Comments on: Iraq Violence Calms But Green Zone Hit
Peace Deal With Al-Sadr Diminishes Fighting Though Al-Maliki Is Weakened
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- thought I''''d say howdy.
Posted by ToolMangler at 07:00 PM : Mar 31, 2008
Howdy to you too;......always good to see a friendly name. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by hungry1968 at 07:00 PM : Mar 31, 2008
You misunderstood my post, I am cool, no problem
I try not to get ''torqued'' about comments - Reply to this comment
- I thought you were aware of my feelings about "Big brothers" Daddy
To ''''de'''' anything is to give credit for having had it. something I refuse to do,.. ask either of the ''''j''''s posting on this one
Posted by ToolMangler at 06:48 PM : Mar 31, 2008
Settle down friend. I see your point perfectly. I just like the mental picture of a "toolmangler" doing a job on bush, and him ending up "de-balled" - that''s all. - Reply to this comment
- getting slower all the time ''Aj'' been a while since we crossed paths, thought I''d say howdy.
- Reply to this comment
- thought you had given up and accepted ''''Dementia'''' ;)
Posted by ToolMangler at 06:54 PM : Mar 31, 2008
If you are talking to me, "No, I havn''t given up yet, but I have slowed down some". How are you? - Reply to this comment
- I thought you had given up and accepted ''Dementia'' ;)
- Reply to this comment
- Right before the elections.
Posted by AJMarine1 at 06:49 PM : Mar 31, 2008
Not bad for an ''old'' Dude. ;) - Reply to this comment
- Posted by AJMarine1 at 06:40 PM : Mar 31, 2008
I remember him. He had some heart issues and went to France for treatment if I remember right.
I remember one story in particular about him - there was a lot of sectarian unrest and strife right after the "liberation". Shia were killing Sunni and vice-versa. Al-Sistani issued an edict for everyone to lay down their arms, and the fighting ended immediately.
They truly do hold all the power in Iraq. - Reply to this comment
- Watch out for another ''''Tet offensive" Islamic style.
Posted by ToolMangler at 06:43 PM : Mar 31, 2008
Right before the elections. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by hungry1968 at 06:41 PM : Mar 31, 2008
I thought you were aware of my feelings about "Big brothers" Daddy
To ''de'' anything is to give credit for having had it. something I refuse to do,.. ask either of the ''j''s posting on this one - Reply to this comment
- Sadr is being smart, pulling all his army off the streets lets Maliki do his dirty work for him, I also reduces the opposition when he trys to take over himself. He saves his fighter fo another time.
Watch out for another ''Tet offensive" Islamic style. - Reply to this comment
- Bush was deballed.
86 43
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 05:43 PM : Mar 31, 2008
You cannot take away something he never had.
Posted by ToolMangler at 06:38 PM : Mar 31, 2008
I like a post that has both "bush was deballed" and "toolmangler" in it.
LOL!!! - Reply to this comment
that al Sadr is the one that holds the real power in Iraq.
Posted by hungry1968 at 06:35 PM : Mar 31, 2008
It use to be this guy, but no longer.
The most influential moderate Shia leader in Iraq has abandoned attempts to restrain his followers, admitting that there is nothing he can do to prevent the country sliding towards civil war.
Aides say Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is angry and disappointed that Shias are ignoring his calls for calm and are switching their allegiance in their thousands to more militant groups which promise protection from Sunni violence and revenge for attacks.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani
"I will not be a political leader any more," he told aides. "I am only happy to receive questions about religious matters."
It is a devastating blow to the remaining hopes for a peaceful solution in Iraq and spells trouble for British forces, who are based in and around the Shia stronghold of Basra.
The cleric is regarded as the most important Shia religious leader in Iraq and has been a moderating influence since the invasion of 2003. He ended the fighting in Najaf between Muqtada al-Sadr''s Mehdi army and American forces in 2004 and was instrumental in persuading the Shia factions to fight the 2005 elections under the single banner of the United Alliance.- Reply to this comment
- Bush was deballed.
86 43
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 05:43 PM : Mar 31, 2008
You cannot take away something he never had. - Reply to this comment
- I heard on NPR that Sadr''s bunch won. It must be true since the information came from Sadr''s associates. Of course, Hillary says she''s winning, so that must be true.
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- Unless you want to treat him like Saddam would, and I don''''t see that happening, I agree with you.
Posted by AJMarine1 at 06:32 PM : Mar 31, 2008
Truly an ugly prospect - no doubt. But it''s becoming more and more apparent, that al Sadr is the one that holds the real power in Iraq. - Reply to this comment
- I think if we REALLY do want political reconciliation, we''''re only going to get it by going through al Sadr. Truly an ugly prospect, but I think it''''s the only choice we have left.
Posted by hungry1968 at 06:29 PM : Mar 31, 2008
Unless you want to treat him like Saddam would, and I don''t see that happening, I agree with you. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by j-whitman at 06:26 PM : Mar 31, 2008
Hi J, where haaaavvvveee you been? Long time no see.
Iran seems to be focused on stabilization of Iraq more than we are... I''m sure they are all happy about the way their new state or whatever you want to call it is coming along. - Reply to this comment
- Bush called this a defining moment, and sadly it is;......but Al Sadr is the one that came out on top.
If the Iraq government is going to survive, they need to deal with this guy with a heavy hand, like they should have done in 2004.
But they won''''t, they will not do the un-PC things that need to be done, and yes, it seems like Sadr''''s men are more for winning the fight than the Iraq government troops.
All I see is shades of the future.
Posted by AJMarine1 at 05:31 PM : Mar 31, 2008
The scary thing AJ, is that al Sadr wields MUCH, MUCH more power and influence than al Maliki ever could. Religious figures are the "be all, end all" to the Islamic people. If al Maliki ever did decide to move against al Sadr, al Maliki would become the equivalent of the Shah of Iran, and al Sadr would become the equivalent of the Ayatollah Khomenini.
I highly doubt that Maliki would even consider moving against him.
The thing that I think needs to be addressed by OUR leaders, is "Are we dealing with the right leader of the country?" I think if we REALLY do want political reconciliation, we''re only going to get it by going through al Sadr. Truly an ugly prospect, but I think it''s the only choice we have left. - Reply to this comment
- AJMarine1,,,, From the looks of things, Iran seems to be focused on stabilization of Iraq more than we are... It''s where they went to negotiate the stand down.
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