The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #97835 Message #1939071
Posted By: Ron Davies
16-Jan-07 - 11:53 PM
Thread Name: BS: Maliki doesn't want more U.S. troops
Subject: RE: BS: Maliki doesn't want more U.S. troops
Teribus--
As petr points out, you're wrong on disbanding of the Iraqi armed forces.
Situation normal.
And you're still at sea on our other topic. "Out of step?" You really have no clue of the difference between the Royal Navy and Iraq today. Al-Sadr has tried to prevent parts of his "army" from carrying out operations of their own choosing--and failed. It is a CIVIL WAR-- and veering toward chaos. Revenge killings and crimes of opportunity are the order of the day. YOU should read the Guardian article again.
From the Guardian article--"Go around--all the commanders are sitting sipping coffee; it's only the young kids that are fighting now. There are kids carrying 2 guns and they roam the streets looking for their prey." The Guardian article is talking of Sunnis--but if you don't think Shiites do similar things, wake up.
Scenario: I've always liked your house--and you're a Sunni in a Shiite neighborhood (or vice versa). A bunch of us Shiites will come visit you. And you'll be lucky to escape with your life. Do you think we need to clear this with al-Sadr? Use your head. You don't think this happens--more and more? Start thinking.
That's what civil war is. Sorry to say, you confirm your status as a Western military fossil when you talk of "out of step" and "those in command". Al-Sadr's army is not the Royal Navy. It's not even the Mafia. He can order people to kill targets --but he can't stop them from killing even if he wants to.
I repeat: you're going to have to make the effort to break out of your gangster film and Western military mindset if you hope to understand anything about the Iraq situation.
Please try.
And check Peter T's article on the Bush's Real Plan thread. All is not well even in the paradise known as "Kurdistan". Your naivete is charming--but not very sensible.