Iraqis also susceptible to agony

Today's New York Times story titled "Sectarian Toll Includes Scars to Iraq Psyche" brings to light once again how damaging this conflict has been, and I think that's important, but read this:

They are educated people, and they say they do not want revenge. But typical of those who are left from Iraq’s reasonable middle, the Muhammads have been hardened toward others by violence, and they have been forced to feel their sectarian identity, a mental closing that allows war made by militants to spread.

Maybe this is tone deafness on the part of the Times or maybe it's just commentary on the sad state of affairs in America today, but is it really a great shock to anybody that Iraqis are just as susceptible to the ravages of war as everybody else on the planet is?