Iranian-backed militia groups take control of much of southern Iraq

Knight Ridder ^ | May 26 2006 | TOM LASSETER

[jmc1969]

Southern Iraq, long touted as a peaceful region that's likely to be among the first areas returned to Iraqi control, is now dominated by Shiite Muslim warlords and militiamen who are laying the groundwork for an Islamic fundamentalist government, say senior British and Iraqi officials in the area.

The militias appear to be supported by Iranian intelligence or military units that are shipping weapons to the militias in Iraq and providing training for them in Iran.

Some British officials believe the Iranians want to hasten the withdrawal of U.S.-backed coalition forces to pave the way for Iran-friendly clerical rule.

Iranian influence is evident throughout the area. In one government office, an aide approached a Knight Ridder reporter and, mistaking him for an Iranian, said, "Don't be afraid to speak Farsi in Basra. We are a branch of Iran."

"We get an idea that (military training) courses are being run" in Iran, said Lt. Col. David Labouchere, who commands British units in the province of Maysan, north of Basra. "People are training on the other side of the border and then coming back."

British military officials suspect that the missile that was used to shoot down a British helicopter over Basra on May 6 came from Iran. Five British soldiers died.

"We had intelligence suggesting five surface-to-air missile systems being brought over from Iran only seven days before it went down," said Maj. Rob Yuill, a British officer based in Basra.

Yuill said that the information suggested that the missiles were destined for the Mahdi Army, the militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Another Sadr official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from other Sadrists, said that while the Mahdi Army wasn't responsible, "the missile was shot by an Iranian-trained group."

[A CA Guy]

It's clobbering time again.

[Quark606]

Oh dear, I suppose our troops will just have to waste a few more perfectly good missiles on these guys.

[A CA Guy]

Not to mention our new death ray...

[bnelson44]

What kind of INTEL is this????

[SE Mom]

When you wake up and have a cuppa - let us know if you're hearing anything about this...

[Fudd Fan]

I say turn Iran into the world's largest box of kitty litter.

[A CA Guy]

They haven't all gotten to the point of deserving to be treated that way yet, but they are pushing it I must agree.

We will send them a warning in the form of DVDs of the Jennifer Lopez HBO special.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

If they do not turn away, we'll hijack the Al-Jazeera feed and broadcast "Gigli" around the clock until they submit.

[A CA Guy]

Her HBO special was better, because she gets all disgusing and sweaty while singing out of tune.

The only fans of her I've seen are various pet dogs that seem to like to watch her.

[Darkwolf377]

Shouldn't this be, like, breaking news on all the networks and websites...?

[Fudd Fan]

JLO? Now THAT is cruel.

[jmc1969]

This has been a growing problem for a long time. The Brits because of domestic politics haven't been able to take the steps necessary to keep Iran and the militias from slowly taking over Basra.

[MaDeuce]

Where the Hell is Patton! Do we need to pay for the same ground TWICE!!

Friggen Bush! Fight this thing like a WAR GOD DAMNIT!!
J.H.C!!!!

[llevrok]

The Brits because of domestic politics haven't been able to take the steps

So, as with Vietnam, we are fighting a war run by politicians and lobbyists.

I've felt that for a couple years now.

[Darkwolf377]

I guess I'm talking about the way the story was written. I'm aware of the British bungling, and it's curious, the MSM would be portraying this MUCH differently were this the US military.

[jmc1969]

Certainly it is true that we haven't had enough troops, but that hasn't been the biggest mistake.

The biggest mistake has been turning our Army into a peacekeeping force while the Iranians, Sadr, the Saddamists, and al-Qaeda are playing for keeps. We need to shut them down hard and soon.

[Max in Utah]

Ping.

[Hugin]

We can never win this war while the mullahs rule Iran. We need to remove them now, while we still can.

[Marine_Uncle]

Much of what you comment replied on to a few folks would have been in my feedback.
Since the 2003 invasion, it has been clear the south was not "covered" the same way more resistive provinces where. Our British counterparts probably should have had triple the ground forces. Obviously there are dozens of towns in the southern region that are not under the influence of the US/Coalition forces.
It has stayed quite rather benign in appearance with only the occasional flare ups. Meanwhile the Badr Brigade and Mahdi Army working with the Iranians have been setting up shop.
The Spanish, Ukrainian, Polish, Italian forces simply where not adequate to cover that large southern region, outside the immediate jurisdiction of the British Army.
All those towns leading upward on the eastern border toward Kut, are probably under control of the two above mentioned militias. And obvious to some, their influence goes northward along the eastern part of the country into Kurdish land.
I for one fear, a lot of still hidden weapon caches are along these part of the country, and if the Iraqi Government decides to go after the two major militias big time, we may be in for some terrible fighting, obvioulsy encouraged and aided by Iran.
Then again. If the militias are forced to stand down and loss face. Who knows. They may be able to be disbanded with the promise that their adherents can join the new Iraqi Army , be trained as all to date, buy mostly American troops, and then form say a division or two in the southern region.
So perhaps things as usual can look very bleak, only to then turn around and show some promise for the continued movement to end this bloody insurgency in all it's forms.
I am still a bit optimistic. We all for the most part have had our share of knee jerking on some things, only to see things appear to work out, or at least not get worse on a grand scale.