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No one could have predicted...

Submitted by lambert on Tue, 2008-03-25 14:54.

AP:

Iraqi forces clashed with Shiite militiamen Tuesday in the southern oil port of Basra and rockets rained down on the U.S.-protected Green Zone in Baghdad as followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr expanded a nationwide backlash against government crackdowns.

Al-Maliki was in Basra, where he is supervising the operation against the Shiite militia fighters. At least 25 people were killed in the Basra fighting, officials said.

The violence marked a stunning escalation in the confrontation between the Shiite-run government and al-Sadr’s forces, who have bitterly complained about the recent arrests of hundreds of backers.

Who’s stunned?

Are you stunned? I’m not stunned. Do you know anybody who’s stunned?

As the drawdown accelerates, everthing will blow up again. That’s because the surge failed at its stated objective, which was to make space for a political solution.

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whose bright idea was that?

Submitted by DCblogger on Tue, 2008-03-25 15:24.

the recent arrests of hundreds of backers.

Not Sadr's people

Submitted by peter on Tue, 2008-03-25 19:43.

Everywhere you look on the net today you will see headlines such as: Sadr’s Mahdi Army Battles in Four Cities or Basra Scene of Sadr Militia Fighting Iraqi Troops. The problem with that is that it isn’t primarily Mookie’s army that is waging battle, it is Hezbollah’s entrant into the Iraq War, namely Hizballah Brigades of Iraq. The fact of the matter is that the Hizballah Brigades and Sadr’s bunch of militia misfits are aligned but don’t be fooled, this latest wave of violence and attacks is Hezbollah’s doing.

If members of the Hizballah Brigades of Iraq are captured and confess to their base of operations being Hezbollah in Lebanon, then we have every right to go after Lebanon operations. It’s my view that the U.S. has always been lacking a direct damning reason to be able to attack Hamas or Hezbollah - we have always had to defer somewhat to Israel as they have been the target. Now, WE are the target of Hezbollah and it’s time to lower the boom on these clowns.

These aren’t people under Sadr’s control.

Oh good, another country to bomb

Submitted by bringiton on Tue, 2008-03-25 20:00.

And I was getting concerned that we might run out of targets.

How’s about for a change of pace we just give everybody in Iraq a cash payment of $10K each for the trouble and leave? Let them sort it out.

this is the most important issue by far

Submitted by rootless on Tue, 2008-03-25 20:55.

I don’t see a statement on Hillary’s website. Poor web presence or no statement?

Here’s Obama’s

It is with great sadness that we have reached another grim milestone in Iraq, with at least 4,000 of our finest Americans having been killed. Each death is a tragedy, and we honor every fallen American and send our thoughts and prayers to their families. It is past time to end this war that should never have been waged by bringing our troops home, and finally pushing Iraq’s leaders to take responsibility for their future. As we do, we must serve the memory of all who have died as well as they served our country, by providing support for their families, caring for our troops and veterans, and upholding the American values which our fallen heroes exemplified through their service.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community…