Foreign Policy

Islam : Jill Carroll Is Free, But Is Iraq Any Safer?

March 30, 2006 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

Jill Carroll is free and for this I am grateful. However, do not be misled. If you are from a Western culture walking around in Iraq your head will still most likely be handed to someone on a stick and to think otherwise is only going to cause pain and suffering to others. We have won the war but we have not changed the culture, this is where American policy is failing in the Middle East.

Most politicians in Washington are not even familiar with the discrepancy between Sunni’s and Shiites. It is a political battle that goes all the way back to discussion of who would succeed Muhammad after his death. Other issues have risen between the two but this is the root of their differences. The battle is as much political as it religious, yet we address it like it is a personal war. Trying to get the Sunni’s and Shiites to coexist peacefully in a Muslim dominated country will be ten times harder than having peace and love between the Democrats and Republicans. We need to better understand the issues and help the culture change to adapt to modern society. Hostility and persecution are a way of life in the Middle East; we need to change this, not just physically but ideally.

American hostage Jill Carroll is a freelance journalist who was in Iraq reporting on issues that affected the Iraqi people. Jill was kidnapped about three months ago and she was released Thursday in Iraq. She advised that she was treated well but is that really any great feather in the cap of her captors? They still held her hostage, threatened her life, and caused pain and suffering to numerous individuals involved with the situation. I am happy to hear Jill was released but I am not ready to run out and hug a terrorist right now.

Jill stated that throughout her ordeal, she was allowed to move in a small space. I guess that is something to be thankful for but is it really something we should rejoice in? I respect Islam as a religion; I believe the majority of Muslims abhor violence. However, there are enough of the radicals out there that they taint the religion in a bad manner. I also want to see more Muslim leadership in regards to speaking out against the forms of radical behavior we see from Muslim groups. How can this be tolerated?

Jill Carroll Free In Iraq

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