More Iraqi Violence: Will It Ever End?

I turned on CNN this morning after waking up late (benefits of the summer) and thought I'd catch up on the latest happenings in Lebanon and Israel. The first story at the top of the hour was about Mel Gibson and his anti-Semitic, drunken behaviour. I understand he's a famous actor and director and all that but is this really worthy of a top news story considering everything else going on in the world, Who cares about Mel anyway? The next story was about the heat wave in the US now and how unbearable the weather is. I get it..it's really uncomfortable and yes it is newsworthy..I understand. but recently on CNN, I haven't really heard any other stories about world events...I guess the rest of the world is not moving..almost in a pause position while four stories dominate the headlines. Then came the story of Iraq and the continuing violence that is escalating by the day (link to recent news article).

Will this violence ever stop or are the Sunni and Shia going to put this situation into an all out civil war? So many innocent civilians are living in fear of cowardly suicide bombing attacks. How can someone decide to go to a neighbourhood soccer field and set off bombs with the intention of killing spectators and the young children playing football. As much as I try to understand the situation, the struggles to the two sides, the deep-seeded hatred of the other, the history between the two groups, it is truly beyond me how despicable acts like this occur. I know that the US had a mixed bag of intentions going into Iraq now that we take a retrospective look but I think it's getting close to the time where they need to gradually withdraw from the area and let Iraq deal with it now. An oppressive dictator has been removed and a regime dismantled. The US has also given the Iraqi people and government the tools and ideas to develop a democratic nation. What can be done now? The US forces as we hear are becoming less effective and the situation is becoming more dangerous. Of course as I write this, I begin thinking well maybe they should "Stay the course" and hope that eventually it will work itself out. I don't know if that is possible or not. I just know for a fact that the US government is going to be criticized no matter what they do...that's what free speech is at times I guess.