A job in Iraq far from finished

ABC News: Al-Qaida-Linked Group Claims 4 Killings

More beheadings on video from Iraq. Apparently, this is about Chechnya, not Iraq itself. Ah yes, I can just see such tactics winning over the hearts and minds of Russians everywhere.

What complete idiots these "Al-Qaida" related murdering butchers are.

As to the general mayhem in Iraq, continuing unabated since Zarqawi's death, I still expect that the execution of Saddam will be an important practical step to discourage his loyalists, who (I am guessing) still harbour a hope that he may be liberated and somehow his regime quickly re-imposed. That this would be impossible in practice without a huge civil war probably doesn't cause any doubt in their minds. Mad Arabs don't often seem to be playing with the full pack.

Until then, seems nothing much will change. It does seem that ideas for promoting unity are finally being devised by the Iraqi government itself, with general approval. But they really have to act quickly.

(I note that Iraq the Model is very sceptical of the wisdom of the unity plan, and his reasons sound good. Sigh.)