Resistance is ... Futile

What a complex world is that of the Middle East. Quench the bloodlust of one tyrant and another swiftly takes his place. If nature abhors a vacuum, Islam thrives on the advent of a vacuum, it allows the more intransigently brutish among its followers to advantage themselves by infiltrating where peace and stability attempts to assert a presence, to overturn both and install the alternative of domination, threats, oppression and death.

A police truck full of prisoners being transported was set afire by al Qaeda fighters after they freed prisoners in front of the main provincial government building, in Fallujah

In societies where might is always right and freedom is forever elusive, where justice is that of the sword and pity is entirely absent, lives become meaningless; that is, the spilling of live blood in abundance. The firm control of a dictator's hand in such societies where clan, tribe, religious sectarianism, ethnicity and disequilibrium all thrive in disaffected anomie does keep the peace. Other than when that controlling hand decides to punish lavishly in a controlled manner.

There is no control now in Iraq. There is a government, one that squandered the opportunity to serve all its people equally, by its decision to dismiss the helpful hand of a democratic ally guiding it to moderation and balance, in a just and even-handed effort to make all members of the population feel equally invested in their country. The tribal, sectarian animal could not, however, resist destroying the social architecture of equality.

And now the government of Iraq and its military has a full-blown crisis on its hands, and quite predictably, if not deservedly. Having utterly alienated the Sunni minority the Shiite majority, now in power in contrast to Saddam Hussein's Baathist Sunni minority violating the equal rights of the Shias, they reap the harvest of revenge. Of a Sunni backlash targeting Shia civilians with bombs, and of the suicide attacks of al-Qaeda.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq favours itself, and its vision of conquest in the name of an unmerciful god of conquest. Northern Iraq is now wracked with the vision of hatred consuming the lives of Iraqis who might have been forgiven for believing that conflict and sectarian bloodshed had been left behind in that paroxysm of violence unleashed when Saddam Hussein was no longer there to restrain them from butchering one another.

Now, the Iraqi army and tribesmen somewhat loyal to the concept of a unified country battle al-Qaeda extremists around Ramadi. And though clans within Fallujah have formed self-protective brigades against the al-Qaeda forces who have little regard for sect but full lust for slaughter, they still have no wish to welcome the Iraqi military to their territory.

Iraq has sacrificed nine thousand of its people through its government making the choices that led directly to deepening divisions between Shia and Sunni. Appeals to the United States for aid to combat the situation which Nouri al-Maliki designed and carried through, only to discover he was not terribly fond of the consequences, have gained him Hellfire missiles and perhaps reconnaissance drones, but no U.S. boots on the ground.

Tribesmen take security precautions in Anbar, Iraq after many people were wounded and some killed during fighting between Iraq army forces and Al-Qaeda-linked militants, January 4, 2014. Photographer: Ali El-Mesedani/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

One might think that Arabs battling one another on deep-rooted issues revolving around Islam held dear by all, might lead to the expectation that the forces are equal in their potential, but then that would not take into account the demoralization that takes place when trained military personnel face off against men making up militias owing no allegiance to humanity.

And so, for the present, the black flag of al-Qaeda flies over Fallujah. The heady success of controlling the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi will do much to raise the self-esteem of extremist jihadis for this is their reason for existence, in the greater glory of Islam. According to the authorities in Iraq, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant had better enjoy it while they may for it is not destined to last. The glorious Iraqi army will see to that.

The Iraqi city of Falluja has fallen into the hands of Islamists an al-Qaida offshoot has established a theocracy. Now Prime Minister Maliki calls on residents to drive out the militants.

"The quiet and safe life that is sought by the Anbaris will not be completely restored before few hours or two to three days, God willing", according to Lt.Gen. Rasheed Fleih, of the Anbar Military Command in his statement to state TV. Depending in large part on the Sunni pro-government (!) tribes to rout their Sunni Islamist brethren.