Posted on 09/11/2011 12:30:25 PM PDT by AfricanChristian
(Reuters) - Iraq's fiercely anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Sunday called on his followers to suspend attacks against U.S. troops to ensure they leave Iraq by a year-end deadline.
But the Shi'ite cleric, whose Mehdi Army militia fought U.S. forces until 2008, warned that if they did not depart on time, military operations would resume and be "very severe."
"Because of my eagerness to accomplish the independence of Iraq and have the invader forces withdraw from our holy land, it has become imperative for me to stop military operations ... until the invader forces complete their withdrawal," Sadr said in a statement read out by his spokesman Salah al-Ubaidi.
"If not, the military operation will start again and with new approaches, and it will be very severe."
American troops are scheduled to withdraw fully by December 31, more than eight years after the 2003 invasion, but Iraq's leaders are currently negotiating with the United States on whether to retain U.S. military trainers beyond 2011.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Israel will be forced to go nuclear. I hope they can wait until Perry or Palin or this world is in big trouble. This will make all of Israel's wars look like paintball.
If other countries are watching how we handle our business. Fine. Let them watch us try to solve things diplomatically and peacefully. If not. let them watch the full wrath of the US military, something similar to ‘THE WRATH OF GOD”, turn whatever country is that stupid and turn it into a pile of rubble. What this country needs more than ever are the men of the WWII generation. Men who knew that one American life was equal to a whole city of the bad guys. SpecOps and diplomacy have their time and place. I’ll take a few MOAB’s and some M1 Abrams any day of the week.
Everyone knows the Americans have a short attention span, no memory, no will, no principals. In another five years some US business will be doing deals with this guy that has American blood on his hands (As GE in Iran, Walmart cloths made in Vietnam...). If the business interests and the sums are large enough, American politicians will take campaign contributions and watch tanks roll over people as they sign a “most favorable trade status” for China.
This guy should have been pushing up daisies a long time. He is directly responsible for numerous US and allied casualties.
Ain't going to happen, sorry to tell you that. America has a talent for getting the "kinetics" right, but the politics wrong. The same mistakes that were made in Vietnam are being repeated in Afghanistan and Iraq - a failure to understand the politics.
Consider Pakistan, as long as you are in Afghanistan, you cannot do without Pakistan. But Pakistan has a vested interest in propping up the Taliban because they want the Taliban to keep Afghanistan away from the influence of India.
How are you going to solve a problem like Pakistan? Invade and occupy? Iraq was difficult and Iraq's population is barely 30 million, Pakistan's population is 187 million and you cannot invade Pakistan without involving Iran and China. Are you sure want to risk engaging the PLA, giving Al Qaeda its first nuclear weapon and maiming scores brave American service men and women?
Land invasion is not feasible, what to do? Nuke Pakistan. You nuke Pakistan, Pakistan nukes American interests in Pakistan and the Persian Gulf, the price of oil rises to $500 dollar a barrel, stock market collapses, the economy nose dives and the Chinese call in for their $1.3 trillion.
The smartest thing to do is to pull out of Afghanistan (Osama is dead) and switch strategic partnership from Pakistan to India - that keeps both China and Pakistan on their toes. (You have the million man Indian Army behind you and a better strategic position in South West Asia).
At some point, you've got to realise that even though your Navy and Airforce are unrivaled, most humans live on land and there is a limit to what the US Army and the US Marines can do.
That is what I meant by playing your cards well diplomatically.
Ain't going to happen, sorry to tell you that. America has a talent for getting the "kinetics" right, but the politics wrong. The same mistakes that were made in Vietnam are being repeated in Afghanistan and Iraq - a failure to understand the politics.
Consider Pakistan, as long as you are in Afghanistan, you cannot do without Pakistan. But Pakistan has a vested interest in propping up the Taliban because they want the Taliban to keep Afghanistan away from the influence of India.
How are you going to solve a problem like Pakistan? Invade and occupy? Iraq was difficult and Iraq's population is barely 30 million, Pakistan's population is 187 million and you cannot invade Pakistan without involving Iran and China. Are you sure want to risk engaging the PLA, giving Al Qaeda its first nuclear weapon and maiming scores brave American service men and women?
Land invasion is not feasible, what to do? Nuke Pakistan. You nuke Pakistan, Pakistan nukes American interests in Pakistan and the Persian Gulf, the price of oil rises to $500 dollar a barrel, stock market collapses, the economy nose dives and the Chinese call in for their $1.3 trillion.
The smartest thing to do is to pull out of Afghanistan (Osama is dead) and switch strategic partnership from Pakistan to India - that keeps both China and Pakistan on their toes. (You have the million man Indian Army behind you and a better strategic position in South West Asia).
At some point, you've got to realise that even though your Navy and Airforce are unrivaled, most humans live on land and there is a limit to what the US Army and the US Marines can do.
That is what I meant by playing your cards well diplomatically.
Exactly what the Taliban are doing, they are making life as uncomfortable as possible for the US military and waiting for the US to lose patience.
If the US turns the heat up, no problem. They’ll simply slip across the border and head to any ISI location of their choice in Pakistan for some R&R.
It is so sad!
I suspect that is one of zero’s goals.
That guy is overdue for his appointment to take delivery of his dirt nap...
You’re right. Mookie should be worm food.
Maybe someone in our Gov’t is protecting this swine.
I think I detect the foul odor of the U.S. State Department here.
Yup, the State Department definitely NEVER has the welfare of Americans in mind.
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