CRUSH THE SUNNI, PRUNE THE SHI'A:

U.S. Prepares a Prolonged Drive to Suppress the Uprisings in Iraq (THOM SHANKER, April 10, 2004, NY Times)

American commanders are preparing for a prolonged campaign to quell the twin uprisings in Iraq, issuing orders to attack any members of a rebellious Shiite militia in southern cities relentlessly while moving methodically to squeeze Sunni fighters west of Baghdad until they lay down their arms.

Officials in Baghdad and at the Pentagon said the military was prepared, if no peaceful solution materializes, to use two distinct sets of tactics to counter what they viewed as two different insurgencies — both of them dangerous and complex situations on difficult urban battlefields.

One campaign would entail retaking cities around Baghdad, if necessary block by block against an entrenched Sunni foe. The other would involve a series of short, sharp, local strikes at small, elusive bands of Shiite militia in southern cities, continuing until the militia was wiped out. Even as commanders offered a cease-fire to Sunnis in Falluja, allowing Iraqis to try to find a peaceful solution, and postponed any assault on Shiites in Najaf and elsewhere during religious holidays, they prepared for campaigns against foes who showed unexpected discipline and ferocity this week.

It's a sensible plan--so long as we stay out of the holy city of Najaf--but it should be run by Ayatollah Sistani through internediaries to make sure he approves, even if only clandestinely.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 11, 2004 8:43 AM