After the Americans break up Iraqi checkpoints suicide bombs soon follow

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0724/p06s01-woiq.html

Seeking safety, Iraqis turn to militias

BAGHDAD – A floundering government campaign to crack down on militias and increasing sectarian killings have many Shiites turning to militias for protection, particularly radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's violent Mahdi Army. snip

Some residents blamed the US raid for the market attack, charging that it forced Mahdi Army members to abandon some of their impromptu checkpoints in the area that are meant to keep out attackers.

"When the Americans come through and break up the checkpoints, that's when we get hit by suicide bombs, like today," says Ahmed Awadh, a Sadr City resident who works in the Ministry of Trade. snip

As in Lebanon, where the government was hesitant to confront Hizbullah for fear of sparking civil war and had doubts about their own army's cohesion in such a battle. Maliki appears uncertain of his military's willingness to target Sadr's followers. Many Mahdi Army members also double as Iraqi soldiers and police. There could also be political fallout for Maliki if he appears to be an American puppet. .

Sadr has made the comparison himself with Hizbullah. Speaking on Friday, he vowed to support to the group.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. It's those durn "unexpected consequences" again.

The geniuses in Washington, the Pentagon, and Jerusalem seem to have a real knack for producing them.

[frylock]

2. maybe they need to set up a director of unexpected consequences..

kinda like the Director for Lessons Learned.