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[Political Forum] Iraqi Troops ”˜Switch’ Sides, Fight with Madhi(*)Army: Bush praised the Iraqi government for leading the fighting, it also appeared that the Iraqi government was pursuing its own agenda, calling the battles a fight against “criminal” elements but seeking to marginalize the Mahdi Army. The Americans share the Iraqi government’s hostility toward what they call rogue elements of the Mahdi Army but will also be faced with the consequences if the battles among Shiite factions erupt into more widespread unrest.
[Politics Plus 2] Why The Surge Is Failing the Test: The rocket attacks appear to have been one of several actions by the Mahdi Army to warn the United States and the Iraqi government to halt their systematic raids aimed at driving the Sadrists out of key Shiite centres in the south. They were followed almost immediately by Mahdi Army clashes with rival Shiite militiamen in Basra, Sadr City and Kut and a call for a nationwide general strike to demand the release of Sadrist detainees…
[Danger Room] US Teams Up With Iran in Basra?: At the same time, however, it clearly wants the al-Malikigovernment”‰”””‰and the U.S. mission in Iraq, more generally”‰”””‰to fail.And, goodness, they’ve sheltered al-Sadr for long periods during thecurrent crisis.
[Compatible Creatures - War & Politics & Life] ”˜By-product’ Civil War: This week’s violence in Baghdad and Basra followed several days of bloodshed in the Shi’ite city of Kut, some 100 miles southeast of the capital, where Sadr loyalists clashed with police forces largely controlled by their Shi’ite rivals, the Badr Corps militants of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, and with government troops affiliated with Maliki’s Da’awa party.
[I'm A Pimpin Turtle...] US & Iraqi Troops Battle Al-Sadr Militia: U.S. and Iraqi troops backed byhelicopters fought Shiite militiamen in Baghdad's Sadr City districtafter the local office of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa Partycame under attack, the U.S. said. Residents of the area reportedintermittent explosions and gunfire in the area late Tuesday.
[Masson's Blog] Battles erupting in Iraq: Only the intrepid motorist or occasional scurrying resident ventured out on streets patrolled by Moqtada al-Sadr’s militiamen and marked by burning tires and roadblocks.
[1 Boring Old Man] Militias Resist Iraqi Forces in Fight for Basra The fighting in ...: The fighting in Basra with the Mahdi Army, the armed wing of the political movement led by the radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, set off clashes in cities throughout Iraq and major demonstrations in Sadr City, the huge Baghdad neighborhood that is Mr. Sadr’s base of power, and other Shiite neighborhoods in the capital.
[The Indypendent] Iraq Background: The US hand behind the Shia-on-Shia warfare: The Los Angeles Times detailed the plan, which involves a “major combat offensive against Muqtada Sadr, ”¦ a possible renewed offensive in the Sunni stronghold of Al Anbar province, a large Iraqi jobs program and a proposal for a long-term increase in the size of the [U.S.] military.” First, however, “U.S. Embassy officials would have to help usher into power a new coalition in Baghdad that was willing to confront the militias.”
[Political Forum] Iraqis Give Basra Terrorists 3 Days To Surrender: Officials in al-Sadr’s headquarters in Najaf, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the anti-U.S. cleric had sent local representatives to ask al-Maliki to leave Basra and resolve the problems peacefully. The aides also told the government no negotiations could be held until Iraqi reinforcements withdrew from the city…
[Hermenautic Circle blog] Forced to fight renegades: The assumption was that Sadr’s supporters could be crushed by military force, leaving the way open for the US occupation government to reshape Iraq along the lines it wanted. In the end, after much bloodshed, nothing was achieved.
[The Opinion Blog] Dying continues as Iraq War slips from our minds: The recent dismal box office returns for a number of Iraq themed movies also validate the view that most of America just has lost interest. They know they were scammed into supporting Bush/Cheneys adventure-and when they elected a DEM congress to express their anger(and with directions to get the troops out) Bush used his veto power to obstruct whatever legislation Congress passed.
[Psyche, Science, and Society] Iraqi government and US launch coup d’etat: If the fighting spreads, the casualties could be enormous as the “government” will have to impose its will on the majority of Shiites in many areas, if not across the country. It is important to not buy the spin that this is a struggle .
[Danger Room] Basra Fighting Triggers Baghdad Clashes: [Riiiiight, it's just a coincidence -- ed.] Moktada al-Sadr, the radical Shiite cleric who commands the Mahdi Army and initially called for a suspension of his militia’s activities in August, called on Monday called for a nationwide civil disobedience campaign, beginning in Baghdad, in response to what his followers say is an unwarranted crackdown...
[Dans Blog] Young Iraqi's Doubt Clerics with Violence: Attendance at weekly prayers appears to be down, even in areas where the violence has largely subsided, according to worshipers and imams in Baghdad and Falluja. In two visits to the weekly prayer session in Baghdad of the followers of the militant Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr this fall, vastly smaller crowds attended than had in 2004 or 2005.
[Driving Too Fast Down The Middle Of The Road] Two-Sided Pentagon - Military Fibs To Public, Talks Straight To Bush: …Although it’s in Basra, the oil-rich southern city, where the Mahdi Army and Iraqi forces were locked in a bitter fight for a second day, killing at least 55, many in Baghdad fear that clash will trigger a new battle in Mr. Sadr’s Baghdad stronghold.
[Joejolly's Weblog] Mr. Bush References Iraqi Quiet: 22, 2008 that he will extend a cease-fire order to his Shiite Mahdi Army by another six months, giving Iraq a chance to continue its fragile recovery from brutal sectarian violence. (AP Photo/Alla Al-Marjani, File)
[Kimballkzg's Weblog] Iraqi President Talabani Begs Western Media To Be Less Biased: This is an example of a WordPress page, you could edit this to put information about yourself or your site so readers know where you are coming from. You can create as many pages like this one or sub-pages as you like and manage all of your content inside of WordPress.
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