are we about to see more of these bold offensive moves? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061020/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq Shiite militia takes over Iraqi city The Shiite militia run by the anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr seized control of a southern Iraqi city on Friday in one of the boldest acts of defiance yet by the country's powerful, unofficial armies, witnesses and police said. Mahdi Army fighters stormed three main police stations Friday morning, residents said, planting explosives that flattened the buildings in Amarah, a city just 30 miles from the Iranian border that was under British command until August, when it was returned to Iraqi government control. About 800 black-clad militiamen with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenades were patrolling in commandeered police vehicles, witnesses said. Other fighters set up roadblocks on routes into the city and sound trucks circulated telling residents to stay indoors. The militiamen later withdrew from their positions and lifted their siege of police headquarters under a temporary truce negotiated with an al-Sadr envoy. It was not clear on Friday afternoon whether security forces had reasserted control over the city or whether the cleric knew about his militia's planned takeover in advance.
UK may return to Iraq crisis city British troops are on standby to re-enter Amara in southern Iraq after an outbreak of serious violence. The Army could return to the city just two months after it pulled out if the Amara authorities ask for help, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6070104.stm
This just proves how right Bush's plan for victory is... the traitorous, liberal British cut and run from some town while America stays the course!
I blame CNN. If they weren't working hand in hand with the terrorists, this never would have happened. But really, is it time to recognise these militias and have talks on a much larger scale than previously attempted, or do we send the boys back into the meat grinder? Is this Fallujah part II?
It's crazy how Sadr's men can go on a rampage and then he can write a letter to stop it. Then, everything is okay and all is well again. Nothing to see here...move along.
There is no way to salvage Iraq, the militias, the Ba'athists, and the insurgency in general will make sure of it. The mighty U.S. military can't even 'pacify' Baghdad let alone the Sunni 'triangle of death'; the top U.S. military officer in Iraq basically admitted as much. It's beyond our control, there is nothing we can do about it. 'Pandora's box' indeed...
It is my understanding from listening to some radio programs that al Sader has essentially 'lost control' of the Mehdi Army in large part. He has been very actively and vocally appealing to them to avoid sectarian violence but they apparently aren't listening to them.
There taking there orders from the iranian revolutionary guards whom get there orders from khamenie. the mollahs are controling iraq.
