Filed under: 2008 Election, Breaking, Conservatives, Iraq, Progressives, Senate, Terrorism | Tags: 2008, Candidates, George W. Bush, Iraq, John McCain, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Republicans, Terrorism
Disturbing news tonight out of Iraq:
A cease-fire critical to the improved security situation in Iraq appeared to unravel Monday when a militia loyal to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr began shutting down neighborhoods in west Baghdad and issuing demands of the central government.
Simultaneously, in the strategic southern port city of Basra, where Sadr’s Mahdi militia is in control, the Iraqi government launched a crackdown in the face of warnings by Sadr’s followers that they’ll fight government forces if any Sadrists are detained. By 1 a.m. Arab satellite news channels reported clashes between the Mahdi Army and police in Basra
While a lot of Republicans–like George W. Bush and John McCain–have been lauding the surge for bringing violence levels in Iraq down somewhat, the voluntary ceasefire by Moqtada Al-Sadr and his militia have played a massive role in reducing Iraq’s violence.
If this ceasefire falls apart, the Madhi militia–now with several months of rest, recuperation and rearmament under their belts–will resume their assaults on American forces, which will lead to another spike in violence.
Al-Sadr and his militia would be very difficult to put down by force; this is why, as we Democrats have been saying for years, Iraq needs a political solution. Throwing more soldiers into the mix hasn’t gotten us anywhere closer to a sustainable Iraq, despite what McCain and Bush tell us.
This is why we need a Democratic President come January 2009, so we can sit down and end this war quickly and intelligently.
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[...] Democrats, International, Iraq, John McCain, Mahdi Army, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Republicans, The Surge Yesterday I reported that the self-imposed cease-fire by Moqtada Al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army was unraveling, sparking [...]
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