Analysts: (Hadley)Memo not realistic, Leaked doc. on ideas...seen as problematic

[maddezmom]

SUGGESTIONS BY BUSH'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
Analysts: Memo not realistic
Leaked document on ideas for ending strife in Iraq seen as problematic
JONATHAN S. LANDAY AND NANCY A. YOUSSEF
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to implement most of the key ideas for quelling the unrest in Iraq that are outlined in a classified Nov. 8 memo to President Bush from National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, experts said Wednesday.

Trying to push anti-U.S. Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr out of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, as the memo suggests, would be throwing gasoline on a fire, they said.

Al-Sadr's party is the largest in parliament, with 32 seats, and al-Maliki became prime minister only with his support. Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia controls large parts of Baghdad and southern Iraq, and many Iraqi Shiites hail him as their only protection from attacks by rival Sunni Muslims.

"Sadr is aware of the considerable extent to which his forces ... constitute a significant part of the power in the streets, and there is no reason why he would simply want to surrender that leverage," said Paul Pillar, the former top U.S. intelligence analyst on the Middle East.

more:http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/16128011.htm?source=rss&channel=charlotte_news

[acmavm]

1. Calling Stephen Hadley an expert on anything other than

self-promotion is ridiculous.