[quote=“International Herald Tribune”]U.S. erects Baghdad wall to keep sects apart
American military commanders in Baghdad are trying a radical new strategy to quell the widening sectarian violence by building a 12-foot-high, three-mile-long wall separating a historic Sunni enclave from Shiite neighborhoods.
Soldiers in the Adhamiya district of northern Baghdad, a Sunni Arab stronghold, began construction of the wall last week and expect to finish it within a month. Iraqi Army soldiers would then control movement through a few checkpoints. The wall has already drawn intense criticism from residents of the neighborhood, who say that it will increase sectarian tensions and that it is part of a plan by the Shiite-led Iraqi government to box in the minority Sunnis.[/quote]
What’s the best historical comparison for this? Not Berlin, not Israel/Palestine… maybe Cyprus?
Juba, yeah, that looks to be directly on point. I know nothing of how effective those walls have been. Got any insights to offer?
The wall doesn’t seem to be going down well.
[quote=“BBC: Iraqi PM speaks out against wall”]
US troops are building the wall at night under tight security
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has asked for construction to end on a concrete wall around a Sunni enclave in the capital, Baghdad.
Mr Maliki said there were other ways to protect the Adhamiya neighbourhood, which is surrounded by Shia districts.
The US military, which are behind the project, has said the purpose of the wall is to prevent violence between Sunni and Shia militants.
But Iraqi politicians have warned it will increase sectarian tensions.
Unintended consequences
Speaking in Cairo after meeting Arab league officials, Mr Maliki said: “I asked yesterday that it be stopped and that alternatives be found to protect the area.”
The prime minister said he feared the wall may have unintended consequences, in an apparent parallel to the former Berlin Wall that divided the German capital.
“I fear this wall might have repercussions which remind us of other walls, which we reject,” he said.
Construction of the 5km (3-mile) concrete wall began on 10 April and the US military says it hopes to complete the project by the end of the month.
US troops, protected by heavily-armed vehicles, have been working at night to build the 3.6m (12ft) wall. [/quote]
[quote=“Jaboney”]Juba, yeah, that looks to be directly on point. I know nothing of how effective those walls have been. Got any insights to offer?
The wall doesn’t seem to be going down well.
[quote]The prime minister said he feared the wall may have unintended consequences, in an apparent parallel to the former Berlin Wall that divided the German capital.
“I fear this wall might have repercussions which remind us of other walls, which we reject,” he said.
[/quote][/quote]
A parallel to the Berlin Wall??? Like, there’s no other Wall that might be rejected by an Arab, especially since he appears to be speaking in the present tense.