Comments on: Iraq Sheiks Kidnapped After Reconciliation Meeting http://themoderatevoice.com/15806/iraq-sheiks-kidnapped-after-reconciliation-meeting/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Mon, 28 May 2012 07:24:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Jim Satterfield http://themoderatevoice.com/15806/iraq-sheiks-kidnapped-after-reconciliation-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-103465 Jim Satterfield Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:17:39 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/iraq/15806/iraq-sheiks-kidnapped-after-reconciliation-meeting/#comment-103465 Just remember that the surge is working. Just remember that the surge is working.

]]> By: domajot http://themoderatevoice.com/15806/iraq-sheiks-kidnapped-after-reconciliation-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-103405 domajot Mon, 29 Oct 2007 07:08:18 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/iraq/15806/iraq-sheiks-kidnapped-after-reconciliation-meeting/#comment-103405 I hink Elrod gets to the heart of the predicament. In the midst of all hese sects and militias and criminal gangs, what kind of strategy can possibly produce meaningful progress? Months and years of planning and effort can be undone by a single malevolent stroke. To build the civil society needed for progress, the people need basic security, electricity, food, medical care. That's a project hat takes many decades, even when the final picture is to be far from what we would like to see. The question for the US remains the same: can we stay to oversee the decades of ups and downs without destroying ourselves? I hink Elrod gets to the heart of the predicament.
In the midst of all hese sects and militias and criminal gangs, what kind of strategy can possibly produce meaningful progress?
Months and years of planning and effort can be undone by a single malevolent stroke.

To build the civil society needed for progress, the people need basic security, electricity, food, medical care. That’s a project hat takes many decades, even when the final picture is to be far from what we would like to see.

The question for the US remains the same: can we stay to oversee the decades of ups and downs without destroying ourselves?

]]> By: Elrod http://themoderatevoice.com/15806/iraq-sheiks-kidnapped-after-reconciliation-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-103389 Elrod Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:34:25 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/iraq/15806/iraq-sheiks-kidnapped-after-reconciliation-meeting/#comment-103389 One piece blames the Mahdi Army for it, not Al Qaeda in Iraq. That strikes me as more significant, as it suggests that the Mahdi Army has de facto lifted its ban on military activities. The Mahdi Army has been more effective at driving Sunnis and Shi'ites apart than has AQI - especially in the last year. Surely, they don't look on these Awakening Councils - especially in mixed-sect Diyala - as promising for their cause. But 11 top sheikhs is a lot of people. This isn't a popular local sheikh like Abu Risha, who could be martyred and replaced by his brother. Interesting story - it'll be very significant what actually happens to these 11 sheikhs. If AQI kidnapped them, their heads can be expected to be severed from their bodies as we speak. But the Mahdi Army doesn't usually roll that way. Are they holding them for ransom? Are they even real Mahdi Army and not rogue elements? Are they giving them the same power drill treatment they give ordinary Sunnis? One piece blames the Mahdi Army for it, not Al Qaeda in Iraq. That strikes me as more significant, as it suggests that the Mahdi Army has de facto lifted its ban on military activities. The Mahdi Army has been more effective at driving Sunnis and Shi’ites apart than has AQI – especially in the last year. Surely, they don’t look on these Awakening Councils – especially in mixed-sect Diyala – as promising for their cause. But 11 top sheikhs is a lot of people. This isn’t a popular local sheikh like Abu Risha, who could be martyred and replaced by his brother. Interesting story – it’ll be very significant what actually happens to these 11 sheikhs. If AQI kidnapped them, their heads can be expected to be severed from their bodies as we speak. But the Mahdi Army doesn’t usually roll that way. Are they holding them for ransom? Are they even real Mahdi Army and not rogue elements? Are they giving them the same power drill treatment they give ordinary Sunnis?

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