Opinions | Editorials
Iraq must unite against terrorists
Those responsible for the attack in Kirkuk are seeking to divide the troubled country.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:07 June 21, 2009
As police and rescue crews sifted through the rubble of a mosque and dozens of damaged homes on Saturday looking for survivors of a truck bombing that killed 72 people, questions were already being raised about the motives and consequences of the attack.
The Kirkuk attack is the most deadly in Iraq this year and is being blamed on Al Qaida. Officials yesterday said it was aimed at destabilising the country, which is slowly trying to return to normal after years of ethnic and religious strife. It also came as US troops withdraw from Iraqi cities.
The attack was obviously meant to test the ability of the Iraqi forces in restoring security and stability, and to challenge the administration of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, who is keen to see the US soldiers leave his country by the agreed deadline of 2011.
The Iraqi forces seem determined to fight the armed militants, who continue to pose a severe threat not only to the country's stability, but also to its unity, as they attempt to play on Iraq's ethnic and sectarian sensitivities.
The most important thing is for all parties and religious groups to stand united in the face of this danger. The attack must not be allowed to inflame sectarian feelings as it is an attack against all Iraqis.
Share this article
Popular in Opinions
-
Speak Your Mind
Focus: Halloween
Paranormal holds an insatiable appeal for our imagination, but do you believe in them
Opinion Editor's choice
-
Iraq in search of Plan B
Despite a close alliance with the US, the government in Baghdad has been unable to ensure national security
-
Dubai acts to boost trust in property sector
New judicial committee created to assist tenants who are facing financial difficulties
-
Recycling should be part of our routine
By simply sorting your waste, you are doing your bit to ensure a green future
