This is off of latimes.com a few minutes ago.

[Joe for Clark]

Joint force weighs move on Sadr City
The vast Baghdad slum harbors a key militia but a sweep could backfire.
By Borzou Daragahi, Times Staff Writer
February 21, 2007



BAGHDAD — U.S. and Iraqi forces have moved aggressively in the last week to combat Sunni Arab insurgents in neighborhoods across the capital and to establish a stronger presence in religiously mixed districts long plagued by sectarian violence.

But as the new security crackdown enters a second week, they face their most sensitive challenge: whether, when and how to move into the Shiite-dominated slum of Sadr City, stronghold of the Al Mahdi militia.

Political pressure has mounted to crack down on the Baghdad neighborhood that harbors the militia loyal to radical anti-American cleric Muqtada Sadr. Sunni Arabs, who make up the backbone of the insurgency, have long accused Shiite Prime Minister Nouri Maliki of allowing Sadr City to remain a haven for the militia to keep the support of Sadr's followers.

The main conclusion seems to be ---
"Attempting to clear Sadr City would almost certainly force the into confrontation with American troops," they wrote in a January report for the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank.

"It would also do enormous damage to political base and would probably lead to the collapse of the Iraqi government."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/complete/la-fg-sadrcity21feb21,1,3035699.story?coll=la-iraq-complete&ctrack=1&cset=true

Joe
I'd be carefully watching the north - it would be very bad if they started trouble up there right now. We are pretty committed in the capital now.

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Interesting how they make it sound like it would be just moving into

a 'neighborhood'. As I understand it, Sadr City is a huge area with over a million residents. Pacifying Sadr City could be on a par with pacifying Fallujah.

this could get interesting.

[Bucky]

6. Define "interesting"

No wait. Don't. I'm already depressed about this war.

[Hekate]

10. Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. That kind of interesting. nt

[gratuitous]

2. Smoke 'em out, George

Another example of how, once the war gets going in earnest, all the choices are bad. Move into Sadr City, and the entire government could collapse if the Sunnis withdraw even their meager support. Don't move into Sadr City, and you leave an experienced, well-armed bunch of thugs in place who will pick off your people at their leisure.

You would think that in this existential, apocalyptic battle for the future of the planet, that the people who stand to lose the most should the American Empire fall would be the most aggressive in supplying their military age people to fight for a system that's benefited them so well. You would think that, but you'd be wrong.

[Joe for Clark]

5. It is a good observation.

You would think that - rational people do think that.

It is so clear that there are no good answers - and it is really true that this deal can go from bad to devistating in a heart beat.

It is going to blow up north. And when that happens we are truly screwed.

Joe

[plcdude]

3. check this out

http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/print.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=954152 It seems we get the news that they want us to get.

[Joe for Clark]

4. Neat source - kuna.net - I'll remember that.

Thanks,

Joe

[Javaman]

7. Personally I think they are setting the stage for something else.

according to morons* reasons to attack Iran, one of them being if the U.S. lost a huge amount of troops.

The "action" against Sadr city which in turn is a huge support area for M. Sadr, which in turn has been rumored by the U.S. Army, is being supplied with weapons by Iran, which according to moron* and his room full of dopes mentality, means that it's a hold out for Iranian troops.

So don't be the least bit surprised if there is a colossal fuck up in this operation and it's blamed upon a surprise attack by Iranian forces.

I put nothing past these evil schmucks.

[Joe for Clark]

11. I do appreciate the opinion.

Maybe you are right.

Or maybe - we don't have any control there anymore. Maybe there are just some true "trouble makers" left pushing our buttons. And they did pretty well so far.

There is no illusion of competency left for this administration to me. To even try what you imply suggests they know what they are doing - And I am conviced they don't have a clue.

Joe

[FrenchieCat]

12. Well got to the VoterVet petition signed by Wes Clark.....

and tell Bush that there will be no War with Iran! http://www.stopiranwar.com/

[Javaman]

8. Personally I think they are setting the stage for something else.

according to morons* reasons to attack Iran, one of them being if the U.S. lost a huge amount of troops.

The "action" against Sadr city which in turn is a huge support area for M. Sadr, which in turn has been rumored by the U.S. Army, is being supplied with weapons by Iran, which according to moron* and his room full of dopes mentality, means that it's a hold out for Iranian troops.

So don't be the least bit surprised if there is a colossal fuck up in this operation and it's blamed upon a surprise attack by Iranian forces.

I put nothing past these evil schmucks.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Do it!

Tell Bush that there will be no War with Iran! http://www.stopiranwar.com/

[Javaman]

9. Personally I think they are setting the stage for something else.

according to morons* reasons to attack Iran, one of them being if the U.S. lost a huge amount of troops.

The "action" against Sadr city which in turn is a huge support area for M. Sadr, which in turn has been rumored by the U.S. Army, is being supplied with weapons by Iran, which according to moron* and his room full of dopes mentality, means that it's a hold out for Iranian troops.

So don't be the least bit surprised if there is a colossal fuck up in this operation and it's blamed upon a surprise attack by Iranian forces.

I put nothing past these evil schmucks.

[FrenchieCat]

14. yes...don't hesitate! Do it now....

Tell Bush that there will be no War with Iran! http://www.stopiranwar.com/

[Nimrod2005]

15. The Sadr guys already went home...Sadr and his people

Will come back out when we leave, we know this already.

[Joe for Clark]

16. No, we don't know that.

They just disappeared for a time. They didn't go away. They are out there somewhere.

Maybe they are still there. Maybe they went north. Probably both.

There are NOT just two groups fighting there - maybe there are 16 groups- all fighting for control of the same oil. This is like a three dimensional calculus problem - and we have a president that I doubt could pass remedial math in charge.

Watch the north - I am pretty sure about this.

Joe