If I read the news correctly "Sunnis surge beyond Baghdad", things are calming down in Baghdad, perhaps as a result of the new sheriff in town, General Petraeus? Violence down in one spot, up in another? But not everyone sees it that way. Note the reference to Moqtada al-Sadr.
While US and Iraqi officials say that Baghdad is quieter, violence has grown outside the capital. Bombings in Tal Afar provoked Shiite policemen to kill dozens of Sunnis in retaliation. Insurgents targeted other Shiite areas, and in Mosul on Sunday bombs exploded at an Iraqi Army base.
The surge in attacks is part of a bid by militant Sunnis to undermine the Shiite-led government, says Joost Hiltermann, an analyst with the International Crisis Group (ICG) based in Amman, Jordan. "The takfeeris have stepped up their attacks to show that they control the streets and do whatever they want," he says referring to Sunnis who consider Shiites infidels and attack them.
Mr. Hiltermann also says Sunni militants want to provoke Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army to retaliate. That, he says, would expose them to US forces that have been pursuing and arresting several prominent members of the Mahdi Army. The militia is implicated in sectarian killing and accused of using Iranian-made bombs against US troops. (CSM)
From my sources, I understand that Moqtada al-Sadr has been quiet on the sidelines, other than his few letters recently sent home to Sadr City, and that his Mahdi Army has put their weapons away and have not been causing any mayhem. It is also my understanding that they plan to keep it this way, at least for the near future. The planned April 9 protest against the coalition forces is also being advertised at peaceful.
It is possible for Sunni and Shiite to kill each other, without the Mahdi Army being involved, isn't it? It's obvious to me that Sadr wants something in exchange for his apparent agreeable nature. What is that something you ask? I believe he wants a position at the table, an honorable position, perhaps very near the head of the table, if you get my drift.
Yet in Sadr City the crowds are shouting "Labeik Moqtada!", according to Christian Science Monitor, expressing their willingness to follow Sadr, while 'senior members of his movement, accused Washington of fomenting sectarian strife and even orchestrating attacks against civilians so that it can justify its presence in the country.' *cough* Justify our presence?
John McCain and others were in Iraq this weekend:
"The American people are not getting the full picture of what's happening here. They're not getting the full picture of the drop in murders, the establishment of security outposts throughout the city, the situation in Anbar Province, the deployment of additional Iraqi brigades that are performing well, and other signs of progress having been made," said Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential hopeful from Arizona.US commander Gen. David Petraeus said in a statement Friday that Al Qaeda elements in Iraq were carrying out "barbaric actions" to fuel sectarian strife and undermine the "successes" of improving Baghdad security. (CSM)
It's hard to know what's really going on in Iraq. I must admit I have mixed feelings. One 'expert' says things are improving, the next expert says no, it's a massacre, police are killing, the army's not trained, the government is part of the problem, ...
... Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government was unwilling and incapable of rooting out sectarianism and that it was "folly" for the US to expect otherwise. "They are dysfunctional and too weak to do it. They are part of the sectarian conflict. This government is so much a part of the problem that you can't ask it to reach out to the other side, especially Sunnis."
Association of Muslim Scholars spokesman, Sheikh Bashar al-Faydhi, said in a phone interview from Amman that his group was willing "to issue a call to the resistance to lay down its weapons if America suspended its support for the current government and put a timetable for the withdrawal of its troops."
Iraqis voted for this government, didn't they? We can't go in with one mighty wave of the American (coalition) hand and remove it and start all over again. That's for you Iraqis to do in the next elections.
A Sadrist member of parliament Falah Shanshal said, "These events are proof that the security plan must be in the hands of Iraqis [and not the Americans].... " From your lips to God's ears, sir. The United States would like nothing better than for the Iraqis to step up to the plate and take over so every American can come home. But you are not doing that yet. Some of your soldiers and police are not doing the job. Tell THEM to step up so we can get out.
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