Iraq - Car bomb in Iraqi Shi'ite city, casualties -witness

Reuters (excerpt) ^ | December 30, 2006

[Irish Eyes]

Once Maliki gets it into his head that his Iranian buddies (Shiite militias) need to be dealt with severely, I expect things will improve drastically

Is Maliki up to the task in your opinion ?

[onyx]

Are you still stateside?

[DrGunsforHands]

The real question is, will they say if it's not? Or even issue a retraction?

[Mo1]

I hear ya

I had the TV on mute and only saw the video and not what was being said

[Allegra]

Is Maliki up to the task in your opinion ?

He's kind of hamstrung. It's Sadr who keeps him propped up.

But the Iraqi people (including the Shiites) are getting fed up with the militias, as are many high ranking members of the Iraqi Parliament, so something's going to have to give. The next couple of months should be interesting.

[Mo1]

CNN is now showing lots of dancing in the streets .. but also saying there will be more violence

[Allegra]

Yep. For a couple more weeks.

I've been instant-messaging with my co-workers and friends back "home" and getting all the unfiltered stuff.

[onyx]

I'm back to watching. I think the insurgents and the always violent were not prepared for his execution today since the reports were saying Sunday.

Bloody Sunday......?

[onyx]

I'm relieved you're here and appreciate the information you're providing to us.

[Allegra]

CNN is now showing lots of dancing in the streets .. but also saying there will be more violence

Well, CNN certainly hopes there will be more violence. They'll play everything as a reaction to the Saddam execution now, even though Baghdad has been in a ramped-up violence phase since early November.

[onyx]

Their *hope* is really evident tonight.

[Irish Eyes]

Thanks for your insight. He seems weak to me, but I also know that he is in a very difficult position. Do not envy the man.

[HAL9000]

Reuters - Car bomb in Iraq's Kufa kills 30 - ministry source