NEWS: A Steaming Pile Of Sadr

POLITICS: A Steaming Pile Of Sadr

George Bush is such a colossal fuck up it is astounding. Every choice the administration makes in Iraq turns out to be the wrong choice. Their latest blunder is backing the wrong Shiite in Iraq. Today, after a couple of days of violence in Iraq, a new strongman has risen and his name is Muqtada al-Sadr. Our guy is the other guy -- the weak one.



Al-Sadr played Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki like a couple of children. Seven months ago, al-Sadr agreed to a cease-fire in Iraq - which has led many right wing morons to believe the surge has been a success. They are, of course, fucking idiots desperate to prove that their imbecilic support of the invasion was the right call. Deaths have dropped in Iraq because al-Sadr has not been killing people and we have been paying Sunni insurgents not to kill people. Last week, the cease-fire with al-Sadr took a break - just long enough to show who is the big boy in Iraq. And his name ain't Maliki.



We're supposed to believe that Al-Sadr is the bad guy and Maliki is the good guy. The truth is they both are nasty motherfuckers. Both sides are guilty of sectarian cleansing. Both have strong connections to Iran. Maliki has been using the US military and the Iraqi Army to arrest and kill members of al-Sadr's militia, The Mahdi Army. But this week, al-Sadr fought back, which is exactly what Maliki was hoping for. Maliki expected the US to fight this battle for him. His master plan was to get our guys to wipe out al-Sadr, leaving him as the last Shiite standing.



The fighting first started in Basra. Maliki claimed he was cracking down on "criminals," but it was obviously a massive power grab. And a pretty pathetic one, at that. First rule of power grab: Make sure you aren't a retard. Maliki clearly didn't realize his pals the Iranians and his other pals, the Americans, don't want a civil war between Iraqi Shiites. So, Maliki and the Islamic Supreme Council started the fighting in Basra and al-Sadr pushed back - and he pushed back hard.



The fighting moved to Baghdad, where US forces were also involved. There Maliki learned the second lesson of power grab: Make sure all the guys on your side are actually on your side. Many members of the Iraqi Army walked away from checkpoints, because they support al-Sadr. Members of the Army were actually walking into al-Sadr's offices and giving up their weapons.

Meanwhile, Iran wanted the fighting to end because Iran supports both Maliki and al-Sadr and would rather they don't kill each other. They want the Shiites to save it up to attack the Sunnis when the US pulls out. Bush certainly does not want Iraq to fall further into chaos at this point, because it would devastate McCain's chances in November and screw up his plan to leave a land mine for the incoming Democratic president. At the same time, the Kurds refused to get involved in Maliki's moronic fight.

Hello, blunder, my name is Maliki. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was demanding the Mahdi Army disarm. He actually set a three-day deadline for the al-Sadr kids to turn in their weapons. There was some chuckling, a few shrugs and then the three days passed with no one turning in their guns. Day four: Maliki actually extended the deadline - and offered cash for weapons. Third rule of power grab: Don't look like a massive pussy.



The US provided air support for Maliki's weak ass forces and al-Sadr held strong. Turns out it is very hard to dislodge highly motivated indigenous fighters who know every nook and cranny in the area. Who knew? I mean, besides everybody. Rule number four of power grab: Read at least one book on the history of urban warfare.



After a couple days and a few hundred dead guys, Iran said enough is enough. Officials in Maliki's own government told him to stop his little war and went to Iran for help.

Iran then brokered a peace deal. Maliki actually went to Iran to meet with al-Sadr - which brings up the fifth rule of power grab: Don't beg your opponent to stop.



Bestest of allest, al-Sadr had a list of demands for Maliki before he would agree to an end to hostilities. The fucking rebel set the rule to end the conflict that the government started! Holy shit! Maliki is a plane crashing into a train wreck, falling on top of a car crash, hitting a boat. What an epic disaster. Rule number six of power grab: Don't let your enemy kick your balls in.



Here is what Maliki agreed to:

1. Ending armed manifestations in Basra governorate and all the other governates.

2. Ending of attacks and illegal arbitrary detentions.

3. Demand that the government apply the law on general amnesty, and release all prisoners who have not had charges confirmed against them, in particular prisoners belonging to the Al-Sadrist current.

4. We announce that we will repudiate those who carry weapons and target the government and service agencies and institutions, or the offices of political parties.

5. Cooperation with government agencies to bring about security and to charge criminals, according to due process of law.

6. We reassert that the Al-Sadrist movement does not possess heavy weapons.

7. Efforts [meaningful efforts are to be made] for the return to their residential areas of those who were forced out as a result of security incidents.

8. We demand respect for human rights by the government in all of its security activities.

9. Working [meaningful efforts are to be made] towards the realization of development and service projects in all governates.

Oh, and here's a napkin to wipe yourself off the floor with. My favorite number in that list is 7. She's a beaut. Maliki is demanding that Sunnis and Shiites be placed back in their homes, from which they were removed by sectarian cleansing. You now, the sectarian cleansing that the Mahdi army was responsible for - but so were the militias working under Maliki. Al-Sadr is trying to make the case that other Shiites were responsible for the cleansing, just as he has been trying to claim Maliki has been killing Sunnis and blaming the Mahdi army. Now he's demanding those people be put back in their houses. It's called politics and this was a master move. Rule number seven of power grab: Don't take on a guy who is a million times smarter than you.

To top it all off, al-Sadr has now completely positioned himself as the only powerful man in Iraq who is against the US occupation. Maliki is Bush's boy, and called in the US military to fight against his fellow Iraqis. The Sunnis have been collaborating with and accepting money from the US for over a year. The vast majority of Iraqis want the US to leave. Now they have a strong man who loudly opposes the occupation and has shown he will not back down. And guess what is coming later this year? An election.



The October provincial elections are one of the main reasons Maliki went after al-Sadr now. He's been attempting to displace al-Sadr supporters, while inserting members of his own Dawa Party and the Islamic Supreme Council, in areas of Basra that al-Sadr controls. Maliki completely failed. He has all but assured a massive victory for al-Sadr this October.



The other big loser in the mess is the US. What a massive fuck up. We just injected ourselves into an inter-Shiite conflict and chose the wrong side. Going after assorted rogue groups in the Mahdi Army is one thing, but going after the entire al-Sadr organization on behalf of Maliki was moronic. Did I mention the vast majority of voting Iraqis want the US out of the country?



Any gains the US made with al-Sadr and his followers are gone.

The end result of this mess is that al-Sadr is far stronger and Maliki much weaker. The Iraqi Army appears considerably weaker, which isn't a great sign for the future. Iran also is strengthened because they brokered the peace deal. The US is, once again, the clumsy fool.

The Mahdi Army went back into the shadows, waiting for the day when the US pulls out and they take over the country - if they are not just voted in this October.

After 5 years of fucking up, there is no wonder more Iraqis are backing their native son instead of the US puppet. Maybe if US forces pulled back into bases for a week or so, we could see what the Iraqis could do for themselves.

I always knew, that there would come a point...
Where the Shiite hit the fan.

Damn, Reaper. Beautiful synopsis.

AmbientLight, you're fired.

I remember reading somewhere, the Nation maybe, that every company which Dubya managed prior to his presidency, tanked under his stewardship. Can someone confirm this?

Puppets often lack brains.

Optic, I have heard the same thing about Bush. I wonder if Bush actually did any managing at those firms, though.

Dear G.W. Bush,
Stop standing on the nation's dick. It hurts and we're tired of looking like assholes to the rest of the world.

Really good piece, Reaper. Thoroughly enjoyable. But remember, everybody, it's not about George. He's just the poster boy.

I don't know what will happen as Iraq continues to blossom into the worst political disaster in our history, but the most important thing to remember is that we're there because the second-biggest puddle of oil in the world is under that country. If you can call it a country.

Bush will go at last, perhaps after invading Iran, but the people who put him there will still be working night and day. The fight for the oil and for the mideast air bases will go on. Our economy, as we know it, depends on it.

Come on guys, why focus on the negative? According to the White House's own web site; everything is actually going quite well:

Oh, and:

So, buck up, and salute your leaders!


Of course it doesn't mention this latest little dust-up, but hey ya know, growing pains and all.

The only small favor in this most recent shitstorm is that it doesn't sound like our soldiers were as heavily involved until the very end. Still, I think I long ago passed the point where I'm able to comprehend that such levels of incompetence can actually exist in the world. Whenever I actually try to understand how anyone can possibly believe that things are going well in Iraq or that it's still a good idea, I push myself dangerously close to a mental breakdown.

Ok, yes, the recent events have shaken things up. but that happens. Iraq is not and will not be completely stable for some time. This is not the worst political blunder in the history of the US. If you think it is, you might want to go over the Vietnam era, our dealings with japan prior to world war 2 which caused the attack on pearl harbor, and the treatment of the American Indians. All pretty damned big. Death toll resulting from all three, much, much higher in the same span of time as the Iraq war has been.

second, the assertion that "most Iraqis" want us out is based on...what now? Where do you get that information? I have never seen that in any article I've read,nor from talking to Iraqis. Many do want us here, because we are providing more stability than the idiot government of Iraq is. If you can provide me with some sort of actual fact rather than speculation, i will be glad to accept it, but i have seen no information leading to that statement.

Third, we have seen what the Iraq Army can do, and its developing. No army can be successful all the time. There are times when the IA does quite well, but media sources dont report that, because its not interesting enough. it doesn't sell. Most places, including the writers here are eager to write about failures in Iraq, but successes are downplayed, and often sneered upon. Such a huge bias against is not the impartiality the media should have. I understand that the articles here are editorials, but the mainstream media seems to not want the public to hear that we are actually doing good things in Iraq.

Next, we come to the Sons Of Iraq. SInce they have come into prominence here, violence has dropped significantly as these people report IEDs on the road and suspicious people. They are an effective group of people in helping the security of Iraq. This is not government bullshit. this is firsthand experience. As much as i think we should not have ever been here, it has not gone as bad as many people think. Yes, we have reached 4000 deaths, a sad number. but by comparison to past US conflicts, its nothing. Perhaps Al-Sadr will get elected come next elections. So what? Maybe he can do the job the current administrations cannot. if he wants us out, all the better. You want to focus all of your attention on the negative, go ahead. I just get tired of all the positive things that are going on being ignored. Like it or not, the US troops really are having a positive impact in many areas. We are not just blundering idiots. That would be our politicians jobs.

KBR = Keep Bush Rich

I think everyone here agrees with you on this.

I guess you should read more instead of just talking to people.

Also a complete load of horseshit. Nobody said the soldiers were blundering idiots.

1) Maliki was compromised from the start. The only reason he was able to become the PM is because both sides (Sunni and Shia) knew he wouldn't do shit. Their inability to reach meaningful compromise has been a huge issue since the beginning of the new Iraqi government. Hell, a lot of major governmental positions have yet to be filled because of this. Things won't get better till this changes. Unfortunately, that may never be possible to changes way (WAY) beyond our control take place.

2) I liked your article FTR, but and maybe it's just me, you seemed to suggest that al Sadr just popped up 8 months ago. The US government has known about him and his potential to control large portions of the Iraqi population since the beginning of the invasion. There was actually talk of neutralizing him, although it was eventually decided against.

Okay quick question.

If the majority of Iraqi citizens want an immediate withdrawal of U.S. Troops, the majority of U.S. citizens want an immediate withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Iraq, why are we still in Iraq?

And no offense, to judge how well a war is doing by comparing the number of deaths of soldiers, is a miserable way to do it. Mostly because tactics of war have changed, removing soldiers from the front lines, some of the more dangerous jobs are done by non-human entities. Comparing Iraq to anything WWI or pre-WWII, they were totally different eras, and totally different wars.

WWII and prior had a lot of ongoing Naval battles, back when the world was competing to build the biggest and the baddest battleship. Now battleships don't even exist, and there hasn't been a noteworthy Naval battle in decades.

Didn't mean to imply that - just that he agreed to a cease fire 8 months ago.

His father was a Shiite leader who was killed for speaking out against Hussein. He is like a Shiite Kennedy.

Oh, and ooops:

Not to mention the advances in body armor.

I will concede i was wrong on the issue of Iraqi people wanting us out. I take no offense to being told im wrong. As long as its in a civil manner. I was also wrong in the way i made my comparison of conflicts.The only slightly pertinent conflict in style of warfare is Vietnam and even then it was a different kind of war. I apologize for my inaccuracy.

If Sadr is Iraq's new Awesome McBadAss, what's he doing hanging out in Iran?

Uh, because Iran is running the show...

Turns out badass doesn't mean retarded. Or maybe you think your boy George Bush is hanging out in an office in Baghdad? Not so much. Turns out Sadr knows he is more important dead than alive.

Kinda makes me wonder what woud have happened if the U.S. had financed him against Hussein, after getting promises not to let it turn into a Shiite/Sunni civil war.