Article

2008-04-14 Iraq

Iran Ordered Muqtada al-Sadr to Return to Al-Najaf - Iraqi Sources

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2008-04-14 10:39|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Tater had some popular support because the people viewed he and his movement as the "strong horse" in Iraq. They had no confidence in the Iraqi government or the ISF. But in the last few weeks, a funny thing has happened. The Maliki government and the ISF, while not without the obligatory screw-ups, has challenged Tater and showed that it just might be the stronger horse. At the least, they have demonstrated that they won't be intimiated nor wil they back down from a fight. Having the US military on your side certainly makes it a lot easier. Be that as it may, if they stick with it, there's a good chance the people will recognize the real strong horse, the US backed Iraqi government and ISF, and begin to turn away from Sadr. When that happens and Tater's popular support, or lack thereof, reaches a certain tipping point, he and his minions' days will be numbered.

Posted by eltoroverde 2008-04-14 11:31|| 2008-04-14 11:31|| Front Page Top

#2 I think Iran is cutting its losses. The Basra operation for them was a complete disaster and a good chunk of their fighting capability with the militia is gone or refusing to fight.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-04-14 11:36|| 2008-04-14 11:36|| Front Page Top

#3 sounds like Tater has become personna non-grata in ran. He couldn't deliver on his promises to his masters in Teheran.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2008-04-14 11:38|| 2008-04-14 11:38|| Front Page Top

#4 if its true that the Mullahs are throwing Sadr under the bus, maybe they can do the same with their allies in the NYTimes

Posted by mhw 2008-04-14 11:54|| 2008-04-14 11:54|| Front Page Top

#5 Seems to me that Mookie overstayed his welcome, and was sent home. I think even Iran understands that they will have to deal with a strong Iraq as next-door-neighbor, and are cutting their losses. Don't expect Mookie to survive very long - if the Iraqis loyal to al-Sistani don't off him, the Iranians probably will.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2008-04-14 11:55|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2008-04-14 11:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Does this mean the US will start protecting Tater from assassination by his former friends? How revolting.

Posted by Iblis 2008-04-14 12:11|| 2008-04-14 12:11|| Front Page Top

#7 Who's next? Assad? Nasrallah? Meshal? If the mad mullahs can smell a loser (and I'm sure mookie smells extra bad), there may be some fresh spring breezes on the horizon...

Posted by M. Murcek">M. Murcek 2008-04-14 12:19|| 2008-04-14 12:19|| Front Page Top

#8 I saw a comment that Sadr is a serious drug addict. Can't remember who.

Posted by Grunter 2008-04-14 12:30|| 2008-04-14 12:30|| Front Page Top

#9 "You send me back and I will poke myself right in the eye, that will show you!!

Posted by steven 2008-04-14 12:46|| 2008-04-14 12:46|| Front Page Top

#10 "We will continue until we secure Sadr City. We will not come out, we will not give up until the people of Sadr City have a normal life," Dabbagh told AFP.

Normal life - keep beating it in

this is a wonderful phrase and should be used by the gov't whenever possible.

Posted by anonymous2u 2008-04-14 12:47|| 2008-04-14 12:47|| Front Page Top

#11 "I saw a comment that Sadr is a serious drug addict. Can't remember who."

Heroin or some other opiate might explain the teeth.

Posted by Pete Stanley 2008-04-14 13:05|| 2008-04-14 13:05|| Front Page Top

#12 Looks like meth mouth to me.

Posted by tu3031 2008-04-14 13:15|| 2008-04-14 13:15|| Front Page Top

#13 The must have received the cost estimate on his dental work...

Posted by CrazyFool 2008-04-14 13:23|| 2008-04-14 13:23|| Front Page Top

#14 tu3031: shhh. Jack Shafer will eat your liver if you suggest that meth addicts might have poor dental hygiene.

Posted by Mitch H.">Mitch H. 2008-04-14 13:34|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/]">[http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/] 2008-04-14 13:34|| Front Page Top

#15 Puppets look weird when you start cutting the strings.

Posted by KBK 2008-04-14 13:44|| 2008-04-14 13:44|| Front Page Top

#16 #7, nah Lebanon/Pal aint Iraq. The issue in Iraq is that the Shia are divided, and theres a Shia force that Iran can try to influence but that doesnt like Sadr. That force - the Shia elements in the Iraqi govt, SCIRI and Dawa - by taking on Sadr and beating him (apparently, so far) have reduced Irans leverage, its ability to play both sides. To put it differently, Irans need and desire to maintain influence in Iran now gives the Iraqi govt leverage over Iran.

In Lebanon, its not clear who the alt shia power base is to Hezbollah - Amal, for example has been closer to hezb than Dawa was to the Mahdi Army.

Similarly theres no options for them in Pal to Hamas/IJ. Who do they go with, Abbas/Fayed? I dont think so. And certainly not Israel. Though some doves and "realists" will claim that Iran will turn completely if only we would talk sweetly to them, I think THATS unrealistic. And to those who suggest what happened in Basra wasnt talk, I agree, but for a bunch of reasons what the Iraqi forces did in Basra cant be replicated in Gaza, not anytime soon.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-04-14 13:45|| 2008-04-14 13:45|| Front Page Top

#17 Sounds like Mookie better watch his back.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2008-04-14 15:02|| 2008-04-14 15:02|| Front Page Top

#18 Abu Uluque, he already does. This morning he turned sidewise in a front of a mirror and saw a fork in his back.

Posted by twobyfour 2008-04-14 16:19|| 2008-04-14 16:19|| Front Page Top

#19 In Lebanon, its not clear who the alt shia power base is to Hezbollah - Amal, for example has been closer to hezb than Dawa was to the Mahdi Army.

Might I suggest the Lebanese Army? Though the shia who compose it are more nationalistic than, say, Amal.

The problem, of course, is that Lebanese government seems more concerned with the nation to the south of them, rather than the nation(s) within.

Posted by Pappy 2008-04-14 16:38|| 2008-04-14 16:38|| Front Page Top

#20 "Yo! Fatso! Giddadahere!"

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-04-14 17:43|| 2008-04-14 17:43|| Front Page Top

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