Warlord vs. Warlord - What are they fighting about in Basra?

[frogcycle]

Source: Slate.com

The wars in Iraq (the plural is no typo) are about to expand and possibly explode, so it might be useful to have some notion of what we're in for.
-snip-

The fighting in Basra, which has spread to parts of Baghdad, is not a clash between good and evil or between a legitimate government and an outlaw insurgency. Rather, as Anthony Cordesman, military analyst for the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, writes, it is "a power struggle" between rival "Shiite party mafias" for control of the oil-rich south and other Shiite sections of the country.
-snip-

Both sides in this struggle are essentially militias. Both sides have ties to Iran. And as for protecting "the Iraqi people," the side backed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (and by U.S. air power) has, ironically, less support—at least in many Shiite areas, including Basra—than the side that he (and we) are attacking.

Read more: http://www.slate.com/id/2187564/

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Civil war. Period. And we are taking sides, propping up the less popular leader because we picked him. Anyone remember the Shah?

[Muttocracy]

1. kick; thanks for posting nt

[Robbien]

2. Bull crap

Maliki initiated the attack. Sadr forces are fighting Maliki and the US occupation.

[frogcycle]

5. did you read the article? I don't think it contradicts you

[Robbien]

8. No I did not

Because its headline states flat out that this is not about Iraqis not liking being occupied and defending themselves, it is all about Iraqis just like killing other Iraqis. Just promoting the standard right wing nonsense that barbarian Iraqis will kill other Iraqis at a drop of a hat; for religion, for money, or just because someone sneezed.

Again I call bull crap.

[seriousstan]

9. Genius!!

[thunder rising]

6. Hey that is democracy in action ... we are really wimps at this stuff.

[Doctor_J]

3. There's fighting in Basra? I thought things were returning to normal

according to the baboon in the white house.

[thunder rising]

4. They are fighting because they can. We have given them the freedom (and weapons) to kill each other

and since this is part of the neocon genocide program where you get the result without having to take responsibility...THIS IS A GOOD THING!

[ladywnch]

7. nah, we're winning......violence is a good thing....it proves we're winning

jr said so. we'll just serve up another 30 -50 thousand US sacfices for another surge and all will be well.....hell, McInsane even says we're winning and great progress has been made. you're not gonna call those great patriots liars now are you?!!!!!




****and for those of you who don't speak sarcasm as your first language....... :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: