Perspective: Walling Off Your Enemies

THE rulers of China spent 2,000 years building and rebuilding the world’s greatest wall, to keep out invaders from the north. The Roman emperor Hadrian built battlements across Britain against the barbarians 19 centuries ago. The Soviets cut Berlin in two; that wall came down when the will to defend it faded. The Israelis now build barricades against the Palestinians, guarding against an Arab population bomb as well as suicide bombers.

These are walls of war — the architecture of long struggle. Hard to erect, harder to maintain, they are never stronger than the political skill of their designers.

Last week, thousands of people in Baghdad were uniting against a wall dividing them.

Read the rest at the NY Times