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Iraq
Iran Backing Sadr Revolt in Iraq
2008-03-28
Mahdi Army commanders have told the AP that the militia has recently taken delivery of new weapons supplied by backers in Iran. The arsenal, they said, included roadside bombs, anti-aircraft guns and Soviet-designed Grad rockets.

They also said an infusion of cash, also from Iran, helped the militia set up new command centers equipped with Internet-linked computers, fax machines and satellite mobile phones. They have also received global positioning system devices, they said.
Posted by:Chuck Simmins

#12  Disproportionate retaliation works against jihadis, because islam imposes a protracted view of jihad: only fight the decisive contests when you can win them. Hence, whenever muslims weaken in their strength of terror purpose they are prone to believe: this is not the time.

I know: disproportionate retaliation was a PR disaster after the Haditha incident disclosures. Too bad. That incident followed a gruesome death of a Marine in an IED incident. It was later proven that jihad animals planted that bomb in broad daylight, and locals omitted to report same. Ergo: to hell with locals. Hearts and minds practises have limited effects on muslim populations. If it was up to me, I would have dampened the retaliation tendency that arose after the Haditha terror, by having a policy of demolishing the 15 nearest homes to an IED attack.
Posted by: McZoid   2008-03-28 23:35  

#11  Erk, that was me. Damned cookies.
Posted by: Steve White   2008-03-28 23:30  

#10  Stay safe in Rome, Sherry!
Posted by: Herman Sninesing5936   2008-03-28 23:30  

#9  Great -- I'm arriving in Rome the morning of April 6th -- I just hate missing a good war when I'm really gonna be out of contact!
Posted by: Sherry   2008-03-28 23:05  

#8  Why would Lou Rockwell say the Russians are spreading rumours of an American attack on Iran on April 6th?
Posted by: trailing wife   2008-03-28 22:53  

#7  Me too, Sherry. But somehow it DOES fit in.
Posted by: Glenmore   2008-03-28 22:22  

#6  Wondering how this all fits in with Petraeus recent remarks concerning Iran?
Posted by: Sherry   2008-03-28 22:20  

#5  ION, INTERFAX > RUSSIA WILL USE MILITARY FORCE IFF GEORGIA INVADES/ATTACKS ABKHAZIA; + TOPIX > RUSSIA:NO NATO BASES, TROOPS IN GEORGIA AND UKRAINE.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-03-28 22:19  

#4  no surprise - Iran's trying to spread influence, distract from the US (and Iraqi) victory over AQI, and general mischief. The last thing the Iranian regime wants is a multi-ethnic federation, democratically elected and prosperous, next door while the Iranian economy digs south. Time to make Tater's tots suffer, publicly identify them as Iranian tools (not popular even among shiites IIUC), whip their asses in the streets and shut off the border from retreat and recuperating. IOW: Killbox time
Posted by: Frank G   2008-03-28 22:04  

#3  REDDIT/STRATEGYPAGE > AFGHANISTAN: ANOTHER SUICIDAL SPRING OFFENSIVE; + TOPIX [old] > ANOTHER DOOMED TALIBAN OFENSIVE?

As argues or inferred before, IMO/IMA OSAMA + RADICAL ISLAM need the ISLAMIST BOMB/SWORD now
[Nukes-WMDS. LR Missles, Population - Economic
factors, etc.]. ISRAEL, LEBANON, IRAQ, PAKI + AFGHANI = "HOLDING FRONTS/ACTIONS" > REAL TARGET = STRATEGIC DIRECTION IS NOW AGZ RUSSIA + CENTRAL ASIA.

MSM > POTUS Dubya CAN NOT = WILL NOT = MUST NOT = DARE NOT, etc. DO ANYTHING MIL AGZ IRAN in this his final year as POTUS. BAD FOR AMERICA AND BAD MCCAIN-GOP AS TO WH-CONGRESS ELEX HOPES.

* AQ, Iran get to look good and inspire Paleos agz ISRAEL-US-WEST.
* ISRAEL, "MODERATE" ISLAM STILL FACES NEAR-TERM DESTRUCTION, ONLY NOW IS NUCLEARIZED.
* Iran = Radical Islam-Terror gets "the Bomb" + WMDS, Missle Techs. US-WEST FACES LONG TERM DESTRUCTION.
* AQ + Radical Islam-Terror draw replacements from new resources.
* Sunnis still get to show Shia Iran the "Nuclear Finger", iff needed.
* Nuclear Islamist Empire = Bloc.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-03-28 21:39  

#2  REDDIT > LEW ROCKWELL - Are still dangerous rumors circulating from RUSSIA THAT DUBYA-CHENEY PLAN/INTEND TO DE FACTO ATTACK IRAN CIRCA APRIL 5th OR 6TH = IN EARLY APRIL 2008. Not agz Iran's nucfacs [except for Russ construx] but nominally ALSO AGZ MAJOR IRANIAN MIL TARGETS = NATIONAL MIL ASSETS [read - protect Israel + "Moderate" Arab-Muslim ME].

*MOSCOW NEWS > THE RISKS OF DEFEATING AL QAEDA IN IRAQ. Defeated-Deadlocked Islamists or groups, as e.g. 1980's anti-Soviet Afghanistan War, will attempt to seek safe refuge andor new bases in surrounding Muslim nations and begin conflict = Jihad anew.

A MAJOR ARTICLE POINT - AL QAEDA PER SE IS PRES NOT WINNING IN IRAQ-ME, BUT NEITHER IS IT THOROUGHLY/ABSOLUTELY DEFEATED YET, NOR IS SAME WHOLLY INCAPABLE OF MOUNTING NEW TERROR CAMPAIGNS, DESPITE SUFFERING INTENSE LOSSES.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-03-28 21:13  

#1  This Basra battle is another defining moment in Iraq. Al Qaeda is getting pounded, but Iran is making its move through Tater and his Tots. Can Maliki do what is necessary to kick Iran's proxy a$$es from here to Sunday? I have my doubts. Iran and its proxies can undo all the progress we have made so far. The question is what are we prepared to do about it?

I have not seen serious consequences for the nasty business that Syria and Iran have been in since the beginning of the Iraq war.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2008-03-28 20:36  

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