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| Iraq |
| Marines move into Najef |
| 2006-04-07 |
| DEBKAfile Exclusive: American troops pour into Iraqi Shiite towns of Najef and Karbala to meet radical Sadrist militia threat. The US military command in Iraq dispatched large-scale Marine forces with armor, tank and helicopter support to the two Shiite shrine cities south of Baghdad before dawn Friday, April 7. DEBKAfileÂ’s military sources report the action followed a threat by radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr to overrun the Shiite cities and BaghdadÂ’s Shiite suburb, if the Americans force the Iran-backed interim prime minister Ibrahim Jaafari to step down. Armed Shiite tribesman have smuggled senior Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani and his staff out of the city and harmÂ’s way, amid fears the Mehdi Army may take him hostage. The tribes have taken him under their protection. While US forces took control of central Najef, they are keeping to KarbalaÂ’s western suburbs; SadrÂ’s men occupy the center and are building military positions. In the summer of 2004, US and Iraqi forces crushed a rebellion staged by Sadr at the head of his militia. DEBKAfileÂ’s military sources reveal that since this defeat, the Mehdi Army has developed into the strongest and best equipped armed force in Iraq, outgunning its two Shiite rivals, the Badr Force and Wolves Brigades. The buildup is entirely the work of IranÂ’s Revolutionary Guards and undercover agents. Saturday, April 8, formal talks aimed at breaking IraqÂ’s political stalemate begin in Baghdad between a US delegation headed by ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and an Iranian delegation. JaafariÂ’s refusal to stand aside is the main hurdle in the way of a unity government. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #13 The US has no business being in Iraq. Only 1 person per day has died at the hands of a terrorist since 9-11. That is hardly reason for all the expense and deployment and human rights violations. No wonder you people are so paranoid and defensive. The WOT is indefensible. The Bush Crime Family are worse than gangsters. |
| Posted by: Noamist 2006-04-07 16:42 |
| #12 Marine piece looks like a pawn and shows up anywhere on the board you like. Also steals movement ability from its own side. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-04-07 16:21 |
| #11 Imagine playing a game where you control knights and pawns, and the visitors have Marines on their side. Hmmmmm...let's break for talks. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-04-07 14:44 |
| #10 "I've got my knights, bishops, and rooks all in this one spot on the board. What can you do with those weakling pawns?" |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-04-07 12:59 |
| #9 interesting thought, I like it. |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-04-07 12:39 |
| #8 I suspect we left tater in just this position for the singular reason that we knew the Iranians would continue to use him as their tool. This now means that they have invested lots of money, resources and manpower into the spud that could have been directed elsewhere and to much greater damage. Undoubtedly, we have also been keeping tabs on everything that surrounds tater. This means that when we move in, it will set back the Iranian schemes by at least a year. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-04-07 11:18 |
| #7 hmmm looks like smash tater time, this time he dies. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2006-04-07 10:57 |
| #6 Good point. |
| Posted by: Thalet Angeng7414 2006-04-07 10:43 |
| #5 I will wait for confirmation from another source. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-04-07 10:41 |
| #4 This move has been long telegraphed and woefully necessary. Anyone for mashed taters? |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-04-07 10:41 |
| #3 Jaafari must be in a dither about now... |
| Posted by: Thalet Angeng7414 2006-04-07 10:27 |
| #2 We may be headed to the bifurcation point with the radical elements. Who wins will determine th direction of Iraq...will it be Iran and his sock puppet Tater, or the Iraqi people? Time will tell. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2006-04-07 10:08 |
| #1 Thank goodness for the MSM, which reported the problems posed by Sadr's militias, so that the military could act on that information. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-04-07 09:49 |