Did I hear correctly during one of McCain's speeches, that the surge is working...

[Frustratedlady]

which was refuted, saying that one reason the surge was working, was that some groups had been PAID to not fight? I saw it once or twice, but can't find it now. Were they referring to Al Sadr's group? With all this recent fighting, does it mean we missed a payment? How much do we have to pay these guys to keep their guns in their pockets?

Just curious.

[olkaz]

1. This is one of the major reasons we will win the GE with either candidate.

McCain is delusional, and doesn't even have a rudimentary understanding over what is his supposed strength (Iraq, national security, foreign relations).

I am going to love watching his ship go down.

[Deep13]

2. If escalation works, it will be pretext for troop withdrawal next year.

That is why he is spreading this surge-is-working meme now.

[IDemo]

3. He's referring to the "Concerned Local Citizens" program; sort of like neighborhood watch

You and I are paying 24 million a month ($300 each to 80,000 "CLC'ers"). Nobody has said what may happen when the paychecks stop flowing.

[Frustratedlady]

5. The writer didn't say WHO was being paid, just that it was groups...

How do they know they are minding their Ps & Qs? Thank you for that information.

I struggle with dollars and they use million$ like they were of no consequence...no big deal.

How many more days do we have of this B regime?

[IDemo]

6. Here's more on the CLC

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/AR2007080302322_pf.html

U.S. commanders are offering large sums to enlist, at breakneck pace, their former enemies, handing them broad security powers in a risky effort to tame this fractious area south of Baghdad in Babil province and, literally, buy time for national reconciliation.

American generals insist they are not creating militias. In contracts with the U.S. military, the sheiks are referred to as "security contractors." Each of their "guards" will receive 70 percent of an Iraqi policeman's salary. U.S. commanders call them "concerned citizens," evoking suburban neighborhood watch groups.

But interviews with ground commanders and tribal leaders offer a window into how the United States is financing a new constellation of mostly Sunni armed groups with murky allegiances and shady pasts.

< >

Shiite leaders fear that the United States is financing highly trained and well-armed militias that could undermine the government after American troops withdraw. Shiites worry such groups could weaken central authority and challenge democratic institutions that many would like to see take root.

[Frustratedlady]

7. Yes, that's the article I was referring to. Thanks!

What would we do without the Internet?

[Occam Bandage]

4. We're paying off Sunni tribesmen in Anbar province, not al-Sadr. The current violence

is mostly between Sadrist militias and pro-government militias/police/army.

[Frustratedlady]

8. I have difficulty keeping track of who is who.

Since Al Sadr has been quiet, I thought he might have been in on the take.

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.