Iraqi PM breaks with U.S. over attack (criticizes Sadr City attack)

[sabra]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1154952611324&col=968705899037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News

Iraqi PM breaks with U.S. over attack
ASSOCIATED PRESS


BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sharply criticized a U.S.-Iraqi attack Monday on a Shiite militia stronghold in Baghdad, breaking with his American partners on security tactics as the U.S. launches a major operation to secure the capital.

...

Al-Maliki's criticism followed a pre-dawn air and ground attack Monday on an area of Sadr City, stronghold of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia.

...

Al-Maliki, a Shiite, said he was "very angered and pained" by the operation, warning that it could undermine his efforts toward national reconciliation.

"Reconciliation cannot go hand in hand with operations that violate the rights of citizens this way," al-Maliki said in a statement on government television. "This operation used weapons that are unreasonable to detain someone, like using planes."

He apologized to the Iraqi people for the operation and said ``this won't happen again."

[NewJeffCT]

1. Will his protest get any coverage over here?

Probably not, I'm guessing.

[sabra]

3. al-Sadr has alot of influence on Maliki

how is this all going to unfold?

[FreeStateDemocrat]

8. Baltimore Sun covered it with AP article.

Iraqi prime minister criticizes U.S.-led raid
3 civilians killed in attack targeting militia; suicide truck bombing kills 10

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra
The Associated Press
Originally published August 7, 2006, 5:51 PM EDT
BAGHDAD, Iraq // Iraq's prime minister sharply criticized a U.S.-Iraqi attack today on a Shiite militia stronghold in Baghdad, breaking with his American partners on security tactics as the United States launches a major operation to secure the capital.

More than 30 people were killed or found dead today, including 10 paramilitary commandos slain when a suicide driver detonated a truck at the regional headquarters of the Shiite-led Interior Ministry police in a mostly Sunni city north of Baghdad.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's criticism followed a pre-dawn air and ground attack on an area of Sadr City, stronghold of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia.

Police said three people, including a woman and a child, were killed in the raid, which the U.S. command said was aimed at "individuals involved in punishment and torture cell activities." cont'd

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-iraq0807,0,6446834.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

[mike_c]

2. al-Maliki tugs on his leash...

...and waves his food bowl defiantly.

on edit:

[saigon68]

4. Yes he is a Little Poodle----- Like this one

[Vinca]

5. Oh! We're still at war in Iraq?

You never hear about it anymore. Two Israeli soldiers here, a half dozen Lebanese there. All tragic, but I'm thinking 100 people have died in Iraq during the same time period.

[acmavm]

6. He said it's not going to happen again? Who does this guy think he is,

Prime Minister? Doesn't he understand that that rank is WAAAAYYYYYYY below Neocon Warlord?

[Oversea Visitor]

10. He saw the 100,000 people looking for 70 virgins

Dont you think he knows his goose cook if the 100,000 say fuck it and all hell break loose.

Dont start a bloodbath

You can kill the 100,000 but a million will come.

Just backoff. Why start something that need not happen in the first place.

[htuttle]

7. Good time to poke a hornet's nest, or what? Who's stupid idea was this?

What possible strategic objective is achieved by risking another Shiite uprising at the same time everything's come loose in Lebanon?

For one, Sadr isn't even the main Iranian tool in Iraq -- Daawa and the Badr brigades are. Sadr is more independent of Iran than those two -- but far more volitile (and popular, as far as I can see).

Are they TRYING to unite their perceived opposition? Aren't they supposed to be trying to split them apart, not give them reasons and motivation to work together?

[Marie26]

9. The what now?

We attacked Sadr City? Why hasn't this been in a single newspaper, or on a single news program? I'm not sure how Maliki can guarantee that won't happen again - he obviously has no say-so.

[Clarkie1]

11. Coverage on MSNBC.

“Reconciliation cannot go hand in hand with operations that violate the rights of citizens this way,” al-Maliki said in a statement on government television. “This operation used weapons that are unreasonable to detain someone — like using planes.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14231197/

[cal04]

12. Iraqi Leader Slams U.S.-Aided Attack

Iraq's prime minister sharply criticized a U.S.-Iraqi attack on a Shiite militia stronghold in Baghdad, exposing a rift with his American partners on security tactics, as 24 people were killed Tuesday in a series of bombings and a shooting.

An American soldier also died of wounds sustained in fighting in western Anbar province, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

The latest violence — in addition to the 10 killed in a suicide bombing in Samarra on Monday — occurred amid a major U.S. operation to secure Baghdad in order to control Shiite-Sunni sectarian bloodshed that many fear will lead to civil war.

(snip)
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, said he was "very angered and pained" by the operation, warning that it could undermine his efforts toward national reconciliation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060808/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_060808085542

[HereSince1628]

13. Get that puppet a new set of strings...

So, how many hours will they have Maliki in "stress positions" to get his attitude right? Or do you suppose they'll just use dogs?

[ixion]

14. his 'American partners'

well, isn't that just a nice phrase... I think the accurate term is 'occupying force'. I'm sure the PM doesn't see BushCo as a 'partner'. :eyes:

[YankeyMCC]

15. This quote really says it all for me:

'Reconciliation cannot go hand-in-hand with operations that violate the rights of citizens this way,'' al-Maliki said in a statement on government television.


Talk about clearly stating the problem. We have a bit of that problem right here in the US too, fortunately not with the same violence of course.