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America's allies in Iraq under pressure as civil war breaks out among Sunni
"A vicious civil war is now being fought within Iraq's Sunni Arab community between al-Qa'ida in Iraq and al-Sahwa while other groups continue to attack American forces. In Baghdad on a single day the head of al-Sahwa in the southern district of Dora was killed in his car by gunmen and seven others died by bombs and bullets in al-Adhamiya district.
US spokesmen speak of a "spike" in violence in recent weeks but in reality security in Sunni and Shia parts of Iraq has been deteriorating since January. The official daily death toll of civilians reached a low of 20 killed a day in that month and has since more than doubled to 41 a day in March. The US and the Iraqi government are now facing a war on two fronts.
The American-backed government of Nouri al-Maliki is in the meantime stepping up its campaign against the Mehdi Army militia of the anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Iraqi troops sealed off the Basra office of the Sadrists yesterday. "Troops from the Iraqi army prevented us from holding Friday prayers and now they are cordoning off the office," said Harith al-Idhari, the head of the office. "They want to storm it and clear everybody out of it." "A vicious civil war is now being fought within Iraq's Sunni Arab community between al-Qa'ida in Iraq and al-Sahwa while other groups ... more -
Iraq's PM threatens to bar Sadr from vote
Iraq's prime minister raised the stakes in his showdown with followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, saying they would be barred from elections unless their militia disbands.
"A decision was taken... that they no longer have a right to participate in the political process or take part in the upcoming elections unless they end the Mehdi Army," Mr Maliki said. "Solving the problem comes in no other way than dissolving the Mehdi Army," he said.
Sadr spokesman Salah al-Ubaidi rejected the ultimatum: "No one can intervene in the Mehdi Army; only those who established it and the religious leaders," he said.
Iraq's prime minister raised the stakes in his showdown with followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, saying they would be barred ... more -
Million man march in Iraq?
Enigmatic Shi'ite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr has again called for a million-man march in Iraq.
On Wednesday, April 9th, the march would mark the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Baghdad by US-led forces. Al-Sadr seeks to join all Iraq's ethnicities in a show of unity against the coalition of the increasingly unwilling, and as a rejection of signs of federalism, or sectarian division of Iraq.
'It is time you expressed your rejection of the unjust occupiers and raise your voices against them,' a message from Al-Sadr's office in Najaf stated.
Al-Sadr, in a recent interview with Al-Jazeera, rejected the idea of "liberation" because he claimed life was better under former President Saddam Hussein.
The recent cease-fire and call for peaceful demonstrations could be seen as an attempt to deescalate the recent surge of fighting; however, Al-Sadr said he supported "armed resistance" against US-led forces.
Al-Sadr has called for Million Man marches in previous years to mark the beginning of the occupation, as well as to show support for Lebanon during the July 2006 hostilities with Israel. Enigmatic Shi'ite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr has again called for a million-man march in Iraq. ... more -
McCain's security mistake
McCain has recently been conflating Iran with Al Qaeda--which is pretty implausible. That throws McCain's credentials on security into question. McCain has recently been conflating Iran with Al Qaeda--which is pretty implausible. That throws McCain's credentials on security into... more
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Ramadan in London
We follow Haidar and his young British Muslim friends as they finish 30 days of fasting from sunrise to sunset. We observe them talking about their experience of fasting over the previous month and about what its like to be an observant young Muslim in British society. We follow Haidar and his young British Muslim friends as they finish 30 days of fasting from sunrise to sunset. We observe them talkin... more
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How rosy is Iraq's future?
Civilian death tolls and the number of attacks are both falling, but is this really a good sign?
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Mixed News From Iraq
After a long stalemate on the political front in Iraq, some progress is finally being made. Unfortunately, it's been accompanied by an upswing in violence as more than 50 people died in a series of bombings and shooting across the country on Wednesday. Iraq's Sunni Vice President, Tariq al-Hashemi met with the country's highest ranking Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to review a 25 point plan aimed at ending the sectarian conflict and violence in the country through political reform. Ayatollah Sistani was said to be generally approving of the plan, which includes a "blanket pardon for Iraqis who took up arms against the government and the U.S.-led coalition forces in exchange for laying down their arms and joining the political process." After a long stalemate on the political front in Iraq, some progress is finally being made. Unfortunately, it's been accompanied by a... more
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Pilgrimage to Karbala Cut Short
The Iraqi government has ordered 1 million Shiite pilgrims to leave the southern city of Karbala after fighting between government security forces and militiamen (likely loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr) killed 26.As if that weren't enough, north of Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi forces were battling Sunni insurgents who had been blocking the flow of water to the Shiite town of Khalis. 33 insurgents were killed, but there was no word on Iraqi or U.S. forces casualties.And there's more - a suicide bombing at a mosque in Fallujah (a Sunni city west of Baghdad) on Monday night killed 11. The Iraqi government has ordered 1 million Shiite pilgrims to leave the southern city of Karbala after fighting between government sec... more
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A Divided Iraq?
Shiite pilgrims faced danger of attacks (which have killed 1 so far and wounded others) and snipers (1 victim so far) as they made their way to Karbala for a major religious ceremony. Plus, over the weekend, U.S. troops found an execution room and body dumping ground south of Baghdad. So far this month, 371 dead bodies have been found dumped around the city. That's just Baghdad, just this month.
Take a look at this blog posting that explores the idea of a North and South Iraq. Dividing a country often poses some serious problems. But on other occasions, it can be a very viable solution... Shiite pilgrims faced danger of attacks (which have killed 1 so far and wounded others) and snipers (1 victim so far) as they made the... more -
A Way of Mourning
From the rooftops of Lahore, Pakistan seems peaceful and at rest. But below, in the streets, it's a different story. It's the holy month of Muharram, and sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims is raging. Public officials have warned Shiites to limit their activity today, on Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram and the holiest day of their year-- and the embassy has warned Americans to stay away from proceedings in the old city.
Through a friend, we are given unfettered access and get a chance to witness a spectacle that few Westerners get to see up close. From the rooftops of Lahore, Pakistan seems peaceful and at rest. But below, in the streets, it's a different story. It's the holy mon... more
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Shiite-Sunni Conflict
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Shiite-Sunni Conflict
