The US raises troop levels, Sadr raises troop levels
Perhaps in preparation for more conflict, Sadr has brought followers and militia members from Basra north to Baghdad, ostensibly to protest Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
However, bringing 20 buses "carrying young men, mostly unarmed members of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia," should raise the antenna. And, Israel/Lebanon is enough of a rallying cry to motivate violence against US forces.
If the US does decide to directly confront the Shia militias in a coordinated way, the violence will get far worse. Unfortunately, in the current US strategy, that's the next logical step.
However, bringing 20 buses "carrying young men, mostly unarmed members of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia," should raise the antenna. And, Israel/Lebanon is enough of a rallying cry to motivate violence against US forces.
If the US does decide to directly confront the Shia militias in a coordinated way, the violence will get far worse. Unfortunately, in the current US strategy, that's the next logical step.
posted by mikevotes at
8:45 AM
5 Comments:
in the current US strategy
You are right, but if that current strategy is flawed then nothing is solved.
By extension, confronting the Shia means supporting the Sunni. I seem the recall that the US did that before, assisting some guy called Saddam.
I'm beginning to think it is their fight (the Islamists) and perhaps they should be left to sort it out.
Form there it is a matter of buffering those countries who want no part of it.
By
Cartledge, at 10:15 AM
I don't think they want the Sunnis in power either. I think at this point, the best case US goal would be a secular shia, but that individual wouldn't gain enough Shia support, so who knows.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 10:46 AM
I'm hearing rumors that the U.S. in fact does plan to take on Sadr. Some of the most well trained and effective U.S. troops are on the way to Baghdad (many of whom were already in Kuwait on the way home).
By
Praguetwin, at 11:02 AM
I haven't seen it stated specifically that they're going after Sadr or Mahdi, but all the language implies it, talking about militias.
And, frankly if the intended goal is to try to subdue Iraq by force, that is the largest, best organized, and most effective military force in Iraq after the US.
It may just be a threat intended to force Sadr into concessions, at least that's my hope.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 12:33 PM
We can only hope.
By
Praguetwin, at 1:29 AM
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