Interesting Definition of a Ceasefire
30 March 2008 11:55 pm by Taylor Marsh
IRAQ: Interesting Definition of a ‘Ceasefire’
bumped from afternoon
Meet our reality: U.S. special forces units working with Iraqi troops in Basra; Baghdad under indefinite curfew.
Sadr calls for a “ceasefire.” Iran is all for it, because they want us to leave and all this violence doesn’t look good. However, as the video above illustrates, Sadr is still in control of many neighborhoods.
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday ordered his fighters off the streets nationwide and called on the government to stop raids against his followers and free them from prison.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a statement calling the order “a step in the right direction” towards resolving six days of violence sparked by operations against al-Sadr’s backers in the oil-rich southern city of Basra. … ..
The U.S. military said separately that American and Iraqi troops unearthed 14 badly decomposed bodies in a mass grave on Saturday in Muqdadiyah, northeast of Baghdad. It was the second such find since Thursday, when 37 bodies were found. …
We’ll see what actually develops. But one thing in the mix, according to CNN, is amnesty for the Mahdi army, for whatever has gone down over the last days.
This sure isn’t going to soothe Maliki’s nerves any:
… .. Sadr has urged his followers to abide by the truce. But the cleric does not want them to hand over weapons to the current Iraqi government, said Sheik Haider Jabiri, a member of Sadr’s political committee based in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.
You know, just in case the “ceasefire” doesn’t work out, always be prepared.
To put this all in political terms, Iraq is exhibit A for why we cannot allow a McCain presidency. I say this to everyone who has emailed or commented that McCain’s their man if Clinton doesn’t get the nomination, which I’ve also heard from Obama’s supporters; or that they’ll sit this one out. I also respect that it’s your vote and that is has to be won. But it’s simply not good for our country or the foreign policy we need to re-establish after Bush-Cheney. Consider the consequences.
Then answer this question if you’re one of the Democrats thinking about voting for McCain, if your candidate doesn’t win the nomination: What would U.S. foreign policy look like under John McCain; what would our diplomatic efforts be under another Republican administration?
