Iraq government envoy rebuffed by Sadr

[Barrett808]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Iraq government envoy rebuffed by Sadr
By Leila Fadel, McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD - After failing to break the resistance of Shiite militias in the five-day siege of oil rich Basra, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki sent a top general to hold talks with his Shiite rival, Muqtada al Sadr , Saturday night only to be rebuffed by the firebrand cleric, an Iraqi official close to the negotiations said.

Maliki denounced Shia militants in Basra as the equivalent of Al Qaida , and Sadr told his supporters not to hand over their arms to a puppet state of the United States .

The diplomatic initiative and the harsh rebuff further eroded expectations for a successful outcome to the offensive, which Maliki is personally directing from the presidential palace in the southern port city. It was not the only sign of problems.

Maliki issued orders Friday to enlist volunteers for the battle against the Shiite militias, and his Dawa party sought to enlist fighters. The U.S. military raised its profile in Basra still further, providing protection for installations including the palace where Maliki is housed, Iraqi Interior Ministry officials said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20080329/wl_mcclatchy/2894397

[hobbit709]

1. Things are going swimmingly, I see.

[Amonester]

10. Back to "normal" - smirk, smirk.

"Sooooooo Romantic, huh?" - smirk, smirk
So?

[rzemanfl]

2. "Enlist volunteers?" I thought he had an Army, Didn't we pay for

it? What the hell is going on?

[Thickasabrick]

6. Very good question. Apparently his "army" is changing sides.

[tchunter]

3. i heard on npr today...

i heard on npr today that maliki was flown out of a palace by US forces in basra because his compound was under seige. The mahdi army is so dug in in sadr city that its going to be real ugly if they try a direct assault.

[downindixie]

4. direct assault?

The U.s. will just bomb the hell out of Basra,it will be like shooting fish in a barrel.

[tkmorris]

7. We've been doing that for 5 years

You like the progress we've made?

[bluerum]

9. Yes- excellent strategy. Wipe the city off the map and take everyone with it.

Winning hearts and minds with bombs and bullets.:dunce: Yes - thats it - MORE bombs and MORE bullets.:nuke: That will surely bring them over to our side.:sarcasm:

I swear - where are these rubes coming from.

[The Wielding Truth]

5. Good site for inside Iraq info.

http://warnewstoday.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html

[Xipe Totec]

8. Reality check, for the Mayor of Baghdad nt