Iraqi Sunnis Urge U.S. to Fight Iran Influence, Not Insurgents

[ECH1969]

Sunni Muslims refugees from one of Iraq's most violent towns, with an eye toward possible U.S. policy changes after Tuesday's congressional elections, say America ought to drop its war on insurgents and focus on battling Iran's growing influence in their country.

``Iraqi insurgents would oppose al-Qaeda if they felt safe from the Shiites and Iran,'' said Raad al-Dulaimi, 49, a former traffic policeman. ``But they see that the Americans bow to the Shiites.'' He noted that the U.S. last month lifted a blockade of the Shiite Sadr City neighborhood in Baghdad, controlled by the Mahdi Army militia of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. ``Do the Americans think that Shiites are their friends? Think again.

Ramadi, which lies along the Euphrates River 70 miles west of Baghdad, has become a hodgepodge of contending anti-U.S. Sunni militias, the Iraqis say, including terrorists associated with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. Sunni refugees say they fear the Iranians at least as much as the U.S., and they are ready to accept the U.S. as a balance and to turn against al-Qaeda.

``We wish to have a strategic alliance with the United States,'' added Zeidan al-Awad, 45, who said he heads the Boujaber tribe, one of several large clans in Anbar province, which includes Ramadi.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=apK1YK.EU3uU&refer=asia

[Thickasabrick]

1. We're going to be there forever.

[ozone_man]

2. If past U.S. occupations are an indication

than yes, we'll be there forever, or at least until the oil runs out.

[mloutre]

5. which is why 41 knew better than 43 on this one

Those who forget history are doomed to re-invade it.

[karynnj]

3. Another Kerry was right

His Oct 2005 plan called for regional diplomacy where the Sunnis neighbors would hav ethe leverage to insure the Sunnis have minority rights. He said in many interviews that the Iraqis would oust Al Qaeda and that much of the insurgency would die down if the Sunnis saw they had a future.

They could possibly have avoided a civil war.

[mloutre]

6. boy howdy. if we start talking about all the things kerry was right about

... we'll be here all night.

Ahem.

[sandnsea]

7. But he's a French lookin' joke botcher

:eyes:

Instead we're going to get advise from Hillary and Our Two Joes. Ack.

[blm]

4. Isn't that basically what Kerry said would have to happen?

.