I understand about Basra, but the Sadr’s supporters are trying to widen the concflict and that simply cannot be allowed to happend. Fortunately, it looks like most of the conflict is occurring between rival Shiite factions, and doesn’t appear to risk dragging the Sunnis back into fighting.
Yep, thats the reason Sadr is trying to expand the fighting-he wants the government crackdown to end. The funny thing is the libs and anti-war types who keep complaining the central government will not crack down on their fellow shiites are now looking at this violence as a negative. HELLO!!! They are doing EXACTLY what you were complaining they weren’t doing!!!
I’m sure things are relatively calm at drug houses compared to the violence that occurs when the cops show up in tactical gear and surround the place. As a neighbor, you don’t curse the cops about the “increased violence”, you praise them and say “its about damn time”.