Comments on: Will Muqtada and Ammar force the Next Prime Minister to Demand a US Withdrawal? Turnout Heavy with two Dozen Dead in early Election Violence http://www.juancole.com/2010/03/will-muqtada-and-ammar-force-next-prime.html Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:17:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: WomanforPeaceSanity http://www.juancole.com/2010/03/will-muqtada-and-ammar-force-next-prime.html#comment-2407 WomanforPeaceSanity Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:20:00 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=5017#comment-2407 "Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war." -John Adams<br /><br />There are still 97,000 u.S. troops in Iraq. Only 70,000 have been re-deployed to the Af-Pak war/occupation or sent home. What is going on? How many permanent military bases do we now have there? I know they are building 500-600 new ones in Afghanistan & Pakistan. The private contractors are the only American workers fully employed now. It is sickening, "Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war." -John Adams

There are still 97,000 u.S. troops in Iraq. Only 70,000 have been re-deployed to the Af-Pak war/occupation or sent home. What is going on? How many permanent military bases do we now have there? I know they are building 500-600 new ones in Afghanistan & Pakistan. The private contractors are the only American workers fully employed now. It is sickening,

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2010/03/will-muqtada-and-ammar-force-next-prime.html#comment-2405 Anonymous Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:59:01 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=5017#comment-2405 We must leave Iraq immediately and completely, but we will not be leaving only pretending to leave. We must leave Iraq immediately and completely, but we will not be leaving only pretending to leave.

]]> By: MonsieurGonzo http://www.juancole.com/2010/03/will-muqtada-and-ammar-force-next-prime.html#comment-2402 MonsieurGonzo Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:53:02 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=5017#comment-2402 <i>Nir Rosen</i> : “when the Sunni and Shiite happened.” was an exceptional read, Juan. Thank-you for posting it for us here on IC. Nir Rosen : “when the Sunni and Shiite happened.” was an exceptional read, Juan. Thank-you for posting it for us here on IC.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2010/03/will-muqtada-and-ammar-force-next-prime.html#comment-2401 Anonymous Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:06:53 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=5017#comment-2401 Seven years ago the US went to war in Iraq with this objective in mind: to expand US influence in the middle east by creating a client state sympathetic to US economic and geopolitical interests.<br /><br />The effort proved amateurish, at best. Seven years after shock and awe, if I understand this blog correctly, Iraq has not fully accepted the role the neo-cons had in mind for it. Instead, Iraq seems to be drifting away from its US alliance and toward an Iranian alliance of some kind. It seems to be drifting away from a US vision of democracy and more toward an Iranian vision; i.e., not much at all.<br /><br />There are US policy makers and influencers now suggesting the US should stay longer in Iraq. Delay the withdrawal (assuming the Iraqi’s would permit it). Because of Iranian influence. But based on what? A better understanding? Is there really any evidence that we now have a better understanding of Iraq than we had on shock and awe day? Or are we just pounding more sand down a rat hole? Seven years ago the US went to war in Iraq with this objective in mind: to expand US influence in the middle east by creating a client state sympathetic to US economic and geopolitical interests.

The effort proved amateurish, at best. Seven years after shock and awe, if I understand this blog correctly, Iraq has not fully accepted the role the neo-cons had in mind for it. Instead, Iraq seems to be drifting away from its US alliance and toward an Iranian alliance of some kind. It seems to be drifting away from a US vision of democracy and more toward an Iranian vision; i.e., not much at all.

There are US policy makers and influencers now suggesting the US should stay longer in Iraq. Delay the withdrawal (assuming the Iraqi’s would permit it). Because of Iranian influence. But based on what? A better understanding? Is there really any evidence that we now have a better understanding of Iraq than we had on shock and awe day? Or are we just pounding more sand down a rat hole?

]]> By: Alexno http://www.juancole.com/2010/03/will-muqtada-and-ammar-force-next-prime.html#comment-2400 Alexno Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:41:36 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=5017#comment-2400 <i>My interviews with Sunni Arab Iraqis in Jordan suggest to me that that community is dejected and feels defeated, and is not looking foward to more violence.</i><br /><br />I'm sure you're right. I've been saying it on these comments for getting on for two years now.<br /><br />What puzzles me though, is why then are you continuing to attribute the bombings to Sunnis (al-Qa'ida, Ba'athists), when the big issue for de-stabilisation is the Kurds, who need to keep Baghdad weak? It is very easy to knock up a claim of Sunni responsibility on Flujaweb.<br /><br />Though, of course, it is doubtful that all the bombings come from the same source. My interviews with Sunni Arab Iraqis in Jordan suggest to me that that community is dejected and feels defeated, and is not looking foward to more violence.

I'm sure you're right. I've been saying it on these comments for getting on for two years now.

What puzzles me though, is why then are you continuing to attribute the bombings to Sunnis (al-Qa'ida, Ba'athists), when the big issue for de-stabilisation is the Kurds, who need to keep Baghdad weak? It is very easy to knock up a claim of Sunni responsibility on Flujaweb.

Though, of course, it is doubtful that all the bombings come from the same source.

]]>