http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspxBy Jane Arraf, NBC News Correspondent    Outside my window in Baghdad there's a man selling balloons from a cart. In the cold gray light of this city where people now try to blend in to stay out of trouble, the balloons stand out like a particularlyen-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48720Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:08:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48720Robert West Burlington NJLet use hope that one day, there will be peace between the Shiite and Sunnis. Even the US had it's civil war, and there are major difference's between the war's, we must all learn to leave together or we will all pay for our action's http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48775Fri, 02 Feb 2007 23:31:44 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48775David,baltimoreWhile the author states that Sunnis and Shia have lived together peacefully for centuries in iraq,the fervent emotion laden celebration of Ashura in Karbala is an indication that these two groups will not be living together in peace anytime soon.Remember Ashoura celebrates the death of a shite descendant of Mohammed at th ehands of the Sunnis.Do the Shia literally whip themselved into an emotional frenzy and then sit down for coffee with their Sunni neighbors? Get serious....they go looking to kill Sunnis for some event that happened 1400 years ago.It is similar to thE PROTESTANT Orange marching through Catholic areas of BELFASt to rub it in their face. The religious clerics of the Sunni and Shia will continue to foster this hatred because without it ,who are they?They lose their importance if the differences between the two groups are minimized.My understanding is that there is not a great deal of difference as far as their intepretation of the central tenets of Islam,yet they have no compunction about brutally slaughtering each other after torturing the poor souls before they kill them. And Muslims have the unmitigated gall to describe Islam as peace loving.If they do this to their own,what will they do to the non-believers?http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48817Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:52:06 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48817Lisa McNeil, Alpharetta, GeorgiaJane, It is very sad that there are people just trying to live their lives and earn an honest living while others only think of violence. Those balloons are the one bright symbol in a country surrounded by gray smoke and rubble. I only hope that the ones causing the violence will someday realize that peace will never be reached unless it begins with each one of them putting down their weapons and deciding to agree to exist together. If they truly want peace it can be achieved. They need to look at that bright beaoon of hope and follow it on the road to a peaceful existence. Peace to you and all of your colleagues in the Middle East. Stay safe!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48830Sat, 03 Feb 2007 01:13:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48830Mary A. Wabasso,Mn.I'm sure the colors of the balloons you saw from outside of your window in Badhdad drew your attention to the brilliant colors that should replace the darker side of life for Iraqi children. Truly I'm amazed how the Iraqi's move on with their daily lives while this violence surrounds them. I carry in my heart the struggles and suffering these people have indured. My prayer for peace goes out to them. May the sun shine brightly in their hearts and minds in moving them closer together towards a peaceful solution for Sunni's and Shiite's . http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48955Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:22:19 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48955m.s.talbas,ukit has nothing to do with shiates & sunnies. when you look at palestine, you see while the polestinians are merduered by invadores of thier country (i.e. Isrealis!?) ,sunni palestinian groups fight & kill each other. its all about politics & some outsiders like usa or others like zionist israel that dont want a powerful and indipendent iraqi government selected by people. any democratic government in the middle east(any country) would be anti isreal & its supporters. it is very easy to find who is supporting the violence in this country.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48965Sat, 03 Feb 2007 13:09:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48965Aaron Johnson, IndianaHow easily the average mind is decieved. The Sunni-Shiit problem is a fabricated and propogated division complements of the powers that invaded it. They (the West & Israel), have been purposefully injecting murder squads and "sectarian" hits as to create this division. The plan has always been to divide Iraq into 2 or 3 division, as to weaken it forever. Wake up world.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48994Sat, 03 Feb 2007 15:29:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48994Natalie Rosen, Framingham, MAGeorge W. Bush has sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind. However horrendous Sadam Hussein was, he kept that country together through the use of force. Is the force that the US has used and the thousands of tonnage of bombs dropped on Iraq made Iraq better? It is much worse there than Sadam Hussein could even have imagined perpetrating. The US never went there for WMD's, nor to spread democracy but for a combination of revenge for 9/11 and a neocon philosophic fantasy. Now Shites, Sunnis, and many many others are exacting their revenge on each other and sadly upon the US, our allies that are left and our unbelievably brave soldiers. We are at an existential impasse there is as Jean Paul Sartre would say NO EXIT! http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48995Sat, 03 Feb 2007 15:33:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48995Natalie Rosen, Framingham, MAGeorge W. Bush has sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind. However horrendous Sadam Hussein was, he kept that country together through the use of force. Is the force that the US has used and the thousands of tonnage of bombs dropped on Iraq made Iraq better? It is much worse there than Sadam Hussein could even have imagined perpetrating. The US never went there for WMD's, nor to spread democracy but for a combination of revenge for 9/11, a neocon philosophic fantasy and, of course, the omni-present oil. Now Shites, Sunnis, and many many others are exacting their revenge on each other and sadly upon the US, our allies that are left and our unbelievably brave soldiers. We are at an existential impasse there is as Jean Paul Sartre would say NO EXIT! http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#48997Sat, 03 Feb 2007 15:36:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:48997Bella GreenbergI wish our courageous president would (like Washington) lead the troops without his usual protection. I wish all the officials who want to continue this horrible war would also join the troops. SEND THE POOR KIDS HOME. Bella Greenberg Englewood NJhttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49020Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:44:30 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49020John Doe, Saint Albans, WVAllow me to suggest that the problem with Iraq is not a 1400 year old sectarian split between Sunni and Shi'ite -probably inevitable since Mohammad made no provision for an orderly succession- but the very existence of Islam itself, which is arguably nothing more than the product of Mohammad's floridly psychotic imagination. Mohammad, this self-appointed successor to Jesus, was a bloodthirsty murderer in his day, so it should come as no surprise that today his most devoted spiritual heirs, like Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, Moqtada al Sadr, and the like, would find their own "blessed" joy in killing not just members of Muslim sects unlike their own, "apostates" all, but ESPECIALLY non-Muslims like Jews and Christians, a.k.a., "apes" and "infidels," respectively, since these latter have the unmitigated gall to reject Mohammad's claims and "revelations" from "Gabriel," his alleged angelic muse, as the ravings of a lunatic, at best. It isn't politically correct to say so, but discrediting Islam as the bloody and perverted nonsense that it has ALWAYS BEEN will go a long way toward securing peace in Iraq in particular, and the world in general, in my humble opinion. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49145Sun, 04 Feb 2007 02:28:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49145Jan927I disagree with Natalie Rosen, Bush already had invading Iraq on his mind when he announced the Talaban for the 9/11 attacks. The Talaban location was Afghanistan and so he attack Afganistan and Irag. George Bush is no curageous man but a liar and a swindler with corrupt people backing him up while they threaten the lives of American people who work in the media and people who count on exposing the truth. I don't know what people see in this President but I've always had bad feelings about this man. Not only 9/11 happened to us but the lack in keeping up with our own government has caught up with us. This man comes very close or maybe even like a dictator and this happened while the Americans slep on this government. I don't want to see the aftermath of this war because I already know that this President is not going to win anything but money being profited him and his cronies from this war. The American people for this President and not for him will reap what they have sewn. George W. Bush needs to be pulled out of office or something needs to happen to get him out and Cheney along with him. If anything is clear, George W Bush is not a President type but a puppet run by whomever is behind him making all the bad decision and defying the American people. The American people voted in the 2006 election against the war and George W Bush is ignoring the people. That should say something about who is running this show, his father.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49181Sun, 04 Feb 2007 04:23:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49181Gary schear, Bozeman, MontanaA child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five. Marx (Groucho) Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too... Lennon (John) http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49214Sun, 04 Feb 2007 08:35:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49214Eric OregonHow sad to hear that Iraqi people selling balloons for pennis and parents trying to make their children happy risk to be blown into peices. What a price to pay from the western ignorance!!!!!!!!! No wonder many countries see Saddam as a HERO because at least the kept his people from killing eachother.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49220Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:38:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49220karly spanaway washingtonAt what cost is human life worth? What must it take for human beings to stand side by side hand in hand in peace with one another without the diease called hathred in one's souls creating such suffering between people to quote "James Truslow Adams" "We should be recogniged by others for whose like are regardless of the fortunes or current circumstances of birth or postion." It seems to me people just need to get back to basics of humanity and learn acceptance of others for we all are not so different karlyhttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49270Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:12:24 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49270bill t. new bedford ma.Sunni's and Shiia's areonly now learning about world power and aredrunk with this. Like christianity and judism was in the past centuries.Do they go forward or backward. The world will have to wait while they flush this out. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49687Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:41:06 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49687Fred G. Denver, ColoradoRESPECT LIFEhttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49880Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:23:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49880Eric OregonThere is hope but we need to make the Sunnis our friends as soon as possible. With Al-Sadr political men being killed and Sunnis are more able and capable of governing Iraq. The incompetence of the Shiites and Al-Maliki proves to be a disaster now is the time to make smart choices and decisions. If the United States gives military training for the legitimate Sunni population in return the Sunnis will produce the number of security forces the Shiites were unable to produce for the security of Baghdad. If we can gain the Sunni trust we can make this war go our way, we give a chance to the Shiite people but their agendas will never be looked at favorable in the Arab world. A Sunni government in Iraq would mean being able to keep Iran in check without having to start another war in the region. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#49886Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:33:19 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:49886dave ionno hartford ct we are lost in our ignorance and arrogance. I spent 16 yrs in the US Army. 13 as a military dependent and then a 3 yr enlistment-RA all the Way- and volunteered for Vietnam where i served as a combat medic. I lived 5 yrs in Asia, Japan, Okinanwa,Taiwan and Vietnam. I learned great respect for other people and their history and culture. we are killing people we do not know for immoral and cowardly reasons. Who among you has read about Sorhab and Rustom, The Rubaiyat, and espcially T.E.Lawrence and the Seven Pillars of Wisdom. i am ashamed of what my country is doing. We have sown the teeth of the dragon and will reap the whirlwindhttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#50111Tue, 06 Feb 2007 05:42:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:50111Ahsan Khan from PennsylvaniaThis is totally absurd and incorrect to suggest that Sunnis killed Hazrat Imam Hussain Grandson of Prophet Mohammad pbuh. People who suggest that are either ignorant or have special interest. For God's sake do not distort history. Sunnis love and respect Hazrat Imam Hussain and fast on Ashura and recite Quran for the martyers of Karbala. The only difference is that Sunnis condemn beating and cutting the bodies with sword and chain but to mourn quitely. Some of the special interest on Sunni side blame shite to kill the Imam Grandson of Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him. Ahsan Khan Pennsylvaniahttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#50119Tue, 06 Feb 2007 06:44:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:50119Mike HuntI totally agree with Eric Oregon. Mike Hunt. http://www.flyveplan.dkhttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#50283Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:34:00 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:50283Foster Lewis, Sarasota, FloridaWhere's the Outrage.. 130 People Get blown to bits in a crowded market in Bahgdad, and I don't hear any word of disgust from the media, Iraqi government or Islamic clerics saying that this has to stop. Instead if it was 130 Sunni's than all you can expect is next week 130 Shiite's will be blown up. Then they point the finger at our troops and say it's our fault for not providing enough security. We just need to leave and let them fight it out and stay out of the middle. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#50474Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:08:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:50474Adrastos, WI, Green Bay“…yet they have no compunction about brutally slaughtering each other after torturing the poor souls before they kill them. And Muslims have the unmitigated gall to describe Islam as peace loving.If they do this to their own,what will they do to the non-believers?” Christianity does the same thing, it is not uncommon…Humanity has always been an aggressive and violent race. I don’t know how may people know this, but apparently the concept of a Holy War (Crusades) was invented by the Pope to spur on the crusades. Later durring the crusades the concept of the Jihad was invented to combat them. Humanity is exclusionistic, elitist, and seperatist. We see things as ‘them’ and ‘us’ and the ‘them’ is always the enemy. That is why two factions with such tiny differences in belief can be fighting so hard, the ‘them’ and ‘us’ factor. Of course those are just some of the negative traits of humanity, and none of the possitive. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#50489Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:16:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:50489Dave, Manitowoc, Wis.I just received this e-mail. Is there truth in this??? In either case, why do we not hear some of it? Why focus only on the negatives in Iraq? ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:46 AM Subject: Fwd: Did you know? Subject: Did you know??? Did you know that 47 countries' have reestablished their embassies in Iraq? Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people? Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq? Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating? Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United State s in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program? Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5 - 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment. Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers? Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion? Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers? Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks? Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities. Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations? Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October? Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%? Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations? Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004? Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently? OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW? OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US! Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades. Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes: It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American citizens. ---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site. http://www.defenselink.mil/ .......Pass it on! Give it wide dissemination! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TV dinner still cooling? Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#50492Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:19:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:50492falah, Baghdad, IraqFor the poor thru out history has alway suffered sickness deaths and violence at the hands of powerful opressores who would not respect their humanity. this applied to the Iraqis as opressed people by the Bush and his gangs in washington. America did not invade Iraq bcs of the WMD, connection to Alqada,but to control the resourses of Iraq from Oil, Red Mercury and etc....beside Iraq's stratigic location. As an Iraqi we saw how they removed the oil pumps counters, and the stealing of a large area covered with Red mercury beside the money from our banks and Ancient artifacts. In 1245 the mangoles destroyed Baghdad but this time is much worsed, this was a well planned operation from the begining, and is not a mistakes as they claimed. America did not bring as a democracy But infact IS a total "MISERY". Democracy it should not be giving but it should be taken.This is the first lesson to Bush about democracy. This guy is a real "Mad cowboy" savage one too.what we as Iraqis experienced from the invation is that we got invaded by thugs, rapist, thieves, gangs and much more believe me. we don't hate you but we would like to invite to come a visit out beloved destroyed country and see yourself.we see how the American soliders and the merserines they brought with them disqized as Iraqis and attacked civilians waiting in lines for disel fuel of Gas, planning bombs in cars after they been seached by them, by the way do you remember we cought British and showed them on Tv, the next day the British forces destroyed that station. The American and the British fueling the civil war. just imagin My car was stolen and when i whent to report the car to the police the officers told me we cought all the thiefs and locked them up but the American soliders comes every week and releases them 2 days later they were in the street. believe me many more stories i can tell you or you can ask any Iraqis and they will tell you the same. The more KO'S the more they like to stay. You American Just think if Bush cares about you you are wrong, they don't care about us, we never saw any American soliders helped any injured Iraqi civilians by car bombs or other means, they just waved at us in a laughing matter pour humilation. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#50526Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:45:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:50526Mary. MinnesotaTerrorist cells have eescated to the point where we are not capable of protecting Iraq. When you read this information "Terroist cells is a powerful ideal:the advantment of their religion plus politcal stance. The Jihadists believe fervently that Islam is the revealed word of Allah,that selfless submission to Allah is the purpose of life,and that all individuals should be subjugated to Islamic law under theocracy. Thye believe in spreading the rule of Islam worldwide, and killing any "infidels" who stand in their way. Thye are morally outraged by the Amercian ideal of individual liberty and regard our worldly individual capitalistic culture as an evil that must be destroyed." How will Iraq be able to stand on it's own when these cells exist with added ententions of going worldwide to destroy any one that stands in their way? Worldwide not only Iraq! US can keep chipping away on small pieces of rocks as they are doing now but when it comes to boulders without the use of heavy machines then our man power means nothing. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#50698Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:27:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:50698April, OntarioI just want to correct Mr. David from Baltimore on one issue. It was Shias' from Kofa (a city in Iraq)who invited Imam Hussain to Karbala and later they withdraw their support. Today, they do Ashura to relieve themselves from the mistake they made 1400 years ago. Shias and sunnis lives side by side in other parts of the world, so why not in Iraq. People in Iraq and elsewhere have to watchout those who have hidden agendas that can only be achieved by putting one against each other.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/02/48637.aspx#51446Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:08:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:51446aaron Johnson, IndianaAre they not told to "endeavor to persevere"?? Kinda like we told the the Indians who first inhabited the North America's huh. This government has become a farce. Lobbyist should be illegal and until lobbying is outlawed there will be no justice. Peace and power to the people of America. The "working class".