H
Harry Hope
Guest
Members of one police unit had fist fights with their officers after
they refused to join the battle.
.................................................................................................
The explosion of violence over the past four days is making a mockery
of George Bush's claim that America had turned the corner in Iraq.
From The Independent, 3/29/08:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...t-iraqi-pms-attacks-on-mehdi-army-802361.html
Police refuse to support Iraqi PM's attacks on Mehdi Army
By Patrick ****burn
US and British forces are increasingly playing a supporting role in
the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's stalled offensive against
the Mehdi Army militia.
American aircraft launched air strikes in Basra yesterday and fought
militiamen on the streets in Baghdad while British advisers have also
been assisting Iraqi troops in Basra.
Mr Maliki retreated from his demand that militiamen hand over their
weapons by yesterday and extended the deadline to 8 April.
This is a tacit admission that the Iraqi army and police have failed
to oust the Mehdi Army from any of its strongholds in the capital and
in southern Iraq.
The Iraqi army has either met stubborn resistance from Mehdi Army
fighters or soldiers and police have refused to fight or changed
sides.
"We did not expect the fight to be this intense," said the officer
from a 300-strong commando unit that has been pinned down in the
Tamimiyah district in Basra, where the supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr,
the leader of the Mehdi Army, have strong support.
The officer said four of his men were killed and 15 wounded in the
fighting.
"Some of the men told me that they did not want to go back to the
fight until they have better support and more protection," he added.
The Interior Ministry threatened that the men would be
court-martialled for refusing to fight.
Government troops arriving in Basra complain that they are being fired
on by local police loyal to Mr Sadr.
Members of one police unit had fist fights with their officers after
they refused to join the battle.
The failure of Mr Maliki to make good his threat so far to eliminate
the Mehdi Army and growing signs of dissent in army units is damaging
his authority, "It is possible that Muqtada and the Mehdi Army will
emerge from this crisis stronger than they were before," warned one
Iraqi politician who did not want his name published.
Fears that Mr Maliki's surprise assault on the Mehdi Army is faltering
without any real gains on the ground probably explains why US aircraft
are dropping bombs in Basra and US armoured vehicles made an incursion
into Sadr City in Baghdad.
The explosion of violence over the past four days is making a mockery
of George Bush's claim that America had turned the corner in Iraq.
______________________________________________
Sounds to me like the McCain/Bush "surge" is shortcircuiting.
Harry
they refused to join the battle.
.................................................................................................
The explosion of violence over the past four days is making a mockery
of George Bush's claim that America had turned the corner in Iraq.
From The Independent, 3/29/08:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...t-iraqi-pms-attacks-on-mehdi-army-802361.html
Police refuse to support Iraqi PM's attacks on Mehdi Army
By Patrick ****burn
US and British forces are increasingly playing a supporting role in
the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's stalled offensive against
the Mehdi Army militia.
American aircraft launched air strikes in Basra yesterday and fought
militiamen on the streets in Baghdad while British advisers have also
been assisting Iraqi troops in Basra.
Mr Maliki retreated from his demand that militiamen hand over their
weapons by yesterday and extended the deadline to 8 April.
This is a tacit admission that the Iraqi army and police have failed
to oust the Mehdi Army from any of its strongholds in the capital and
in southern Iraq.
The Iraqi army has either met stubborn resistance from Mehdi Army
fighters or soldiers and police have refused to fight or changed
sides.
"We did not expect the fight to be this intense," said the officer
from a 300-strong commando unit that has been pinned down in the
Tamimiyah district in Basra, where the supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr,
the leader of the Mehdi Army, have strong support.
The officer said four of his men were killed and 15 wounded in the
fighting.
"Some of the men told me that they did not want to go back to the
fight until they have better support and more protection," he added.
The Interior Ministry threatened that the men would be
court-martialled for refusing to fight.
Government troops arriving in Basra complain that they are being fired
on by local police loyal to Mr Sadr.
Members of one police unit had fist fights with their officers after
they refused to join the battle.
The failure of Mr Maliki to make good his threat so far to eliminate
the Mehdi Army and growing signs of dissent in army units is damaging
his authority, "It is possible that Muqtada and the Mehdi Army will
emerge from this crisis stronger than they were before," warned one
Iraqi politician who did not want his name published.
Fears that Mr Maliki's surprise assault on the Mehdi Army is faltering
without any real gains on the ground probably explains why US aircraft
are dropping bombs in Basra and US armoured vehicles made an incursion
into Sadr City in Baghdad.
The explosion of violence over the past four days is making a mockery
of George Bush's claim that America had turned the corner in Iraq.
______________________________________________
Sounds to me like the McCain/Bush "surge" is shortcircuiting.
Harry
