US struggles in "out of control" Iraq, experts say

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030829/wl_afp/iraq_us&cid=1512&ncid=1473

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The bomb attack on the holy city of Najaf in Iraq (news - web sites) dealt a new blow to US hopes of bringing stability to the country as well as killing a key moderating influence on the Iraqi Shiite community, US experts said.

Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim, a leading Shiite Muslim cleric, was among at least 82 people killed in the car bomb set off outside the Tomb of Ali, one of the Islamic world's most important shrines.

Coming barely 10 days after the truck bomb that killed 23 people at the UN offices in Baghdad, including the UN special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, US and British of stabilising Iraq now look even more forelorn.

"Things are going rotten, we are seeing a degradation for which there appears to be no remedy," said Simon Serfaty, a specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

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[Beetwasher]

1. Finally, an article that details al-Hakim's collaborationist links

That was what this bombing was about. The perceived US collaborators are being taken out. This situation is out of control ugly...

[Rollins]

8. yes I agree

Not only was he preaching for the "democratization' of Iraq but he was, until resently, in exhile. In other words an outsider. The Iraqi people don't like outsiders very well right now.

Just a theory but I'm betting Chalibi bes watch his back or leave that country soon.

[alfredo]

2. Saying "I told you so" brings no

joy.

[gratuitous]

5. You're right, it doesn't bring any joy

But I will not stop advocating against war, just because people are still too thick to understand that war almost never obtains its stated objectives, and always results in damage that cannot be undone without further violence.

Every time another stupid war gets started, a few more people say, "But this won't work; it never works." Heck, that segment of our society may even be a majority right now, I don't know. Someday, I hope we learn a new strategy for dealing with our differences, and I'll keep working toward that hope.

Lord, help me to say "Remember last time" instead of "I told you so."

[JPace]

3. Well what do we do.......

The country is imploding and will
continue to do so, nothing is going
to stop it. So what do we do.....

(A) Ship over another 150,000 troops for
additional targets for terrorists and
unhappy Iraqi citizens. Then after a
year or two and the loss of thousands
of troops we leave.

(B) Hand the country over to the people
of Iraq to sort out among themselves
and bring our troops home now.

I vote for (B)

[wryter2000]

6. Add C), and I'm with you

C) Send them bunches of money to help out. We'd still save over continuing this war.

[Judi Lynn]

4. So there is the customary scape goat, of course!

(snip) Though no claim of responsibility was made, the attack came only three days after the Al-Arabiya satellite television channel broadcast a video of masked men threatening members of the interim governing council and those who support it.


The United States responded to the broadcast with fury.


Highlighting US fears that the message would be heard in Iraq, a State Department spokesman said it was "irresponsible in the extreme" to give a stage to the threats and plans of "these masked terrorists". (snip)

Yep, this must be Al-Arabiya's fault. How dare they!

[underpants]

7. If only someone had warned about this BEFORE the "war"

Oh wait they did, milions in the streets and many people (experts) knowledgeable about the region.

I guess the OSP justplum forgot to mention that in their reports.

[NNN0LHI]

9. Little boots called the millions who were right a "focus group" n/t

[mapster]

12. "Little Boots"

Do you think Georgie is as crazy (and evil) as Caligula? :evilgrin:

[gratuitous]

10. Oh yeah?

Well why didn't those smartskis tell anybody? You know, get on the teevee or somethin'. Sure, they say now they were right then, but where were they when it could have done some good?

It's just like the librul media to clam up and let our great president step on his dick like that.

{Sigh} I miss Bob Boudelang when his column doesn't run on Friday.

[underpants]

11. Oh no we can't have dissent at a time of WAR

I'll bet Donahue would had those experts on and Crossfire too. We apparently also have informed debate.

Actually they were on but only a tiny little bit.

[Gman]

13. HE NEVER SAID "MAJOR COMBAT"!!!! ARGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

From the article:

"There have been virtually daily attacks on US forces since President George W. Bush (news - web sites) declared the end of major combat in Iraq on May 1."

THE MEDIA IS ASSIMILATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gman]

14. HE NEVER SAID "MAJOR COMBAT"!!!! ARGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

From the article:

"There have been virtually daily attacks on US forces since President George W. Bush (news - web sites) declared the end of major combat in Iraq on May 1."

THE MEDIA IS ASSIMILATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!