(Al-Hakim)Shiite leader backs Iraqi security plan

[maddezmom]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The country's most powerful Shiite politician issued strong backing Thursday for the Iraqi government's new Baghdad security plan, calling for it to "strike with an iron fist" and indirectly urging the militia of a radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to disarm.

Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who heads the 130-strong Shiite bloc in parliament, spoke just hours after President Bush announced his new strategy to quell violence in the Iraqi capital, including an additional 21,500 American for Baghdad and the western Anbar province.

Al-Hakim's backing for the new security drive was crucial if the government and U.S. forces were to succeed in what could be a last attempt to curb the sectarian bloodshed that threatens to push the capital deeper into civil war.

In a speech in the southern holy city of Najaf, al-Hakim did not mention Bush's comments but said that restoring security in Iraq would allow foreign troops to leave.

"The government should strike with an iron fist against those who endanger the safety of people," he said. "The great march of reconstruction will begin after guaranteeing security and then all justification for the presence of multinational forces will be removed."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070111/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_shiites_1

[ClintonTyree]

1. Yeah, good luck with that.

After centuries of fighting between the sects it's all going to stop now because they're going to "get tough" :eyes: Everyone will sit around the campfire, holding hands, singing kumbaya and making smores. All because our nitwit pResident is sending in 20,000 more targets to protect his corporate pals' investments in Iraq. How DARE these people not give away their only natural resource to us and not want KFC, Starbucks and Burger Kings on every corner! I think they'd settle for a a few more hours of electricity each day and maybe some potable drinking water. We've destroyed their country but now we're REALLY going to up the ante! Is there anything left TO destroy? If there is, Bush will find it and wipe it out. That's all he's good at, killing people and destroying things.

[acmavm]

2. We've heard from this guy, now let's hear from the REAL power on the

streets, al Sadr. What's that bastard got to say about any of this?