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I don't know guys. The Iraqi army fighting to a stalemate against a foe that could have probably kicked its ass 10 months ago, well, it's progress. Right?

Gr@sshopper wrote:

I don't know guys. The Iraqi army fighting to a stalemate against a foe that could have probably kicked its ass 10 months ago, well, it's progress. Right?

if by stalemate you mean lots of dead people, then yes. indeed.

Gr@sshopper wrote:

[MA] Flying_Meat wrote:

Gr@sshopper wrote:

I don't know guys. The Iraqi army fighting to a stalemate against a foe that could have probably kicked its ass 10 months ago, well, it's progress. Right?

if by stalemate you mean lots of dead people, then yes. indeed.

Sorry, wasn't clear enough. whoever thought this was a good idea.....
Well, they need a new job.

This was inevitable. The militias controlled basra and the govt had little control over one of the major cities in Iraq. Now they do, and Sadr is hding behind a rock somewhere and his guys were bitchslapped. Yes Sard lives to fight another day, but despite the brave face put on by the media, he was humiliated.

[MA] Flying_Meat wrote:

everlong205 wrote:

This was inevitable.

I meant the fight between the militias and the Iraqi govt.

ShnickyShnack wrote:

The government now has control over Basra? That's a joke, right?

The govt had no control over Basra at all, prior to the recent kerfuffle. Now the militants waved the white flag, and the govt has a foothold there. Can they hold it or have complete control, remains to be seen, but its certainly more control than they had when Sadr's boys were camped there.

If the following is true, it's an interesting development; members of the Badr Corps are being officially inducted into the Iraqi armed forces. Apparently so many of the current security forces refused to fight against the recalcitrant shi'a that the Badr corps cwill fill in as members, or as officially sanctione paramilitary.

Just another example of Iran's de facto influence, seeing as the Badr corps have been trained by Iran and are the bitter rivals of Sadr's group(s)*.


*Everwrong's asinine analysis notwithstanding.

If it's true, then it's big because it places men with direct ties to Iran in the Iraqi armed forces, and it sharply illustrates the divide between the Iranian backed factions and the Iraqi nationalist factions.

The Badr corps  existed as a paramilitary enforcer for the ruling parties, the Dawa and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, but there always seemed to be the pretense of an arms length arrangement.

The other side to the story is that the degree of mutiny within the official Iraq security forces by those unwilling to take up arms against the Sadrists or other nationalist shi'a factions.

And of course, it's got to anger some of the Awakening Council sunnis, who can't get in to the official forces or perhaps even get paid, for that matter.

everlong205 wrote:

Ribtorus wrote:

If it's true, then it's big because it places men with direct ties to Iran in the Iraqi armed forces, and it sharply illustrates the divide between the Iranian backed factions and the Iraqi nationalist factions.

The Badr corps  existed as a paramilitary enforcer for the ruling parties, the Dawa and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, but there always seemed to be the pretense of an arms length arrangement.

The other side to the story is that the degree of mutiny within the official Iraq security forces by those unwilling to take up arms against the Sadrists or other nationalist shi'a factions.

And of course, it's got to anger some of the Awakening Council sunnis, who can't get in to the official forces or perhaps even get paid, for that matter.

factor in all those things, and Sadr still had his butt handed to him on a platter.

You're shouting, "yay  Iran!", in this thread, and you don't even know it.

He has an uneasy relationship with Iran. No ambitious Iraqi shi'ite would be able to cut Iran out completely.

The Badr, Maliki and the Dawa have direct and friendy ties with Iran. Those are the ones you're cheering.

oatmeal wrote:

We is winning!  Our forces of awesome++ are the bestest!

BAGHDAD — More than 1,000 Iraqi soldiers and policemen either refused to fight or simply abandoned their posts during the inconclusive assault against Shiite militias in Basra last week, a senior Iraqi government official said Thursday. Iraqi military officials said the group included dozens of officers, including at least two senior field commanders in the battle.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/world … ref=slogin

This is not a terrible thing. We were able to purge 1000 Iraqi soldiers with mixed  loyalties from the army and police forces. Its not a surprise though, that some people with questionalble loyalties have tried to infiltrate the army and police. This removes a huge chunk of them. Also, how many thousands of Iraqis did not refuse to fight?
If the army were 1000 strong and 1000 ended up leaving then I would see a problem, but having people who refuse to fight leave the army, doesn't sound something we should be lamenting.

Last edited by everlong205 (2008-04-03 10:47 pm)

everlong205 wrote:

oatmeal wrote:

We is winning!  Our forces of awesome++ are the bestest!

BAGHDAD — More than 1,000 Iraqi soldiers and policemen either refused to fight or simply abandoned their posts during the inconclusive assault against Shiite militias in Basra last week, a senior Iraqi government official said Thursday. Iraqi military officials said the group included dozens of officers, including at least two senior field commanders in the battle.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/world … ref=slogin

This is not a terrible thing. We were able to purge 1000 Iraqi soldiers with mixed  loyalties from the army and police forces. Its not a surprise though, that some people with questionalble loyalties have tried to infiltrate the army and police. This removes a huge chunk of them. Also, how many thousands of Iraqis did not refuse to fight?
If the army were 1000 strong and 1000 ended up leaving then I would see a problem, but having people who refuse to fight leave the army, doesn't sound something we should be lamenting.

We can only hope that Iraqi casualties and fatalities in the fighting were sufficiently high to further purge the forces of cowards and malingerers.

ShnickyShnack wrote:

More signs of victory: following threats by al-Sadr, Iraqi PM orders halt to all raids against Shiite militants nationwide

A statement by al-Maliki's office, broadcast on government television, did not mention the Mahdi Army by name or give a timeframe for the freeze. It said the move was designed to give a "chance to those who repented and want to lay down their arms."

But the statement was issued less than 24 hours after al-Maliki told reporters he intended to launch security operations against Mahdi Army strongholds in Baghdad, including Sadr City, home to some 2.5 million Shiites and the militia's largest base.

Yeah, the Iraqi army kicked Sadr's ass! Its just another (liberal, I assume) media conspiracy to make it look like Sadr came out on top. Don't be fooled!