Article

2003-04-08 Iraq

CIA Pushed Iraqi Opposition Out of Southern Town

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Posted by Steve 2003-04-08 01:47 pm|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I think that the warlord argument is valid, however unlike afghanistan the tribalism of this country is much less marked. They have a stronger nationalist identity which is going to be valuble in reconstruction efforts. However, the key to being able to stabilize iraqi will be the introduction of another strong central government to replace the baathist regime. You cannot do that with factional guerilla/political parties running around making problems by trying to assert dominance from a controlled region onto a national stage. The situation with the kurds is sticky enough.

-DS
"the horns hold up the halo"

Posted by DeviantSaint 2003-04-08 14:04:45|| [www.livejournal.com/~deviantsaint] 2003-04-08 14:04:45|| Front Page Top

#2 "a man known to the Pentagon"

once again (simple, this time):
DoD likes INC. State and CIA dont. DoD doesnt like Saudi, Egypt, makes nice with Israel. State's job is to make nice with all countries, likes Saudi and Egypt, distrusts this democracy crap. CIA's job is to run agents, likes authoritarian regimes that cooperate, distrusts this democracy crap. CIA and State make nice with Saudi. CIA and State have "issues" with Israel. CIA and State always wanted regime change "by coup" in Iraq.

Question now is who will rule Iraq - DoD, or State/CIA. UN, Blair, just pawns in this struggle. The war is on. DoD put INC people on the ground in Nasariyah. Brits running Basra, so its a neutral zone. Kurds are strong enough to be independent (of US agencies, that is) CIA doesnt want to be completely outflanked so keeping INC linked group out of Amara. All this prelude for Battle for Baghdad (which will NOT involve any Fedayeen or "elite" guards - will be
fought out in UN, on Capital Hill, etc Rummy vs Powell and Tenet)

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-08 14:15:26|| 2003-04-08 14:15:26|| Front Page Top

#3 also

note well - Chalabi and INC have friends among supporters of Israel, as do Kurds. Chalabi in power in Iraq takes away pressure on Israel - road map less likely - State and CIA jobs of currying favor in rest of middle east made more difficult.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-08 14:23:13|| 2003-04-08 14:23:13|| Front Page Top

#4 Maybe we wanted to minimize blue/blue events.

Posted by mhw 2003-04-08 14:59:19|| 2003-04-08 14:59:19|| Front Page Top

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