Article

2003-04-23 Iraq

Timing Is Everything--Michael Ledeen on winning Shiite support

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Posted by kgb 2003-04-23 06:03 am|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Sounds like Ledeen has a good handle on the Iranians - and I very much favor the attack mode as well as the defend mode. We SHOULD be doing everything in our power to help the Iranian people. And if cold cash is what sings in revealing the Iranian mullahs for their craven use of the Iraqi Shiites for Iranian gain, shit, we've certainly wasted boatloads on idiot plans with lesser chance and appeal.

Posted by PD 2003-04-23 06:25:52|| 2003-04-23 06:25:52|| Front Page Top

#2 To hell with respect for Iraqian democratic choice. The Shiite majority would win, and then oppress Christians, Turks, Kurds, Persians, Jews, etc. A secular constitution has to be imposed on the country, and if Iranian backed clerics get in the way, then they should be shot. How about some respect for minorities and Coalition troops, instead of Bush-Powell' "faith based" constitutionalism? Americans didn't spend $20,000,000,000 to deliver another province to the Islamofascists in Iran.

Posted by Anonon 2003-04-23 08:47:17|| 2003-04-23 08:47:17|| Front Page Top

#3 "The Iranians will combine this political strategy with terrorist acts and assassinations, as in the case of the very charismatic Ayatollah Khoi in Najaf"

I hope one thing our people in Iraq are doing is fully investigating this assasination. Proof of it would be a very powerful stick to wave at Iran, and if they dont cooperate would have a profound effect on Iraqi Shiite politics.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-23 09:26:20|| 2003-04-23 09:26:20|| Front Page Top

#4 Ledeen's perspectives have been on the mark since I've been reading him. Let's hope GWB and company aren't going to take Iranian pot-stirring without reciprocal actions. I'd say once the Iranian powers-that-be know that we're willing to respond in kind, then things will get better in the South.

Posted by Michael 2003-04-23 09:31:28|| 2003-04-23 09:31:28|| Front Page Top

#5 To hell with respect for Iraqian democratic choice. The Shiite majority would win, and then oppress Christians, Turks, Kurds, Persians, Jews, etc. A secular constitution has to be imposed on the country, and if Iranian backed clerics get in the way, then they should be shot.

We cannot win by imposing a constitution on Iraq. All we can do is force the various sides to keep talking until a compromise is worked out that will protect the rights of ALL Iraqis. That includes the Sunnis, Christians, the Kurds, the Turkomens, the Shiites, and whoever else lives in Iraq. That's going to take some very skilled maneuvering, and tons of hard work. Such a job cannot be done "in a matter of months". I think Rumsfeld made an ass of himself with his statements the last few days, and needs to be told by George to "sit down and shut up for a few weeks".

Bush is also going to have to clamp down on State, which is doing far too much to undermine what Bush is trying to do in Iraq. Otherwise, the entire operation is going to degenerate into a fiasco.

Posted by Old Patriot 2003-04-23 09:52:29|| 2003-04-23 09:52:29|| Front Page Top

#6 This guy's got it right. The Shiites in the South want us out so Iran can walk in militarily and take over.

Posted by Ptah 2003-04-23 10:22:08|| [www.crusaderwarcollege.org] 2003-04-23 10:22:08|| Front Page Top

#7 'The Shiites'? The Iranian mullahs can't even win an election in Iran -- what makes you think they would in Iraq?

Posted by someone 2003-04-23 11:15:28|| 2003-04-23 11:15:28|| Front Page Top

#8 Because Iraq is not Iran. Iran has had all this time under the mullahs' thumbs to see what it was all about. The Shiites in Iraq are only at the beginning.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2003-04-23 12:16:35|| 2003-04-23 12:16:35|| Front Page Top

#9 We can not let the Shite Fundies take control.It would mean the slaughter of those that aren't Shite.I would say it's time to start cracking down,start disarming the Fundies.Use Iraqi police,with ample support.
Close the border with Iran,search every vehicle.Any weapons or large amounts of cash arrest occupants.Any vehicles found carrying vitrolic anti-American banners,phamplets,etc. send the occupants walikng back to Iran.
If worst comes to worst,break-up Iraq into 2 seperate states:Southern Iraqi Shite State.
Free Iraqi State.
Make the border the old no-fly zone.
It is a pretty safe bet the Kurds and Sunnis will not welcome a Shite controlled Iraq.Isolate the S.I.S.S.and let them stew in thier goo.
Cut off U.S.aid(let the Iranians rebuild SISS,and throw massive aid and support to F.I.S.

Posted by raptor 2003-04-24 09:03:39|| 2003-04-24 09:03:39|| Front Page Top

11:52 becky
09:03 raptor
08:37 raptor
07:24 raptor
06:59 raptor
23:49 Pink & Fluffy
23:32 Bomb-a-rama
23:29 Bomb-a-rama
23:23 Bomb-a-rama
23:06 11A5S
23:05 Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire
22:58 11A5S
22:43 Mark IV
22:32 Nero
22:30 Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire
22:22 Raj
22:20 Raj
22:14 Nero
22:04 Brian
22:03 Fred
21:30 anon1
21:26 Alaska Paul
21:22 anon1
20:58 Raj