March 31, 2008
OFF THE REZ:
The Big Prize of Basra: Iraq had been enjoying a period of relative peace. But the spate of violence in Basra last week showed that dangerous divisions remain in the war-torn country. And everyone has their eye on the same oil-rich prize. (Bernhard Zand, 3/31/08, Der Spiegel)
On Tuesday, 30,000 Iraqi soldiers and police arrived in Basra to liberate the city from the plague of militias and looters that has kept it in a stranglehold for years. The city was to be cleansed of "evil elements" block after block, as Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie announced. "Anyone who gets in our way will be dealt with quickly, decisively and without mercy," he added. But far from achieving its intended effect, the government's military posturing did not appear to intimidate the militias, at least not initially. In Basra, they danced boldly in front of the government forces' destroyed tanks. In other cities, like Hilla, Kut and Amara, they fired on police with rocket launchers, and in Baghdad they resumed their attacks on the Green Zone with rocket-propelled grenades.
McCain Says Iraqi Operation in Basra Came as Surprise (Laura Meckler, 3/31/08, WSJ: Washingtn Wire)
“Malaki decided to take on this operation without consulting the Americans,” McCain told reporters traveling with him in Meridian, Miss. “I’m surprised he’d take it on himself to go down and take charge of a military offensive. I had not anticipated that he would do it.”
Iranian general played key role in brokering Iraq cease-fire (Leila Fadel, 3/30/08, McClatchy Newspapers )
Iraqi lawmakers traveled to the Iranian holy city of Qom over the weekend to win the support of the commander of Iran's Qods brigades in persuading Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr to order his followers to stop military operations, members of the Iraqi parliament said.Sadr ordered the halt on Sunday, and his Mahdi Army militia heeded the order in Baghdad, where the Iraqi government announced it would lift a 24-hour curfew starting early Monday in most parts of the capital.
Maliki tried showing his independence and ended up having to go hat in hand to the Iranians? Tough for even neocons to sell that as a win. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 31, 2008 12:17 PM
Tough to be a Washington when your sitting in France
Posted by: Reg Jones at March 31, 2008 1:04 PMYep, Mookie's Black Knight schtick is working well.
Posted by: pjbbuzz![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://brothersjuddblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 31, 2008 1:17 PM
I'd like to see some numbers on Iraqi army casualties, because the Mookster's boys were hit pretty hard. I've read that 358 Mahdi Army fighters were killed, 531 were wounded, 343 were captured, and 30 surrendered between Tues and the ceasefire.
Hard to see how a ceasfire after a buttkicking like that is a win for Mookie.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at March 31, 2008 1:27 PMIt's difficult to know whether Maliki bowed to the Iranians or if Mookie gave up because Tehran didn't want to lose his army. Kind of like with Nasrallah. The problem with these pests is that they always go running to mama when things get tough, and they always blame America and the Jews for being baaad. Well.....of course we are.
Mookie is a joke, however - and hiding in Iran isn't going to help him. When he returns, someone will treat him the way he treated Khoie (right after the invasion).
Posted by: ratbert at March 31, 2008 2:06 PMIt's easy to know, hard to accept.
Posted by: oj at March 31, 2008 3:38 PMJefferson and Adams went to Paris. Both became president.
Posted by: oj at March 31, 2008 3:39 PMJefferson and Adams went to Paris to support Washington not to kill him
Posted by: Reg Jones at March 31, 2008 4:38 PMSheer nonsense. The Iraqi Army is now the force patrolling the streets of Basra, and it is widening its footprint daily. Meanwhile, Sadr has given Malaki the green light to wipe out the rest of the Basra Banditos ... even those who were once loyal Sadrists ... if they resist. A shrewd move; the lad has a future in Iraqi politics if he keeps playing his cards right.
Posted by: ghostcat at March 31, 2008 6:20 PMHe's been fingering the bad guys for two years and letting us do his killing for him. F Troop back to normal.
Posted by: oj at March 31, 2008 7:01 PMJefferson killed him (Federalism) when he came home. So too will Sadr end the collaborationist phase of Iraq.
Posted by: oj at March 31, 2008 7:04 PMHow can he do that from his bunker in Iran?
Posted by: jim hamlen at March 31, 2008 7:56 PMSeminary is how he becomes a heavyweight.
Posted by: oj at March 31, 2008 9:52 PMIf he is going to Ruhollah U., then he certainly isn't aiming to be a decent Shi'ite or a decent Iraqi, now is he?
Posted by: ratbert at April 1, 2008 12:35 AMWhere is Ruhollah U.?
Posted by: oj at April 1, 2008 5:35 AMAren't you a fan?
Posted by: ratbert at April 1, 2008 7:28 AMOf what?
Posted by: oj at April 1, 2008 10:03 AMExcuse me. I thought you were the O. Judd, honorary professor of Shi'ite sociology. I must have the wrong website.
Posted by: ratbert at April 1, 2008 5:25 PM