"Iraqis Exact Revenge on Baathists"
While I shed few tears over the loss of former Baath Party officials, revenge killings are not what Iraq now needs most:
The killings of Baath security officials have revealed fissures in Iraqi society, not only between supporters and opponents of the Hussein government but also between some Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Most of the security chiefs were Sunnis like Hussein; the suspected killers are Shiites.
Sunnis increasingly view the bloodletting in sectarian terms. ... "For each one they kill," said a mourner, "we'll kill four."
The killings of Baath security officials have revealed fissures in Iraqi society, not only between supporters and opponents of the Hussein government but also between some Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Most of the security chiefs were Sunnis like Hussein; the suspected killers are Shiites.
Sunnis increasingly view the bloodletting in sectarian terms. ... "For each one they kill," said a mourner, "we'll kill four."
// 12/20/2003 
