Lessons for Iraq from the Balkans
Ekklesia’s director Jonathan Bartley: “In 2000, the US International Republican Institute taught activists in Serbia how to strike, communicate with symbols, hide from police, respond to interrogation and infiltrate a regime's "pillars of support" (police, media, judiciary etc). Otpor activists numbering 70,000 are credited with creating a mass underground movement that stood at the disciplined core of the hidden revolution that really changed Serbia.
“Washington's attempts to foment rebellion among Iraq's Shias may be too little too late. The 1998 Iraq Liberation Act gave authority to provide the Iraqi opposition with $97m of support, including training. Only $1m was ever used. There is little evidence the Iraqi people received the help required to resist successfully and minimise their casualties.”