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| Response to Attack Reflects Iraq’s Sectarian Divide | Response to Attack Reflects Iraq’s Sectarian Divide |
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| BAGHDAD — Iraq’s politicians were struggling to meet the constitutional deadline to form a new government when, in an isolated village, two masked men stepped into a Sunni mosque and opened fire on Friday, killing dozens of worshipers. | |
| Within hours, Sunni leaders said they were pulling out of the negotiations, and the political process was suddenly jammed again by the same sectarian rifts that have long bedeviled this country. | Within hours, Sunni leaders said they were pulling out of the negotiations, and the political process was suddenly jammed again by the same sectarian rifts that have long bedeviled this country. |
| The formation of a new, inclusive government that could command some support from both Sunnis and Shiites is widely seen as a vital first step in confronting jihadists from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, who have stormed into Iraq, seizing territory and taking control of major cities in the north and west. President Obama has hailed the appointment of a new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, and many observers hope that Mr. Abadi will undo the policies of his predecessor, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, who has been accused of marginalizing Iraq’s Sunni minority and, in effect, opening the way for the advance of the Sunni militant group. | The formation of a new, inclusive government that could command some support from both Sunnis and Shiites is widely seen as a vital first step in confronting jihadists from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, who have stormed into Iraq, seizing territory and taking control of major cities in the north and west. President Obama has hailed the appointment of a new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, and many observers hope that Mr. Abadi will undo the policies of his predecessor, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, who has been accused of marginalizing Iraq’s Sunni minority and, in effect, opening the way for the advance of the Sunni militant group. |
| But only a new government can undo those policies, which included the revitalization of Shiite militias, the arrests of many Sunni men, and military strikes on Sunni areas in which civilians were killed. | But only a new government can undo those policies, which included the revitalization of Shiite militias, the arrests of many Sunni men, and military strikes on Sunni areas in which civilians were killed. |
| The problem here now, highlighted by the swift fallout from the mosque attack, is that sectarian polarization has grown so deep that it could prevent such a government from being formed. | The problem here now, highlighted by the swift fallout from the mosque attack, is that sectarian polarization has grown so deep that it could prevent such a government from being formed. |
| Sunnis and Shiites tend to view many of the country’s most pressing issues through profoundly different lenses, making compromise difficult. Shiite leaders speak of ISIS as a terrorist threat that must be battled with all available means. Some have even accused Sunni leaders of providing political cover for the extremists. | Sunnis and Shiites tend to view many of the country’s most pressing issues through profoundly different lenses, making compromise difficult. Shiite leaders speak of ISIS as a terrorist threat that must be battled with all available means. Some have even accused Sunni leaders of providing political cover for the extremists. |
| “Politicians are responsible for the security collapse in some provinces,” Qais al-Khazali, the head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Shiite militia that may be the most feared by Sunnis, said in a statement. “They are still in the stage of being loyal to their parties, not to Iraq,” he said. | “Politicians are responsible for the security collapse in some provinces,” Qais al-Khazali, the head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Shiite militia that may be the most feared by Sunnis, said in a statement. “They are still in the stage of being loyal to their parties, not to Iraq,” he said. |
| Sunni leaders also condemn ISIS, but they say that the group exploited a vacuum that the government created by marginalizing their regions and abusing their people. | Sunni leaders also condemn ISIS, but they say that the group exploited a vacuum that the government created by marginalizing their regions and abusing their people. |
| “The only way to fight ISIS is to support the citizens who lost their dignity and their rights under the old government,” said Ahmed al-Dulaimi, the governor of Anbar Province, which is now largely held by ISIS. | “The only way to fight ISIS is to support the citizens who lost their dignity and their rights under the old government,” said Ahmed al-Dulaimi, the governor of Anbar Province, which is now largely held by ISIS. |
| Similar rifts were clear on Saturday as political leaders responded to the attack that killed dozens of Sunni worshipers in a mosque in Diyala Province. | Similar rifts were clear on Saturday as political leaders responded to the attack that killed dozens of Sunni worshipers in a mosque in Diyala Province. |
| Salim al-Jibouri, the Sunni speaker of Parliament, called for political unity and said the attack sought to “foil all the efforts that have been made to form a government.” | Salim al-Jibouri, the Sunni speaker of Parliament, called for political unity and said the attack sought to “foil all the efforts that have been made to form a government.” |
| The two gunmen who carried out the attack melted into the countryside afterward, and their identities were not clear. But Mr. Jibouri and others appeared to assume that they were Shiite militiamen. Mr. Jibouri said a committee had been sent to investigate the attack and would report within two days. “As we condemn what ISIS does, we also have to denounce what the militias are doing,” Mr. Jibouri said. | The two gunmen who carried out the attack melted into the countryside afterward, and their identities were not clear. But Mr. Jibouri and others appeared to assume that they were Shiite militiamen. Mr. Jibouri said a committee had been sent to investigate the attack and would report within two days. “As we condemn what ISIS does, we also have to denounce what the militias are doing,” Mr. Jibouri said. |
| By contrast, Shiite leaders blamed ISIS for the mosque attack. The radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr called it “a clear sectarian escalation” and said it had the “explicit touch of ISIS.” | By contrast, Shiite leaders blamed ISIS for the mosque attack. The radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr called it “a clear sectarian escalation” and said it had the “explicit touch of ISIS.” |
| The negotiations to form a new government were already fraught before the attack, as Sunni politicians pushed demands that they considered necessary but had little chance of being accepted. They included a halt to government shelling and airstrikes on Sunni areas where ISIS is present; the withdrawal of Shiite militias from predominantly Sunni cities; the release of Sunni detainees who have not been convicted of crimes; the dismissal of criminal charges against a number of Sunni politicians, which they call politically motivated; and the cancellation of the law banning former members of Saddam Hussein’s regime from holding government posts. | The negotiations to form a new government were already fraught before the attack, as Sunni politicians pushed demands that they considered necessary but had little chance of being accepted. They included a halt to government shelling and airstrikes on Sunni areas where ISIS is present; the withdrawal of Shiite militias from predominantly Sunni cities; the release of Sunni detainees who have not been convicted of crimes; the dismissal of criminal charges against a number of Sunni politicians, which they call politically motivated; and the cancellation of the law banning former members of Saddam Hussein’s regime from holding government posts. |
| Foreign diplomats in Baghdad were concerned that those demands would prevent a deal, and urged Sunni leaders to be more flexible. | Foreign diplomats in Baghdad were concerned that those demands would prevent a deal, and urged Sunni leaders to be more flexible. |
| Zaid al-Ali, a former legal adviser to the United Nations in Iraq and the author of a book on Iraq’s future, said the American insistence on inclusive politics was misguided. Iraq’s recent governments have included representatives from all the major sects, he noted, “But this is not a solution — it has never translated into the trickle-down politics that everyone assumed it would.” | Zaid al-Ali, a former legal adviser to the United Nations in Iraq and the author of a book on Iraq’s future, said the American insistence on inclusive politics was misguided. Iraq’s recent governments have included representatives from all the major sects, he noted, “But this is not a solution — it has never translated into the trickle-down politics that everyone assumed it would.” |
| Western officials in Baghdad acknowledge that a new government would be only a first, modest step in a long process of necessary reform. | Western officials in Baghdad acknowledge that a new government would be only a first, modest step in a long process of necessary reform. |
| Highlighting the amount of distrust, many Sunnis immediately blamed the mosque attack on Shiite militias. | Highlighting the amount of distrust, many Sunnis immediately blamed the mosque attack on Shiite militias. |
| “What happened was a mass execution in cold blood,” said a Sunni resident who lives near the attacked mosque, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared retribution. “That was a message to tell us that our time on this land has finished.” | “What happened was a mass execution in cold blood,” said a Sunni resident who lives near the attacked mosque, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared retribution. “That was a message to tell us that our time on this land has finished.” |
| Abdul-Salam Hashim, a 55-year-old Sunni shopkeeper in Baghdad, said, “I’m with any kind of revenge against this cowardly crime.” He added, “This is what Maliki has left to Iraq, and it will not end easily.” | Abdul-Salam Hashim, a 55-year-old Sunni shopkeeper in Baghdad, said, “I’m with any kind of revenge against this cowardly crime.” He added, “This is what Maliki has left to Iraq, and it will not end easily.” |
| The Shiite militias, many of them originally formed to fight American forces, were supported by Mr. Maliki and called back into service to fight ISIS. But Sunnis consider them little more than gangs operating outside the law, and human rights groups have accused them of killing and detaining Sunni civilians. | The Shiite militias, many of them originally formed to fight American forces, were supported by Mr. Maliki and called back into service to fight ISIS. But Sunnis consider them little more than gangs operating outside the law, and human rights groups have accused them of killing and detaining Sunni civilians. |
| Even so, in many areas they have been the factor that halted ISIS’ advance, and they are so embedded in the current political reality that even the transportation minister, Hadi al-Amari, heads a powerful militia. | Even so, in many areas they have been the factor that halted ISIS’ advance, and they are so embedded in the current political reality that even the transportation minister, Hadi al-Amari, heads a powerful militia. |
| The leader of a local Shiite militia in the area near the mosque, Sheikh Abdel-Samad al-Zarkoushi, struck out at those who want to disband his group, saying it is necessary to fight ISIS. | The leader of a local Shiite militia in the area near the mosque, Sheikh Abdel-Samad al-Zarkoushi, struck out at those who want to disband his group, saying it is necessary to fight ISIS. |
| “How can the politicians tell us what to do, when they don’t know what is happening in our region?” said Sheikh Zarkoushi. “If I withdrew from the area, that would be goodbye for everyone. ISIS would take it over in a few hours.” | “How can the politicians tell us what to do, when they don’t know what is happening in our region?” said Sheikh Zarkoushi. “If I withdrew from the area, that would be goodbye for everyone. ISIS would take it over in a few hours.” |
| The violence in Iraq continued on Saturday, with three car bombs exploding in the northern city of Kirkuk, killing 21 people and wounding 100, security officials said. Several more attacks were reported in other areas. | The violence in Iraq continued on Saturday, with three car bombs exploding in the northern city of Kirkuk, killing 21 people and wounding 100, security officials said. Several more attacks were reported in other areas. |
| The American air campaign against ISIS targets in the north continued as well. A vehicle operated by militants was destroyed near the Mosul Dam, according to the American military’s Central Command. The newest attack brings to 94 the number of American airstrikes since President Obama approved the mission; 61 have been aimed at pushing back ISIS fighters near the dam. | The American air campaign against ISIS targets in the north continued as well. A vehicle operated by militants was destroyed near the Mosul Dam, according to the American military’s Central Command. The newest attack brings to 94 the number of American airstrikes since President Obama approved the mission; 61 have been aimed at pushing back ISIS fighters near the dam. |
| While many Iraqis now expect little from the political process, they nonetheless see it as the only avenue to fix the country. | While many Iraqis now expect little from the political process, they nonetheless see it as the only avenue to fix the country. |
| Hamid al-Mutlaq, a Sunni member of Parliament from Anbar Province, compared politicians like himself to a man drowning in the ocean who spots a piece of wood. | Hamid al-Mutlaq, a Sunni member of Parliament from Anbar Province, compared politicians like himself to a man drowning in the ocean who spots a piece of wood. |
| “It might not save him, but he still tries to save himself,” Mr. Mutlaq said. “That is what we are doing.” | “It might not save him, but he still tries to save himself,” Mr. Mutlaq said. “That is what we are doing.” |