Shiite militia expands grip in Baghdad

[rodeodance]

Source: ap



Shiite militia expands grip in Baghdad

By SALLY BUZBEE, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 36 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - The street market bustles in the early mornings and late afternoons as shoppers come out to buy fruit, bread, clothes and toys. Late into the hot summer nights, whole families gather to eat grilled kebabs at tiny stalls, their small children shrieking as they play tag.


The Hurriyah neighborhood of northwest Baghdad, gripped by a spasm of deadly ethnic violence a year ago, has grown markedly calmer over the past eight months. It is now the kind of area that both U.S. and Iraqi officials point to when they cite progress at stabilizing Baghdad.

But only Shiites are welcome — or safe — in Hurriyah these days. And neither Iraq's government nor U.S. or Iraqi security forces are truly in control.

Instead, the Mahdi Army militia runs this area as it does others across Baghdad — manning checkpoints, collecting rental fees for apartments, licensing bus drivers, mediating family fights and even handing out gas for cooking.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070818/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_mahdi_s_turf;_ylt=ApQuWe30CvyAdiBLScY.iORn.3QA

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winning the hearts-----like hamas and hezbollah.

[Kagemusha]

1. Dunno about Hamas, but Hezbollah is very good at winning Shiite hearts

As movements go, it's very much a success story. It's no surprise they're being emulated. (Of course, former Iraqi exiles like uh, Maliki, helped set up Hezbollah to begin with so, there's some irony in all this.)

[msongs]

2. how can one tell a shiite from a sunni when they are both naked? nt

[ohio2007]

3. when they open their mouths and talk trash

[yava]

6. neighbors

Easy: Before excutions, the arrested victim tells his story, names address, names brother or father from the right side. If he can't or if his leads turn out false, he dies. Otherwise, he goes home. Having two IDs doesn't work anymore. In addition, the GIs now have a fingerprint databank that leaks!

[bemildred]

4. Gee, who could have predicted this? nt

[radfringe]

5. at least someone is making PROGRESS.... n/t