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Sadr urges "civil revolt" as battles erupt in Basra »
Posted by: JamesMarcus 1 year, 9 months agoA ceasefire crucial to recent security improvements in Iraq was today under severe strain after Moqtada al-Sadr called for "civil revolt" following a crackdown on Shia factions in Basra. Iraqi security forces in the southern Iraqi city encountered heavy resistance as battles broke out with gunmen from Sadr's Mahdi Army militia.
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JamesMarcus
James Marcus is a writer, translator, critic, and editor. He is the author of Amazonia: Five Years at the Epicenter of the Dot-Com Juggernaut and ...
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Comments: 228
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GWHayduke
March 25, 2008, 3:54 p.m.This is evidence that al-Sadr has far more influence on violence in Iraq than any surge.
That being the case, we'd better prepare the mother of all surges.
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joeblowe
March 25, 2008, 4:02 p.m.The sad thing is: I don't really believe a word of anything the press reports concerning Iraq. I have come to the conclusion that they - for the most part - simply parrot whatever line of Bul!sh!t the Pentagon is handing out this week. It DOES seem as though this al-Sadr guy has an inordinate amount of military effectiveness for a so-called "cleric" though. Why, I doubt if the Poop himself could raise as much hell as Moqtada, and he has MUCH fancier headgear. If it were up to me, I'd stop calling this guy a "cleric" and start referring to him as "warlord" al-Sadr or some such. Cleric my as*.
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OnionHeadComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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vor
March 25, 2008, 4:30 p.m.This was inevitable. We have allowed local warlords to self govern the region for nearly a year. They do not wish to be under Iraqi government control. When the British moved back they claimed their own little territories. We will soon see as well that empowering the Sunni in the North will result in the same. Small groups of consolidated power that have little interest in national unity. The government is providing them little and in return they have little respect for that body.
Al-Sadr is playing this like a wise owl. He lay low during the Surge. He knows he cannot fight US forces successfully but he also knows he has elements outside of his brigade that are loyal to him in the Iraqi Army. Even if he dies he becomes a martyr.
This is just the resurrection of an issue that Petraeus certainly sidestepped in his last visit to Congress. I remember thinking, "why doesn't anyone ask him about the consequences of the British withdrawal?" But it never happened...
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AtheismIsRealityComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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Grrr
March 25, 2008, 4:48 p.m.Most of the drop in violence post-surge being claimed by the administration is due to the fact that we are paying Al-Sadr for the ceasefire.
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tchef
March 25, 2008, 4:50 p.m.This is what I've been talking about for a while now. I would be willing to bet that no matter how long we stay, the minute we leave all out civil war will break out. Al Sadre is just waiting for us to leave, He knows it's only a matter of time.
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pismo
March 25, 2008, 5:21 p.m.This guy and all the others like him will be a thorn in our side and the Iraqi government side from now until the cows come home.....
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Ratskii
March 25, 2008, 5:39 p.m.Drop is a barbarian. Only his own tribe are human in his mind. He believes that killing millions of strangers or opponents isn't a crime. Still, I would think that even he would have some mind for the consequences of his proposed actions, unless he really is completely ignorant of the world outside his own neighborhood.
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raats6662Comment has been removed: Retracted by user
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ML2007Comment has been removed: Retracted by user
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Howtogo
March 25, 2008, 6:24 p.m.Ahaâ;¦ A leader of the religion of peace wants civil revolt. Does any one really believe Hamas or the religious leaders of the Muslim Religion in the east want peace? If so I have a bridge in Brooklyn available for sale.
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crghss
March 25, 2008, 7:01 p.m.Why isn't more of this story in the MSM?
For or against, this story should be a lead item in the news.
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ScrimshawComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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DrBenway
March 25, 2008, 7:30 p.m.We can't leave Iraq! You know how much money this is making companies like Blackwater and Halliburton?
Have you liberals no thought of the shareholders and CEOs who won't be able to buy their fifth home if we just "cut and run"?
How about their new homes in Dubai? How are they going to afford to live their after they've sucked Iraq dry? You heartless, heartless people!
Sure people in American are now burning down their homes because they can no longer afford to pay their mortgages... but in the immortal words of Dick Cheney "So"?
No, this war must go on! Viva la unchecked Capitalism!
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nikkibabe
March 25, 2008, 8:02 p.m.Did the "SURGE" guy Iraq John meet with Mukhtada Al Sadr? You cannot go there, meet your military puppets and Iraqi government which is on US payroll, come back here and say "WE ARE WINNING".
You have to meet Al Sadr and ordinary Iraqis who live their lives.
John McCain is a big hypocrite and Bush poster child.
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mrwooly
March 25, 2008, 8:52 p.m.Why don't we take this punk Al Sadr out? If he's going to turn those ****** lose on our troops, then he should have a taste of a 500 pounder.
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Endoscopy
March 25, 2008, 9:51 p.m.listen to all the Demoshrills whine about something that has not happened and make a worst case scenario. The world is coming to an end. Our soldiers are going to die by the thousands. The Generals don't know what they are doing. Did I leave anything out?
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NoWayMan
March 25, 2008, 9:53 p.m.wait a minute. I thought we were paying out big money to the militias so this sorta thing wouldn't happen and Bush could market his surge as a success.
but this makes the Bush surge plan look so...fake.
I want a refund.
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nikkibabe
March 25, 2008, 10:10 p.m.Quote: "Why don't we take this punk Al Sadr out? If he's going to turn those ****** lose on our troops, then he should have a taste of a 500 pounder.".
The words of a war monger.
FYI: Al Sadr is an Iraqi born there. US troops are foreigners occupying his country.
IS 4,000 body bags not enough, for you?
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Grrr
March 25, 2008, 5:21 p.m.Such depth .
So you advocate crimes against humanity as foreign policy? You might be a Republican.
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MRCOFFEECAKE
March 25, 2008, 6:01 p.m.Ohh. So that's your 8th or 9th strategy?
We've lost count.
Skip right over how stupid our "policy" and "plan" has been. Feel free to deny blindly supporting every one of them, and then suggest that we all get together and agree to do what the Huns did after they were done raping and pillaging and burn down the village.
How THOUGHTful (less) of you.
Glad to know we're relying on brilliant military minds!
Wasn't abandonment plan for New Orleans, for anyone dumb enough to build homes on land that is below sea
level?
THAT would surprise me.
We needed the money to rebuild Baghdad.
The war was going to be funded with Iraqui oil money!(part of plan #1 in case you forget the lies)
Losing your patience? McCain is willing to be there for 80 years. He said it, not me.
Let's sterilize Iraqui women, relocate all
who lost their homes in Louisiana there, and McCain would be right. In 80 years there would only be Louisianans living there. All of the Iraquis would be gone. VICTORY!
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PsychoHosebeastComment has been removed: Spammer, Abusive
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GHOSTWHOWALKS
March 25, 2008, 8:06 p.m.Drop Kick: That has to be the dumbest comment to ever break out of your idiot mind. Nuke them? Are you freaking nuts? Oh yeah and we would pay such a price for that stupidity that 100 generations would still bear the stain. Not to mention being hauled before the World Court for every crime in the books. You are by far the most ignorant idiot ever to be allowed to breath.
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