Insecurity Forces

When the golden dome of the Askariya Mosque in Samarra was destroyed last year, many Iraqis blamed not the bombers who did the deed, but American soldiers for failing to protect one of Shi‘ite Islam's holiest sites. That conformed to a pattern; for more than four years, the U.S. military has been Iraqis' scapegoat of choice for all the ills of their country.

That blame game won't work now. After the second attack on the shrine on June 13, Iraqis can point the finger at none but themselves; it is their security forces who are...

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