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| Iraq |
| Iraq: Sadrists 'threaten PM with Saddam-like trial' |
| 2008-03-29 |
| (AKI) - The bloc of Iraqi MPs loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's chief whip, Fallah Hasan Shanishel, has warned that prime minister Nouri al-Maliki will be "tried like Saddam Hussein" for his role in an ongoing security operation against Shia militiamen in the southern port city of Basra, pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat reported. "Al-Maliki and all the members of his Shia alliance will be tried like Saddam Hussein for crimes against civilians - in Baghdad, Babel province [south of Baghdad] and Basra," said Shanishel, cited by Al-Hayat. "Al-Maliki is committing suicide in Basra. He is carrying out orders from foreign powers and he wants to destroy the Sadrist movement," al-Hayat quoted another Sadrist leader, Sadeq al-Ibadi, as saying. Al-Maliki has this week been personally coordinating the crackdown against Shia militiamen in Basra. Over 130 people have been killed and 350 injured in clashes across Iraq since Tuesday, when fighting began in Basra and spread to other cities. Al-Maliki on Friday reportedly extended a Saturday deadline until 8 April for Shia militiamen to hand over their weapons. The Iraqi interior ministry said at least four people were killed and 18 wounded in clashes that erupted on Friday in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya, an al-Sadr stronghold. Four people died and five were wounded on Friday in a US airstrike in Baghdad's Sadr City neighourhood - another Sadrist stronghold. Rockets from a US helicoper gunship struck while militiamen had laid down their arms for Friday prayers, Arabic satellite TV al-Jazeera reported. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 But all that is at risk as Maliki's name goes on a Bush directed effort to defeat Sadr on behalf of Hakim. You must have different sources than me. Word I have is Maliki went in, then informed the US. To most Iraqis, the attack on Mahdi is support for Iran's takeover of Iraq's South. Which is countered by the fact that Arabs, and especially Iraqis, can hold two diametrically opposed concepts as having equal value at the same time. Let's try that, shall we? "Maliki is an Iranian stooge, whose offical Iraqi government forces are attacking Iranian-backed Moqtada al-Sadr's militia, in addition to other Iranian backed miltias and criminal-elements, in order to allow Iran to take over Iraq's south." Sounds about right to me. Our planes are killing Iraqis for Iran, many say, just as the 2007 nuclear NIE announced an end to US enmity to Iran. It didn't "announce an end to US emnity", you serial-posting buffoon. It was a diplomatic manuever. In case you hadn't noticed, Iran is still facing sanctions. Oh, and this time it's the Europeans in the lead. But if we are to repeat our storm trooper tactics of Fallujah in Basra, then maybe we should get out now before we come to be remembered as the British airpower is remembered in Iraq from the 1930s. 'Stormtrooper' - lovely phrasing there, old man. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-03-29 23:21 |
| #3 "run away!" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-03-29 22:57 |
| #2 No one who knew anything about Iraq did not know that if the US takes sides in the Badr-Mahdi conflict, the truce with Sadr and the Sunnis would be off. And no one had any doubt that if the US supports Badr against Mahdi, the Sunnis in Anbar could well also turn on the US presence. Nothing could be more tragic. For the "Awakening" relationship between Anbar and the US military was a replay of the CAP/MAT Marines in South Vietnam's I Corps and Army in IV Corps localization of the US-Vietnam villages union against the North Vietnamese forces. The bonds were made at boots level. Individual soldiers learned to bond with Sunnis. Then, finally after five years, the US Command realized that if you pay Iraqis they will work and decided to salary them for keeping the peace. So, it would seem, the needed "awakening" is ours, not that of the Anbar Iraqis. But all that is at risk as Maliki's name goes on a Bush directed effort to defeat Sadr on behalf of Hakim. To most Iraqis, the attack on Mahdi is support for Iran's takeover of Iraq's South. Our planes are killing Iraqis for Iran, many say, just as the 2007 nuclear NIE announced an end to US enmity to Iran. WE really should not waste the bloody lessons learned by our foot soldiers at boot level about doing things the Iraqi way in Anbar. But if we are to repeat our storm trooper tactics of Fallujah in Basra, then maybe we should get out now before we come to be remembered as the British airpower is remembered in Iraq from the 1930s. Daniel E. Teodoru |
| Posted by: Harry Glereng9677 2008-03-29 22:54 |
| #1 How about threatening Tater with a Saddam-like trial? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-03-29 13:08 |