The war with Iran has officially begun

[ShaneGR]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/28/bush.basra/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Iraqi military push into the southern city of Basra is not going as well as American officials had hoped, despite President Bush's high praise for the operation, several U.S. officials said Friday.

A closely held U.S. military intelligence analysis of the fighting in Basra shows that Iraqi security forces control less than a quarter of the city, according to officials in both the United States and Iraq, and Basra's police units are deeply infiltrated by members of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army.

"This is going to go on for a while," one U.S. military official said.

Iraqi forces launched their offensive in Basra this week. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was personally overseeing operations in the southern city against what government officials called "rogue" or "outlaw" militia elements, most loyal to al-Sadr.

During a joint news conference Friday with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Bush called the operation "a defining moment in the history of a free Iraq," saying the government is fighting criminals there.



Make no mistake about it, the Shia militias in Iraq do receive a great deal of their funding from Iran. That's just a fact. That it occured in Basra Iraq is also not surprising. The population of Basra is almost exclusively Shia. What's particularly troubling is that for years the pro war hawks used Saddam Hussein's actions in Basra as motivation for the war in the first place.

To make it worse, they sent Iraqi military forces in. Anyone who knows maybe 50% about this war would automatically know that the "Iraqi Military" is currently dominated by Shia influence. Another FACT.

So basically send Iraqi, nevermind, Shia Iraqi Military into Basra to attack and kill fellow Shia. This is what happens when you make STUPID military decisions.

I can't even begin to explain how terrible Bush's war has gone. We will be paying for this in blood, treasure, and world opinion for at least a generation.

[L. Coyote]

1. Bullshit. The war is in Iraq. That ruse is old hat distraction.

[ShaneGR]

3. You completely miss the point, war on Shia controlled Territory is a war with Iran, by proxy

Al-Sadr, the militias, receive a majority portion of their funding, from Iranian government and individual donations. What are those donations? Weapons. Lots and lots and lots of weapons.

What people aren't realizing so far is that the decision our next President makes will be whether or not to escalate the war into Iran. We cannot "win" Iraq, which is really just a phrase for providing longterm security, with Shia influence so dominant. There's a REASON Saddam killed them by the hundreds of thousands, they're SHIA AND HE IS SUNNI. It's a blood feud lasting a LONG TIME.

We were never going to step in their and fix that with a quick invasion and a few stupid elections. When people rise up to kill each other, it's usually harsh and disgusting. Millions die. And many die believing in why they died. The side that doesn't believe almost always loses. Look at the history of war and you will find a graveyard of losers who simply didn't really believe in their cause.

But back to the point, this is really about our country somehow defeating Iranian armed Iraqi Shias using Shia troops from Iraq to kill Shia Iraqis.

Didn't go so well. Guess everyone has to die now down there. Just another horribly screwed up genocide.

[annabanana]

2. Maliki is a better friend to Iran than al Sadr is...

Where are you getting your information?

[ShaneGR]

4. You are reading what I said wrong....

Read it again, it's actually a take on the the backstabbing nature of the conflict. And why we should have never gone. Read the sarcasm.

And btw, you just said Maliki is a better friend to Iran than Al-Sadr. They are BOTH friends to Iran. Do you really think Maliki would order troops into Basra or make his statements without US approval?? Guess what, dozens die everyday in Iraq, The Bush Administration still has 10 months left before they leave office. They can kill anyone they want in Iraq they want if it looks good enough for the "media."

Start looking at this war from the eyes of the Bush people. They are at worst criminal and at least delusional. It's sad.

[blues90]

5. maliki is a friend to Iran and a puppet for bush

Al-Sadr wants Iraq to be one and Miliki want's four seperate divisions . Thye are both of the same religion but they are in no way of the same ideals as far as Iraq in concerned . Al-Sadr is not friends with Iran . He wants the US the hell out of Iraq now . With this two sided fighting the US soldiers are caught in the middle in the crossfire and it's back to a disaster . The so called surge did not work it was Al-sadr calling a ceise fire that make it appear to be working and the US paying Miliki's fighters to fight .

[bemildred]

6. So, why are we supporting the pro-Iran shi'ite militias?

That's the question I want answered.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

7. For the same reasons we provided weapons to BOTH Iraq & Iran in the '80's,...

,...I reckon. :shrug:

[magellan]

8. But we favored Saddam in those battles

...to the point of arming him with WMD, in hopes he'd force the collapse of Iran's regime. Now we're backing the pro-Iranian Maliki gov't....?

It's very counterintuitive.

[johnnypneumatic]

10. the Islamic Supreme Council is the largest power block

(they won the last elections)in the Iraq government and controls the army which has a core of the Badr corps militia. They are the most pro-Iranian, but they are also partners with Maliki and the US. They are more friendly to the US in letting the US have the oil in exchange for keeping their power. They are afraid Sadr will gain more power in the October elections as many shia are becoming more pro Sadrist. Sadr want the US out and the oil for Iraq. It is conceivable he could take over the government eventually (especially if he gets the moral authority of becoming an Ayatolla) and kicks the US out. Sadr is not as pro-Iran, he is more Iraq nationalistic, or maybe, he wants Iraq for himself free from Iranian influence.
All the anti-Iranian stuff is propaganda (shame on CNN) as the US and the more pro-Iranian shia are partners in control in Iraq against Sadr and the mahdi army.

[bemildred]

11. Good explanation.

:thumbsup:

[Thickasabrick]

9. I read today that many of the Iraq police officers were deserting to

join the Mehdi army.

This all is such a clusterfuck - I can't wait till we are out of it.