BAGHDAD — (WSJ) The showdown between Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr and the Iraqi government came to a halt this weekend after Mr. Sadr agreed to a truce brokered by Iran, a sign of Tehran’s growing influence in Iraqi politics.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121055198521683885.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news

(NYT) The Iraqi government and leaders of the movement of the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr agreed Saturday to a truce, brokered with help from Iran, that would end more than a month of bloody fighting in the vast, crowded Sadr City section of Baghdad.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?_r=2&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print

Judging from recent events in Iraq it’s just a matter of time before our influence in political events in Iraq lose significance or we fight Iran not be politically eclipsed. Either way, Iraq is caught in the middle of the tugofwar guaranteeing their instability and lack of self-determination. So, as time wears on, America’s patience will continue to wear thinner as money, blood and influence will be counted as waisted. This picture for the public will be clearer as we approach our election and Iraq’s one month earlier.

‘Winning’, ‘victory’, or ‘progress’ will grate defined as eternally stamping down a conflict; the prior months to the Iraq elections will succeed in illustrating it.

I’m also finding reports that Iran put pressure on Maliki to back-off on Sadr City.

Interesting, since Maliki/Iraqi forces told the Sadr City residents to get the f#@k out for a battle. Either he’s turning a tin ear to Tehran, or you do not know what constitutes “back off”.

Lastly, and more importantly, Sadr and his following are still politically viable. Those who follow this understand when all the other issues are brushed aside in this conflict at rock bottom found at the center of everything are the elections in Oct.

Much like the BS here in the States, eh?

Then perhaps you’ll spare us your prescient propaganda until after the election. Perhaps then Iraqis can, once more, prove to you and ilk their allegiences and intents. Will they choose to align with thugs, cartels and mafia? Or to their elected government.

I swear, you, Crittenden and pals ought to spend more time giving “atta boys” for the Iraq govt working to instill relative peace amongst their countrymen under their central (and soon to be local) governments. Instead you delight in using human collateral as signs of their failures and defeat, merely to feed your BDS.

And BTW, stop asking Iraq to be a crime free utopia. Even the US cannot achieve that. Freedom allows the equal co-existance of idiots, losers and criminal elements.

BTW, Crittenden made himself irrelevant when he chose to base his entire commentary on McClatchy news source. Good grief!

Technically JAM is made up of civilians, 60,000 or so of them. A total wipe out of JAM would indeed kill thousands of civilians even if it was just JAM members that died.

Hiding aging ammo in one’s home or office is not for the faint of heart and for Russian/Chinese weapons that could be years and not decades. Even the Afgan army wouldn’t handle the aged cartridges and explosives given to them by an U.S. contractor that bought the material from Eastern Europe.

Is Sadar still a political threat? Well it would world both ways. He would have 60,000 votes on his side and at the low level that’s enough to get some ministers and mayors elected, but he will also be seen as spoiling the reconstruction. Not only would he probably not have enough votes to get people to higher office, but people may join the police and military to counter JAM. Think of it as blacks and Jews joining the FBI to counter the KKK and other violent racist organizations. The Iraqis are probably not going to allow a “Hezbollah” in Iraq like Lebanon has to deal with.

I’m also finding reports that Iran put pressure on Maliki to back-off on Sadr City.

Another note in this affair is recalling Maliki had demanded before and during this conflict JAM be dissolved.

Then there is the issue JAM has four days to hide their weapons. That’s almost like permitting them to to keep them.

Lastly, and more importantly, Sadr and his following are still politically viable. Those who follow this understand when all the other issues are brushed aside in this conflict at rock bottom found at the center of everything are the elections in Oct.

Therefore, the current state of affairs are tensely strung between Sadr and Maliki, as Sadr is expected to win significantly in Oct. threatening the Parliamentary strength of the SIIC. With such high stakes at risk it’s highly doubtful this is settled until Oct.

jain: I agree with you. Our enemies don’t follow the same rules we do so he is not to be trusted. I hope it is true though.

“We’re not winning”

“We cannot win”