January 21, 2007
CHOOSING SIDES:
Sadr group ends political boycott (BBC, 1/21/07)
The political followers of Iraq's radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, say they are ending a two-month boycott of Iraq's parliament and government.Posted by Orrin Judd at January 21, 2007 9:30 AMThe boycott was imposed as a protest over a planned meeting between Iraq's prime minister and President Bush.
Correspondents say the move signifies an easing of tensions among Shia groups in Iraq's government.
Correspondents say the move signifies an easing of tensions among Shia groups in Iraq's government
Observers suggest Muqtada is looking to cover his flanks at the moment.
Posted by: Molon Labe at January 21, 2007 11:04 AMHe has no flanks--he's been fingering his enemies for months.
Posted by: oj at January 21, 2007 12:16 PMHe has the Sunni Arabs and the US gunning for him. Hence the need to protect his flanks by drawing other Shi'ites around him.
Posted by: Molon Labe at January 21, 2007 12:27 PMMaybe the surge was a good idea after all, eh?
Posted by: Nathan Smith at January 21, 2007 2:09 PMThe surge is superfluous. Mookie has been playing nice for months.
Posted by: oj at January 21, 2007 3:54 PMAmericans are helping him hunt down his enemies and he's on the Sunni flank. We're essentially a mercenary army for the Shi'a.
Posted by: oj at January 21, 2007 3:56 PMEvery time it gets a bit hot for Sadr he pulls this "I'll behave" line for a little while and then changes. The US and Iraqis can fall for it again.
Posted by: AWW at January 21, 2007 5:10 PMSadr is the Shia Malcom X, not their Dr. King.
A certain militancy is to be expected ... and is utterly justified.
But he'll rein in his armed forces if Malaki and the U.S. live up to their end of the deal, namely, neutralize the Sunni Arab butchers.
Posted by: ghostcat at January 21, 2007 5:34 PMHe's been behaving for months. The only reason we've found his deputies is because he fingered them as part of the deal he cut with Maliki last year.
Posted by: oj at January 21, 2007 5:38 PM