Comments on: From Beirut, some thoughts on bearing witness http://iraqivoices.intersectionsinternational.org/2009/10/04/beirut-and-some-thoughts-about-bearing-witness/ Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:01:34 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Al http://iraqivoices.intersectionsinternational.org/2009/10/04/beirut-and-some-thoughts-about-bearing-witness/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Al Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:45:14 +0000 http://iraqivoices.intersectionsinternational.org/?p=125#comment-12 You wrote, "much of the violence in the country has amounted to a concerted campaign of ethnic cleansing." I've heard this from other sources as well. How much of the recent reduction in violence do you think is attributable to this ethnic cleansing running its course (so that there are few people left where they are not wanted - see Note 1) and how much do you think is due to the efforts of the Iraqi government and "the surge" in occupying forces? I really appreciate you being there. Insofar that one person's witnessing a situation cannot be comprehensive or objective, there is truth in the personal. There is immediacy and human contact and these count for something in an age of packaged news. Al --- [Note 1] I'm not sure how to write that last parenthetical clause in a way that doesn't cause cringes, but that's the best I can do for now. You wrote, “much of the violence in the country has amounted to a concerted campaign of ethnic cleansing.” I’ve heard this from other sources as well.

How much of the recent reduction in violence do you think is attributable to this ethnic cleansing running its course (so that there are few people left where they are not wanted – see Note 1) and how much do you think is due to the efforts of the Iraqi government and “the surge” in occupying forces?

I really appreciate you being there. Insofar that one person’s witnessing a situation cannot be comprehensive or objective, there is truth in the personal. There is immediacy and human contact and these count for something in an age of packaged news.

Al

—
[Note 1] I’m not sure how to write that last parenthetical clause in a way that doesn’t cause cringes, but that’s the best I can do for now.

]]>