Another reason for us to get out of Iraq

A story in today’s Times outlines U.S. efforts to create a new governing alliance that would sidestep the powerful and popular cleric Maktadr al-Sadr. The problem, as anyone reading between the lines in the story can make out, is that isolating Sadr is likely to lead to stepped up violence and a further fracturing of the fractured nation.

Read these paragraphs:

Officials involved in the talks say their aim is not to undermine Mr. Maliki, but to isolate both Mr. Sadr and firebrand Sunni Arab politicians inside the government. Mr. Sadr controls a militia, the Mahdi Army, with an estimated 60,000 fighters that has rebelled twice against the American military and is accused of widening the sectarian war with reprisal killings of Sunni Arabs.

***

Any plan to form a political alliance across sectarian lines that isolates Mr. Sadr and Sunni Arab extremists carries enormous risks. American and Iraqi officials have worked to try to persuade Mr. Sadr to use political power instead of armed force to bring about change in Iraq. Though it is unclear whether Mr. Sadr has total control over his militia, he could ignite another rebellion like the two he led in 2004 if he thinks he is being marginalized within the government.

***

Sunni Arab politicians not involved in the talks said they are furious at the proposed alliance.

The road ahead seems dark, doesn’t it?

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet