What is the US up to in Iraq?

[Jefferson23]

While the Sadrists want the end of the occupation, Washington would be happy to settle for a client state.
Pepe Escobar Last Modified: 16 Sep 2011 13:39


Imagine Dick Cheney's reaction when confronted with this bit of information.

Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, a certified Iraqi nationalist leader and the country's de facto kingmaker, has just called for the end of any "armed resistance" against US "invader" forces before a full US withdrawal in December 2011 - as established by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed by the Iraqi parliament and the Bush administration in late 2008.

There's an important "but": If the US does not completely withdraw, and if what is widely regarded by a majority of Iraqis as "the occupation" continues, armed operations will resume "with new means".

Muqtada has always stressed the Sadrists wouldn't tolerate US troops after December 21; what's new is the "wait and see" attitude.

To make things clear, the Sadrists unleashed a huge demonstration in Baghdad on Friday, pressing three demands:

Jobs
The Nouri al-Maliki government should pull an Obama and immediate set up a jobs programme that will benefit at least 50,000 Iraqis from all ethnic and religious affiliations.

Social justice
The al-Maliki government should transfer royalties from the country's fabulous oil profits to each Iraqi citizen.

Sovereignty
No US troops whatsoever in Iraqi soil after December 31.

in full:http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/2011914115920267606.html

[dtexdem]

1. Troops out by the end of the year, or sooner.

That's the only acceptable plan -- well, the only plan acceptable at this point. They should already have long been out.

Of course, the invasion should not have happened in the first place.

The best option: pull all the troops out by the end of the year and then try Dubya and his Bushista cronies for war crimes.

[Kennah]

2. We're up to 8 years, and counting

[Cirque du So-What]

3. I can practically hear the evil wheels turning in the Dick of Death's head

'gotta conduct a false-flag operation against US troops in Iraq, making it appear that a major insurrection is underway. Can't let this cleric allow US troops to withdraw! This is MY 100-year war, dammit!'

[denverbill]

4. Cheney doesn't care about troops. He cares about oil and money.

If Sadr would guarantee drilling rights to Halliburton, Cheney would be hugging him tomorrow.

[Jefferson23]

5. I think that is quite true, perhaps even the hug. n/t