Comments on: Iraq’s Moment of Truth in Baghdad and Basra http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:26:26 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Iraq » Pajamas Media » Iraq’s Moment of Truth in Baghdad and Basra http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-34075 Iraq » Pajamas Media » Iraq’s Moment of Truth in Baghdad and Basra Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:09:14 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-34075 [...] morgado.co.uk wrote an interesting post today on Pajamas Media » Iraqâ [...] morgado.co.uk wrote an interesting post today on Pajamas Media » Iraqâ

]]> By: The Captain’s Journal » Basra Confusion http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31951 The Captain’s Journal » Basra Confusion Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:32:24 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31951 [...] to the government, connecting the two ideas in his post.  Mohammed Fadhil says that the war is far from being over, while he had previously said: Some people began to mock the operation calling it “Qadissiyat [...] [...] to the government, connecting the two ideas in his post.  Mohammed Fadhil says that the war is far from being over, while he had previously said: Some people began to mock the operation calling it “Qadissiyat [...]

]]> By: Eric http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31633 Eric Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:58:56 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31633 Yhank you for a well written and educated synopsis of the events in a country that is tearing itself together. Hopefully, that outcome goes well for both our countries. A US vet. Yhank you for a well written and educated synopsis of the events in a country that is tearing itself together.
Hopefully, that outcome goes well for both our countries. A US vet.

]]> By: Sean http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31609 Sean Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:10:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31609 Isn't there an election coming up in Iraq? Is Maliki going to run for a second term? What would be his chances? Isn’t there an election coming up in Iraq? Is Maliki going to run for a second term? What would be his chances?

]]> By: Christine http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31596 Christine Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:23:53 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31596 Very good analysis Mohammed. It appears Maliki may have gotten his "sea legs". A very positive step in the right direction for Iraq. I hope he has the confidence and strength to finally get rid of Sadr and his thugs. They have had far too much time to pull Iraq down. Very good analysis Mohammed. It appears Maliki may have gotten his “sea legs”. A very positive step in the right direction for Iraq.

I hope he has the confidence and strength to finally get rid of Sadr and his thugs. They have had far too much time to pull Iraq down.

]]> By: Shields Green http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31336 Shields Green Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:45:53 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31336 Quote: "No Iraqi leader since 2003 has had the same broad support for a policy that Maliki has right now. For the first time a leader has the support of a majority of Shia, along with the approval of the Sunni and Kurds in addition to the sympathy of the public, which has grown tired of the recklessness and violence of Sadr’s movement. For the first time the leader appears more like a leader of Iraq than a leader of a particular sect, party, or ethnic group. Moreover, he has won the support of the coalition to further build an unprecedented consensus among all concerned parties." The above statement is extremely important and very well put. And, it is extremely unfortunate that the U.S. main stream media has, once again, gotten it completely wrong. The recent conflict in Basra has been largely reported as a failure of Maliki's. I never understood why it was considered a failure of the state when it was Sadr that cried uncle and called off his hounds. Because Sadr is solely focused on power, if he thought he had a chance, he would not have done that. He new he was over-matched. He's playing a cat and mouse game because he knows the state can crush the Mahdi Army head-to-head, especially with American and British air support. Sadr is the one backed into a corner by a near unanimous political opposition. And, it is Sadr who lacks large-scale popular support. The first little battle in Basra was a good test run for the Iraqi forces. Maliki needs to avoid the cat and mouse game and get it done with when they are ready. Quote: “No Iraqi leader since 2003 has had the same broad support for a policy that Maliki has right now. For the first time a leader has the support of a majority of Shia, along with the approval of the Sunni and Kurds in addition to the sympathy of the public, which has grown tired of the recklessness and violence of Sadr’s movement. For the first time the leader appears more like a leader of Iraq than a leader of a particular sect, party, or ethnic group. Moreover, he has won the support of the coalition to further build an unprecedented consensus among all concerned parties.”

The above statement is extremely important and very well put. And, it is extremely unfortunate that the U.S. main stream media has, once again, gotten it completely wrong. The recent conflict in Basra has been largely reported as a failure of Maliki’s. I never understood why it was considered a failure of the state when it was Sadr that cried uncle and called off his hounds. Because Sadr is solely focused on power, if he thought he had a chance, he would not have done that. He new he was over-matched. He’s playing a cat and mouse game because he knows the state can crush the Mahdi Army head-to-head, especially with American and British air support. Sadr is the one backed into a corner by a near unanimous political opposition. And, it is Sadr who lacks large-scale popular support.

The first little battle in Basra was a good test run for the Iraqi forces. Maliki needs to avoid the cat and mouse game and get it done with when they are ready.

]]> By: that thad guy http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31211 that thad guy Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:36:57 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31211 surround savage, check. cut off outside enablers, check. decapitate regime, check. kill off henchmen, check. invite then kill off wannabe helpers, check. isolate groups and build local antipathy, check. combine local groups into coalition against largest insurgent group, check. build central government power incrementally from success to success, check. focus new powerful central government against largest enemy within, check. defeat jimmy carter's gift to the world: the mullahs in teheran. next. surround savage, check.
cut off outside enablers, check.
decapitate regime, check.
kill off henchmen, check.
invite then kill off wannabe helpers, check.
isolate groups and build local antipathy, check.
combine local groups into coalition against largest insurgent group, check.
build central government power incrementally from success to success, check.
focus new powerful central government against largest enemy within, check.
defeat jimmy carter’s gift to the world: the mullahs in teheran. next.

]]> By: The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » End Game On With Sadr Should Bring Sadr’s End http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31171 The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » End Game On With Sadr Should Bring Sadr’s End Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:57:17 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31171 [...] from the Mahdi claiming they won’t disarm until the Shiite clerics tell them to - again? Here is a great piece at Pajama’s Media by the owner of the blog site Iraq The Model who notes the end game is in play: The ongoing [...] [...] from the Mahdi claiming they won’t disarm until the Shiite clerics tell them to – again? Here is a great piece at Pajama’s Media by the owner of the blog site Iraq The Model who notes the end game is in play: The ongoing [...]

]]> By: Rosemary http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31101 Rosemary Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:34:39 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31101 Excellent reporting. I've been waiting to from you, since I do not believe what the others have to say. You have been through this whole thing, and you have remained strong. God bless you! Excellent reporting. I’ve been waiting to from you, since I do not believe what the others have to say. You have been through this whole thing, and you have remained strong. God bless you!

]]> By: jules http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/comment-page-1/#comment-31086 jules Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:48:09 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/#comment-31086 Thank you, Mohammed! It's great to hear from you. Great post, very positive news. Thank you, Mohammed! It’s great to hear from you. Great post, very positive news.

]]>