Comments on: Video: Iraqi Army, Mahdi Army hook up to battle Sunnis; Update: Mahdi source — we’ve got the missing Brits (bumped)

By: starflyer

starflyer — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:09:59 +0000

I wonder if even these guys know anymore which of them are on the same side and who’s collaborating with whom.

Dang, they lost me long ago.

By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » Odierno: We’re negotiating with insurgents for a ceasefire

Thu, 31 May 2007 23:16:46 +0000

[...] Odierno estimates that those nationalist branches comprise 80% of the insurgency, but like the article says, how much command and control is there? It’s not even clear anymore how much of the Mahdi Army Sadr controls and he’s the most charismatic figure in Iraq. An agreement signed with insurgent “representatives” will end up with some portion of the 80% laying down its weapons, but the more intractable types will defect to Al Qaeda to continue the jihad. On the other hand, having ex-insurgents as tipsters will be a huge help in gathering intel on AQ. We’ve seen how well it worked with Sunni tribesmen in Anbar in tamping down the insurgency there; imagine the information we’d gather from people who’ve actually fought alongside the jihadists. That’s part of Odierno’s thinking here too, I’m sure: if we can kill or capture the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq or AQ before September, it’d be a huge trophy. [...]

By: Tim Burton

Tim Burton — Thu, 31 May 2007 21:39:19 +0000

It is time to start killing Mahdis and Sadrs. Think about it. We could send his entire family to find their 72 ~~grapes~~ errrr…~~virgins~~ errr….boys.

I think part of the problem is that we are not playing mean with the ~~Shitty~~ errr…Shiites Muslims.

By: Darnell Clayton

Darnell Clayton — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:58:01 +0000

Is it me, or is Iraq turning into the “wild, wild west, Jihad style?”

Note to UK: Trading honor for security can end up costing you both.

By: Blacklake

Blacklake — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:50:49 +0000

Now where could Al Sadr have gotten the impression he could take British soldiers hostage and not suffer consequences?

Make that Abu Deraa, I guess.

By: Blacklake

Blacklake — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:49:47 +0000

Now where could Al Sadr have gotten the impression he could take British soldiers hostage and not suffer consequences?

By: Theworldisnotenough

Theworldisnotenough — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:48:42 +0000

tomas on May 31, 2007 at 4:22 PM

True, stable is a subjecive term. But that’s the beauty of it. Minimizing deaths, killing lots of al-qaeda and getting the oil flowing can be seen as “stable” regardless of realities on the ground.

By: tomas

tomas — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:22:45 +0000

Part of the problem is that Iraq was one of the most violent countries before Sadaam, so perspective what is stable and what isn’t is skewed.

I guarantee you many of the death that are reported are normal recourse for this country.

By: Theworldisnotenough

Theworldisnotenough — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:56:27 +0000

The more we try to muscle the government, the more they’ll try to drum up support in parliament to ask us to withdraw. That’s their trump card, per Bush’s thousand speeches about democracy, and they know it.

Good. There are only two ways to come out of Iraq with conservative ideology intact and capable of winning on domestic issues. (assuming that a total pullout after the democratic landslide in congress meant a uppswing in liberal ideology in domestic politics, which i bae on the same thing happening after Vietnam)

1. We stabilize Iraq to a point that it can be sold politically.

2. We put an Iraqi face on the violence. “Maybe Iraqi’s aren’t able to have a Democracy?”

The latter is going to happen between now and the 2008 elections. We will play the role of a benefactor that has given the Iraqi people the best chance for peace and Democracy. They will play the role of sectarians unable to have a Democracy. Then we will allow many Iraqi immigrants into the country. We really need a conservative as POTUS so the incoming Iraqis are properly screened.

By: soulsirkus

soulsirkus — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:29:06 +0000

I fear this dam region and its’ crazy people are going to be a permanent hemorrhoid on America’s ass forever and a day…

soulsirkus on May 31, 2007 at 11:11 AM

Regret to say I believe the only cure for this may be a Preparation H-bomb?

By: fogw

fogw — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:24:53 +0000

Iraqi Army, Mahdi ~~Army~~ street thugs hook up to battle Sunnis

Had to draw the line there.

By: soulsirkus

soulsirkus — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:11:03 +0000

Iraqi Army, Mahdi Army hook up to battle Sunnis

Man this is getting confusing. I feel like I need a program listing all the players in this mess to figure out who the hell is fighting who? This country against that country. This group against that group, this army against that army. This religious sect against another. Sounds like a friggin free for all. I fear this dam region and its’ crazy people are going to be a permanent hemorrhoid on America’s ass forever and a day…

By: RedKnight

RedKnight — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:10:03 +0000

It seems that we have an opportunity here. We muscle the government into governing and one of two things happens. Either they govern and become a semi-successful example of democracy in action, or they get fed up with it and ask us to leave. We have our out. We pack up and leave and they become a roiling mess of violence.

Or we be pansies about this and don’t pressure the Iraqi government, in which case, they get nothing done and devolve into a roiling mess of violence.

I say muscle them, at least there is a chance that they, and us by proxy, become successful.

By: amerpundit

amerpundit — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:05:46 +0000

And then there's this.