White House responds to Shiite militia takeover of Baghdad

[Cocoa]

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/08/11/white-house-behind-the-curve-on-iraq/

Q: Trent, the mayor of Baghdad says he’s been deposed by armed gunmen and replaced by a member of a Shiite militia. Is the President aware of that? Is it a point of concern for the administration, in terms of how Baghdad is being run?

MR. DUFFY: I don’t have anything for you on that, Bill. I can check into it.

[madeline_con]

1. Is there no TV or papers in Crawford?

These people never cease to amaze me with the depth of their stupidity!!!

[Incitatus]

2. old news

This is old news.:sarcasm:

[DistressedAmerican]

3. My Head Just Exploded. The Media In This Country Is So Full Of Shit!

We have totally LOST CONTROL of the Iraqi capital and they claim they do not know about???

What the fuck are they doing?

Oh yeah, just as they have always done, lying like the fucking that they are!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

4. This is why it is sooooo IMPORTANTE for ALL of us to go to Crawford

We are on to you you fuckers!
Big fat sour neocon fuckers

[Cocoa]

5. similar deadpan response from Trent's counterpart in Iraq

http://en1.chinabroadcast.cn/2239/2005-8-11/[e-mail]

When asked whether the Iraqi prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a politician with another Shiite Islamic party, Dawa, was concerned about developments at the municipality, a spokesman, Laith Kubba, said, "My guess is, yes, he is."

[NewJeffCT]

6. geez, is this for real?

this is huge news if it is.

[PatriotGames]

7. I thought the Shiites were on our side?!?!?! LOL J/K

[Eloriel]

11. NO ONE is on our side in Iraq

No one that I know of, anyway.

[donco6]

8. I saw that two days ago and have been waiting for something -

but nothing in the press. Nothing. Abso-fricking-lutely nothing. It's almost incomprehensible.

[greyl]

9. The SCIRI were in opposition to Saddam

And they're funded by Iran.

How do the civilians in Iraq feel about this?

http://www.iraqinews.com/party_supreme_council_for_islamic_revolution_in_iraq.shtml
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/sciri.htm

[greyl]

10. Story from 2003

The Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq is among several Iraqi opposition groups recognized by the Bush administration for inclusion in discussions about Iraq's future, even though some in the administration regard the group with deep suspicion because of its close ties with the Iranian government. The group's Badr Brigade, a force of about 10,000 men, received training and support from the Iranian government, American officials say.

Nevertheless, the group has declined two American invitations to participate in sessions intended to lead to the formation of an interim government. Hamid al-Bayati, the group's representative in London, said in a telephone interview today that the organization would not send an emissary to the next meeting, to be held in Baghdad on Saturday, because it mistrusted the American sponsorship role.

"If they are talking about democracy, they should leave the Iraqi people to organize themselves," Mr. Bayati said.

Ayatollah Hakim, from his base in Iran, called on Shiites last week to converge on the holy city of Karbala as part of the pilgrimage "to oppose a U.S.-led interim administration and defend Iraq's independence."
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3081FFD355E0C708EDDAD0894DB404482

[Eloriel]

12. Needs a kick

:kick:

I think the Cindy Sheehan phenomenon is vitally important, but I also think it's a real shame when things going on on OUR side also serve as distractions to some of the other important news of the day.