — which houses the staff and office in one building. The building exists outside the Green Zone, with the operations moving to the new location after the Hotel Palestine was bombed.
The interesting observations deal with information gathering. In their attempt to provide impartial and balanced reporting, the AP relies on Shiite and Sunni advisers. These advisers actually have little problem working together despite their religious differences.
Hurst also discussed the recent surge. He said he and his reporters noticed a decline of violence after the surge — but they cannot determine if the reduction in violence in the region is due to the surge, due to the surge discouraging Muqtada al-Sadr from sending out his death squads or due to al-Sadr deciding on his own to recall his death squads and militia.
The other interesting observation deals with the debate over the withdrawal of troops.
Hurst said the differences between the Shiites and the Sunnis is centuries old, the differences are deep and democracy won’t cure those ills. Regardless of the stability of the Iraqi government, a sectarian civil war will erupt when U.S. forces are called home.
This observation should be sobering to the American public.
Instability in any part of the world is detrimental to other parts of the world. At any one time in world history, there have been areas of instability. The world must exist and thrive despite these areas of conflict.
For a true democratic government and capitalism to prevail in Iraq, American forces would have to maintain peace in the country for generations until the animosity between the two factions dissipates or until religious tensions wane.
The real question is what responsibility does the world have to promote peace around the globe. With telecommunications and mass transit, the world is becoming a smaller sphere requiring more involvement from countries geographically farther apart.
On the lighter side to show an act of kindness can go along way consider the actions of an Allentown, Pa. couple.
After more than 10 years of marriage, Chip and Cindy Altemos agreed to a separation about 5 years ago. They agreed to see other people and started divorce proceedings.
Cindy Altemos, a former phlebotomist who had worked with renal patients, promised her husband when they married that she would be a donor. She knew he would eventually need a transplant because he had juvenile diabetes.
On the verge of being the former Mrs. Altemos, she said he was still her husband and knew what the right thing to do was.
“There was no way I could walk around with two kidneys and he had none,” she told The Associated Press for a story.
The kidney transplant surgery took place Feb. 21, according to the AP.
The gesture halted talks of divorce. Chris Altemos ended a relationship, and in October the couple will be married 17 years.
“We’re still together,” Chris Altemos said. “I guess just being around each other, we slowly fell back in love again.”
The Altemos’ story proves the power of a gesture. It shows the power of forgiveness.
These are the types of gestures that promote peace in Iraq and around the world.
William Laney is the managing editor of the Wapakoneta Daily News.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 07 May 2007 )
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