Muqtada and the Ayatollah, what it means for America
In a previous writing, I had described how Muqtada al-Sadr has become the most powerful Shia. Now the Ayatollah al-Sistani is shifting his support to Al-Sadr.
A little history. Other than Muqtada, the Ayatollah al-Sistani is the most powerful single figure in Iraq. With a word, he forced Bremer to cave in and permit free elections in the early days of the occupation. Bremer wanted to appoint a council, a word from Al-Sistani and 700,000 Iraqis’ hit the streets. The elections happened and a majority Shitte government was elected.
Since then, the Ayatollah and the Badr Corps have seen the US forces as a shield to protect the Shia from a revival of a Baathist Sunni government. Now with the improved performance of the Mahdi Army of Al-Sadr, the Ayatollah al-Sistani is beginning to permit attacks on US troops.
On one part, he feels that a US presence is no longer necessary, on the other, indiscriminate US bombing and blockade of Sadr City in Baghdad has angered him.
Way to go George Bush.
What this means for America, we could be forced to abandon Iraq soon. The US supply lines are guarded by Shia tribes the distance from Baghdad to Kuwait. We pay them, but they owe their allegiance to the Ayatollah.
John McCain has only one mantra, we stay in Iraq until victory. It appears that the Iraqis’ have other ideas.
Posted: May 23rd, 2008 under Iraq, McCain.
Comments: 5
Comments
Comment from timr
Time: May 23, 2008, 9:47 am
Max, when gwb invaded Iraq, neither he nor his “advisors” knew anything about Iraq. They still don’t. BTW, I read, and saw on Countdown last nite, that Gen Patraeus has been a shill for the WH since 2005. Source is a Memo from DoD. So is Patraeus a warrior-which I used to believe-or is he just another “perfumed prince”-which I am starting to believe
Comment from Max
Time: May 23, 2008, 2:46 pm
My guess here is that the Ayatollah will order the government forces and the Sadrists to merge, and present a united front against the Sunni, force an American withdrawal, and have the Shia rule Iraq.
Comment from timr
Time: May 24, 2008, 9:07 am
max, except for US pressure to include the sunni in any govt in Iraq, the shia would already have a total lock on the entire govt, and would be well on their way to eliminating all the sunni in Iraq. That could still be the future if Ali al-Sistani ever puts his fatwa about the US in writing. gwb and co., even after 5 years, still have 0 understanding of just how Iraq works. I have to wonder if anyone gave more than one briefing about the history of Iraq, and how way back in the 1920’s the brits made up the country of Iraq. Still one more bit of fallout from WWI and the end of the Ottoman Empire.
Comment from Max
Time: May 24, 2008, 10:10 am
Right you are Tim. Where do we see for a role for an American overseer?
I didn’t see it at all. I think we are screwed.
Comment from timr
Time: May 25, 2008, 9:21 am
max, we don’t.
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