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October 31, 2006

We've Had 103 Troops Killed So Far This Month

So I BET they were happier than dogsh*t to get these orders.

U.S. Obeys Order to Abandon Checkpoints
U.S. troops on Tuesday abandoned checkpoints around the Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City on orders from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the latest in a series of moves by the Iraqi leader to assert his authority with the U.S. administration.

...U.S. forces disappeared from the checkpoints within hours of the order to remove the around-the-clock barriers by 5:00 p.m. (1400 GMT), setting off celebrations among civilians and armed men gathered on the edge of the sprawling slum that is under the control of the Mahdi Army militia run by radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Iraqi troops loaded coils of barbed wire and red traffic cones onto pickup trucks, while small groups of men and children danced in circles chanting slogans praising al-Sadr, who earlier Tuesday had ordered the area closed to the Iraqi government until U.S. troops lifted what he called their "siege" of the neighborhood.

...Al-Maliki's order underscored the his government's reliance of Shiite support and sensitivity to their concerns.


Damn. I mean DAMN.

Why don't we just declare the fat little f*ck 'Shah' and get the misery over with?

Posted by tree hugging sister at October 31, 2006 10:46 AM

Comments

Heh. Wouldn't it be great if we replied, "Sure, we'll take down the checkpoints," and then invaded and retook the whole neighborhood? "See, Mr. Prime Minister? No need for the checkpoints now. You're welcome. We also offer free trophy mounting - you want al-Sadr's head on the wall like a moose, or on the traditional pike outside the gates?"

Posted by: Nightfly at October 31, 2006 12:17 PM

I wrote a blog entry on 15 reasons why we're losing the war. Reason 4 is:

4. We supported a charade of Iraqi elections, pretending that the Iraqi government has power when they don't. Wishing doesn't grant power. We continue to play this charade and hamstring our own power by pretending to give them some.

Looks like we're still losing.

Posted by: Mike Rentner at October 31, 2006 12:39 PM

Nice Guys Finish _______

Posted by: mojo at October 31, 2006 03:53 PM

It sure seems to be headed that way. I've said all along that to remove the old Iraqi government (that the C.I.A. helped put in place) and destabilize Iraq would be to strengthen the hand of the Iranian mullahs immeasurably. It is common sense to anyone who actually realized beforehand the history of the country and its demographics.

Posted by: Realist at November 1, 2006 09:29 PM