Comments on: Sadr’s strategy http://themoderatevoice.com/11895/sadrs-strategy/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:12:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/11895/sadrs-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-69893 DLS Wed, 04 Apr 2007 01:02:25 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/11895/sadrs-strategy/#comment-69893 Imagine what British military forces might be doing right now were Iran directing Sadr to attack British troops in Iraq during the current Iranian seizure of British soldiers on the waterways, rather than having Sadr keep his boys quiet until the Westerners have left Iraq. Imagine what British military forces might be doing right now were Iran directing Sadr to attack British troops in Iraq during the current Iranian seizure of British soldiers on the waterways, rather than having Sadr keep his boys quiet until the Westerners have left Iraq.

]]> By: Correct me if I'm wrong http://themoderatevoice.com/11895/sadrs-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-69721 Correct me if I'm wrong Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:37:48 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/11895/sadrs-strategy/#comment-69721 Notice the new "anti-terrorist, you killed our sheiks now we kill you" sunni militia. It has been the contention that it is not the Iraqi sunnie perse` that are killing shia, but Al Quieda and other foreign terrorists hiding among the sunni. Sadr backs off giving these new "anti-terror" sunni forces to clean out their own back yard. Personally I have little faith in this plan, if indeed it is a plan. Notice the new “anti-terrorist, you killed our sheiks now we kill you” sunni militia. It has been the contention that it is not the Iraqi sunnie perse` that are killing shia, but Al Quieda and other foreign terrorists hiding among the sunni. Sadr backs off giving these new “anti-terror” sunni forces to clean out their own back yard. Personally I have little faith in this plan, if indeed it is a plan.

]]> By: Elrod http://themoderatevoice.com/11895/sadrs-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-69704 Elrod Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:21:17 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/11895/sadrs-strategy/#comment-69704 Excellent post, one of the best I've seen anywhere on the surge overall. The real story up to now is the temporary removal of Sadr's militia from the streets. You raise some very sharp suggestions as to why Sadr has done this. There's another factor to add as well: if and when the Sunni violence goes on too long, the Shi'ite militia will be able to declare that the government - and the US - was unable to protect the Shi'ite population. At that point, Sadr will call out the entire Shi'ite population, demand the US abandon its surge, withdraw support for Maliki, and resume its war with the Sunnis with a vengeance. The continued Sunni violence only "proves" to the Shi'ites the inability of the US and official Iraqi army (mostly Badr corps) to defend the Shi'ite population. Another point to consider is that Sadr may have used the surge to get rid of some renegade Shi'ite militiamen who gave Sadr a bad name. Remember all those arrests of Shi'ite death squad leaders in late February? Most are probably splinter factions that Sadr could no longer control. The surge ends up strengthening Sadr. And when Shi'ite patience runs out, Sadr and not Maliki will be in position to take the fight to the Sunnis. Excellent post, one of the best I’ve seen anywhere on the surge overall. The real story up to now is the temporary removal of Sadr’s militia from the streets. You raise some very sharp suggestions as to why Sadr has done this. There’s another factor to add as well: if and when the Sunni violence goes on too long, the Shi’ite militia will be able to declare that the government – and the US – was unable to protect the Shi’ite population. At that point, Sadr will call out the entire Shi’ite population, demand the US abandon its surge, withdraw support for Maliki, and resume its war with the Sunnis with a vengeance. The continued Sunni violence only “proves” to the Shi’ites the inability of the US and official Iraqi army (mostly Badr corps) to defend the Shi’ite population.

Another point to consider is that Sadr may have used the surge to get rid of some renegade Shi’ite militiamen who gave Sadr a bad name. Remember all those arrests of Shi’ite death squad leaders in late February? Most are probably splinter factions that Sadr could no longer control. The surge ends up strengthening Sadr. And when Shi’ite patience runs out, Sadr and not Maliki will be in position to take the fight to the Sunnis.

]]> By: domajot http://themoderatevoice.com/11895/sadrs-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-69674 domajot Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:34:32 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/11895/sadrs-strategy/#comment-69674 Baghdad should be renamed Spin City. What the surge is in danger of accomplishing is to ensure the supremacy of the likes of al Sadr. We are killing off his enemies, while he bides his time in safety. He will return, never fear. Baghdad should be renamed Spin City.

What the surge is in danger of accomplishing is to ensure the supremacy of the likes of al Sadr. We are killing off his enemies, while he bides his time in safety. He will return, never fear.

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