Article

2010-04-07 Iraq

Al-Sadr's movement backs neither Iraq front-runner

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2010-04-07 08:43|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Iran

#1 It still amazes (and angers) me that we let al-Sadr go. He is responsible for the deaths of many American Soldiers and Iraqi civilians, and he has close ties with Iran. The fact that this man continues to have such political sway is a testament to how poorly this war was handled in its first four years. We had al-Sadr cornered more than once early on, let him go, and watched as he helped spur brutal sectarian violence while spearheading an Iran backed insurgency. By my second tour in Iraq his militia controlled the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation, complete with its own fleet of vehicles and paramilitary forces. Their members worked quasi-openly in places like Baghdad International Airport, and they had financial support from the Iraqi government which they used to wage war against our military and innocent Iraqi civilians. The US Military is full of men and women with the heart and courage to do the difficult right rather than the easy wrong. Too bad we can't say the same for the politicians who send them to war. Al-Sadr is alive and kicking only because of politics; because he comes from a powerful family with ties to the fledgling Iraqi government; because our politicians and bureaucrats didn't have the balls to take him down and piss off his buddies for a few years. Al-Sadr was the head of the snake in a militant organization that was structured much differently from modern al-Qaeda forces. The long term stability produced by his death wouldve far outweighed any short term consequences. Al-Sadr is an entrenched remnant of the same fast track policies that spurred President Bushs 2003 victory celebration (one I distinctly remember since Id been getting shot at not 8 hours before I watched it), and such is the case with much of the rest of the Iraqi government. Thankfully, Mr. Bush, who I truly admire, finally fired Rumsfeld and got a real strategy for Iraq. Unfortunately, the poor decisions he allowed early on will continue to haunt the Iraqi political system.

Posted by Keeney 2010-04-07 10:19|| 2010-04-07 10:19|| Front Page Top

23:43 JosephMendiola
23:36 JosephMendiola
23:32 JosephMendiola
23:26 Redneck Jim
23:24 trailing wife
23:13 JosephMendiola
23:11 JosephMendiola
23:07 JosephMendiola
23:06 phil_b
23:04 Phiter Stalin5608
22:48 Barbara Skolaut
22:43 trailing wife
22:39 Redneck Jim
22:33 Asymmetrical Triangulation
22:26 gromky
22:08 Frank G
22:08 Barney Frank
21:44 phil_b
21:25 Pappy
21:19 JosephMendiola
21:11 ryuge
21:03 Thains Untervehr9750
20:56 Frank G
20:41 Kelly