Gunmen killed a Sunni cleric as he was entering a mosque in Baghdad to perform noon prayers today.
It was the second fatal attack on a cleric belonging to the influential Association of Muslim Scholars in less than 24 hours, the group said.
...The Association of Muslim Scholars is a conservative group that has worked for the release of foreign hostages. It strongly opposes the US presence in Iraq.
Boston.comarticle It was the second fatal attack on a cleric belonging to the influential Association of Muslim Scholars in less than 24 hours, the group said.
...The Association of Muslim Scholars is a conservative group that has worked for the release of foreign hostages. It strongly opposes the US presence in Iraq.
Well, that's the kiss of death, isn't it?
Juan Cole takes apart John McCain's demand to launch increased offensives now to pave the way for elections in Iraq, rather than after the November "election" here, as is planned by the administration (since there will undoubtedly be increased U.S. soldier deaths which would not bode well for the Bloody Asshat's support).
The rather bloodthirsty demand launched by Arizona Senator John McCain that the US military conquer Fallujah and other Sunni Arab cities of al-Anbar Province will not in fact enhance the possibility of free elections in January.
...What does McCain think the election would look like, with Ramadi, Fallujah and other Sunni cities reduced to rubble? Does he think the sullen Sunni Arabs will actually just jump on a US bandwagon in the wake of such brutality? Does he have any idea of the sheer number of feuds that will have been incurred with the Sunni tribes?
...It seems almost certain that most candidates for high office in Iraq will run against the US. I.e., their platform will probably include a promise to get US troops out of the country ASAP. Others will boycott the elections. The number of such boycotters, and the number of those running against the US, would be even greater in the wake of a bloody and indiscriminate US campaign against the townspeople of al-Anbar.
...What does McCain think the election would look like, with Ramadi, Fallujah and other Sunni cities reduced to rubble? Does he think the sullen Sunni Arabs will actually just jump on a US bandwagon in the wake of such brutality? Does he have any idea of the sheer number of feuds that will have been incurred with the Sunni tribes?
...It seems almost certain that most candidates for high office in Iraq will run against the US. I.e., their platform will probably include a promise to get US troops out of the country ASAP. Others will boycott the elections. The number of such boycotters, and the number of those running against the US, would be even greater in the wake of a bloody and indiscriminate US campaign against the townspeople of al-Anbar.
And, of course, the incredible devastation of Falluja continues...
Late Saturday and early Sunday, US warplanes and artillery struck Fallujah repeatedly. The bombardments killed four persons and wounded six. Although the US military typically points to the guerrillas it kills in such operations, it makes no accounting of the innocent civilians it kills and injures when bombing residential neighborhoods.
Cole has another excellent post, the contents of a letter he sent to a commenter who objected to Cole's "anti-militarism". Read the whole thing, but I want to comment on the conclusion:
Not only were all the Shiites in southern Iraq outside Najaf itself angered by the fighting in Najaf, but so were the Lebanese, Bahrainis, Iranians, Pakistanis, and Indians. An operation would have to be really important and urgent to make it worthwhile alienating 120 million people. I didn't see the urgency. Most of the cities in Iraq are not under US control and are patrolled by militias. If you were going to pick a fight, Ramadi or Kut would have been preferable, because they lack the "gut" factor.
And, it is precisely by injuring these religious feelings that the US hastens the day when the Iraqi public comes out into the streets in the hundreds of thousands and begins the revolution for Iraqi independence.
And, it is precisely by injuring these religious feelings that the US hastens the day when the Iraqi public comes out into the streets in the hundreds of thousands and begins the revolution for Iraqi independence.
Because of the instability of the BushCons and their Christian/Zionist bent, I am inclined to believe that some of what is taken for stupidity is more appropriately termed insanity, and that the situation in Iraq is not for them so much a blunder as it is a bonus for speeding up the Apocalypse. No matter what Bush says out of one side of his mouth about Islam not being the target (terrorists are), the other side of his mouth spouts biblical apocalyptic diatribe, crusades, and God's working through him.
No, I don't think we're winning, but to say well, we must just stay the course and any of you who are questioning are just hand wringers is not very responsible.
The fact is we're in trouble, we're in deep trouble in Iraq.
---Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, September 20, 2004.
article The fact is we're in trouble, we're in deep trouble in Iraq.
---Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, September 20, 2004.
....but hey, be what you want....you will anyway.
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