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| Iraq |
| Iraqi Prime Minister's Silence is Telling |
| 2007-01-13 |
| President Bush called a crackdown on militias critical to success in Iraq, but Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been noticeably silent — perhaps because the plan would mean confronting the same violent radicals who have been helping Shiites expand their political dominance. In announcing a new Iraq policy Wednesday night, Bush said earlier efforts -- three since May -- to tame the bloodshed in Baghdad had been snarled by "political and sectarian interference (that) prevented Iraqi and American forces from going into neighborhoods that are home to those fueling the ... violence." "This time, Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter those neighborhoods," Bush said. "Prime Minister Maliki has pledged that political or sectarian interference will not be tolerated." But whatever he said in private, Al-Maliki, a devout Shiite, so far studiously has avoided making that pledge in public. Instead, he has stuck with formulaic utterances, saying that anyone illegally carrying weapons would be dealt with harshly. Announcing his vision of the new security plan last Saturday, al-Maliki said he would fight against "safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of (their) sectarian or political affiliation." He said the same in October, but then he ordered U.S. forces to pull back from attacks on Sadr City, headquarters of the Mahdi Army. The violent Shiite militia is headed by his key political backer, radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Maliki instead has encouraged the Americans to go after rival Sunni insurgents, especially in the territory west of Baghdad where few Shiites live. Experts say that even if al-Maliki assures Bush of support, his behavior illustrates that he's not as Bush described, a man whose primary concern is bringing peace and prosperity to his country. "The Bush administration has one view of Iraqi reality in which Maliki is ... an honest broker," said W. Patrick Lang, a former head of Middle East intelligence at the Defense Intelligence Agency. "In my view, Maliki is one of any number of Shiite Arab activists who are seeking to consolidate Shiite control." |
| Posted by:Anguper Hupomosing9418 |
| #6 I suspect Spec is right. The American troops in Bagdad could kill the entire city without one ounce of support from al-Maliki. Politics are such a pain in the ass. Can't Bush invite this guy to Crawford or something so the troops can go about their business without Malikis interference? |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-01-13 14:14 |
| #5 Lots of little accidents can happen. Not a problem at all in an active combat zone. Do remember, he did deliver on the oil contract last week, so he's still somewhat useful. I suspect we will just ignore him now and go about the business at hand. |
| Posted by: SpecOp35 2007-01-13 12:36 |
#4 It looks more and more like Maliki is not with the program. From today's LA Times:BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has filled the top military job in Baghdad with a virtually unknown Iraqi officer chosen over the objections of top U.S. and Iraqi military commanders, according to officials from both governments. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-01-13 09:13 |
| #3 Sounds like classic Good Cop/Bad Cop to me. Maliki is lucky he gets to be the good cop since it means that Tater's legions of armed and rabid Tots will not be calling for his head. Tsk, tsk. Those crazy Americans! What can a person do? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-01-13 08:37 |
| #2 Work around him, I s'pose, Bobby. It sounds like President Bush spoke very clearly to him in the past week. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-01-13 07:51 |
| #1 Maliki is, however, the legitimately elected Prime Minister - we said so ourselves. Whadda we gonna do? Another Regime Change? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-01-13 06:56 |