Comments on: Hoping Al-Sadr Will Fade Away http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/ Harangues that just make sense Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:50:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: stef http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335601 stef Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:09:21 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335601 "The Iranians will have no use for a powerless tool." The Iranians have Badr and SCIRI. “The Iranians will have no use for a powerless tool.”

The Iranians have Badr and SCIRI.

]]> By: testing http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335590 testing Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:36:05 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335590 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/21/world/middleeast/21shiite.html?_r=1&oref=slogin <blockquote>"In the Iraqi government’s fight to subdue the Shiite militia of Moktada al-Sadr in the southern city of Basra, perhaps nothing reveals the complexities of the Iraq conflict more starkly than this: Iran and the United States find themselves on the same side. The causes of this convergence boil down to the logic of self-interest, although it is logic in a place where even the most basic reasoning refuses to go in a straight line. In essence, though, the calculation by the United States is that it must back the government it helped to create and take the steps needed to protect American troops and civilian officials. Iranian motivations appear to hinge on the possibility that Mr. Sadr’s political and military followers could gain power in provincial elections this fall, and disrupt the creation of a semiautonomous region in the south that the Iranians see as beneficial."</blockquote> In fighting Sadr we're fighting an Iraqi nationalist who has asked Sunni and Shia to work together against the US and Iran. Pretty straightforward if you want to pay attention. But you don't. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/21/world/middleeast/21shiite.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

“In the Iraqi government’s fight to subdue the Shiite militia of Moktada al-Sadr in the southern city of Basra, perhaps nothing reveals the complexities of the Iraq conflict more starkly than this: Iran and the United States find themselves on the same side.

The causes of this convergence boil down to the logic of self-interest, although it is logic in a place where even the most basic reasoning refuses to go in a straight line. In essence, though, the calculation by the United States is that it must back the government it helped to create and take the steps needed to protect American troops and civilian officials.

Iranian motivations appear to hinge on the possibility that Mr. Sadr’s political and military followers could gain power in provincial elections this fall, and disrupt the creation of a semiautonomous region in the south that the Iranians see as beneficial.”

In fighting Sadr we’re fighting an Iraqi nationalist who has asked Sunni and Shia to work together against the US and Iran.
Pretty straightforward if you want to pay attention. But you don’t.

]]> By: Eric http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335419 Eric Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:45:32 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335419 The administration has, in concert with the Iraqi government, done an amazing job whittling down Sadr's influence in Iraq. There was a time Sadr could make the entire South boil - now his influence is mostly limited to Sadr City. Even there his people can no longer act freely. I don't think he'll be around much longer. The Iranians will have no use for a powerless tool. The administration has, in concert with the Iraqi government, done an amazing job whittling down Sadr’s influence in Iraq. There was a time Sadr could make the entire South boil - now his influence is mostly limited to Sadr City. Even there his people can no longer act freely.

I don’t think he’ll be around much longer. The Iranians will have no use for a powerless tool.

]]> By: Leviticus http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335338 Leviticus Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:29:12 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335338 "*sigh* Yes yes. Bush is a coward, we’re horrible chickenhawks, and you’re so rightous… Blow it out yer ass, Stef." - Scott Jacobs Whether or not you like it, that's the logical extension of Rice's moronic little dismissal. “*sigh*

Yes yes. Bush is a coward, we’re horrible chickenhawks, and you’re so rightous…

Blow it out yer ass, Stef.”

- Scott Jacobs

Whether or not you like it, that’s the logical extension of Rice’s moronic little dismissal.

]]> By: Another Drew http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335314 Another Drew Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:40:49 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335314 Do you think Mookie is moving up the priority list for Hellfire targets? Do you think Mookie is moving up the priority list for Hellfire targets?

]]> By: Anon 1:50 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335295 Anon 1:50 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:08:10 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335295 Unusual for Ms. Rice to lay on a good, hard, no-frills faceslap like that. Sadr is now required to respond, and, if he is the petulant little Che-wannabe I think he is, he will. Following the last little uprising, the dismissal of the cowards who ran and the bolstering and excellent performance of those who stepped in to clean up Basra and carry the day... it would be a superb time for the coalition to hand Sadr and the Mahdi militias a gutshot they won't recover from. Prognostication on these affairs is not my strong suit, but I have a feeling it's the beginning of the end for Mookie Sadr and his Merry Men. Unusual for Ms. Rice to lay on a good, hard, no-frills faceslap like that. Sadr is now required to respond, and, if he is the petulant little Che-wannabe I think he is, he will.

Following the last little uprising, the dismissal of the cowards who ran and the bolstering and excellent performance of those who stepped in to clean up Basra and carry the day… it would be a superb time for the coalition to hand Sadr and the Mahdi militias a gutshot they won’t recover from.

Prognostication on these affairs is not my strong suit, but I have a feeling it’s the beginning of the end for Mookie Sadr and his Merry Men.

]]> By: daleyrocks http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335262 daleyrocks Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:09:49 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335262 al-Sadr stirring up trouble is one of the democrats' remaining hopes for defeat in Iraq. Reviewing the glee with which the media misreported Maliki's offensive against his militia reinforces the depths of hate America sentiment rampant in this country. al-Sadr stirring up trouble is one of the democrats’ remaining hopes for defeat in Iraq. Reviewing the glee with which the media misreported Maliki’s offensive against his militia reinforces the depths of hate America sentiment rampant in this country.

]]> By: Scott Jacobs http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335255 Scott Jacobs Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:35:43 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335255 *sigh* Yes yes. Bush is a coward, we're horrible chickenhawks, and you're so rightous... Blow it out yer ass, Stef. *sigh*

Yes yes. Bush is a coward, we’re horrible chickenhawks, and you’re so rightous…

Blow it out yer ass, Stef.

]]> By: stef http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335254 stef Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:28:09 +0000 http://patterico.com/2008/04/20/hoping-al-sadr-will-fade-away/#comment-335254 I like her definiton of cowardice. I like her definiton of cowardice.

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