False Sense of Security
Big push into Sadr City is underway, with some squawking by pols but no shooting. The AP is of the opinion that the Mahdi Army’s cooperation is vital to the success of this operation. I’d suggest that the Mahdi Army’s cooperation will render it a failure, if they are allowed to run away and live to murder and terrorize the population another day. A lot of strange characterizations of events that don’t jive with my recollection:
Al-Sadr withdrew his militia under intense pressure from the government, but there were worries that a large-scale military push without political clearance could bring a backlash and jeopardize the entire security effort.
Strange there are no quotes whatsoever to back up any of that. All the general says is “the really bad folks have gone into hiding.” Which sounds a little like he’s disappointed.
I’m scratching my head, but can only grudging pressure on al-Sadr from the government, which had to be dragged along kicking and griping. Al-Sadr and his militia seemed to get the surge message on their own, ditched their uniforms, hid their weapons and bolted early on. Al-Sadr’s extended absence is not mentioned by the AP except obliquely in that general’s general quote. His influence is instead discussed as though he were physically present.
The Mahdi Army’s cooperation is essential to keep the plan from derailing, but al-Sadr has complained about the heavy U.S. role in the raids and its inability to stop car bombs and other attacks blamed on Sunni insurgent groups.
Again, no support for the “cooperation is essential” assertion.
Some observations by Omar at Iraq the Model:
The Mehdi army is not responding to the (Sadr City) raids with fire, but they are trying to undermine the security plan by spreading rumors about alleged crimes committed by US soldiers, specifically against the Shia. The latest of these rumors was a ridiculous one I heard yesterday from a taxi driver from Sadr city. His story, quite similar to one told by a Sadr city council member, is that US soldiers are raiding Shia homes, arresting innocent civilians, and then dumping them at night near strongholds of Sunni insurgents, blindfolded and handcuffed so that the insurgents would find them defenseless and slaughter them!
The Mahdi Army remains the enemy, and whatever deals US and Iraqi forces and pols may have cut with them, sooner or later they have to be dealt with. OK, for some good news, including a new Giuliani-like “quality of life” push:
Violent incidents are still decreasing in number and impact in Baghdad. Yesterday for instance the only reported incident was the abduction of an adviser to the minister of defense by gunmen in western Baghdad. It was less than 24 hours until the security forces succeeded in freeing the abducted general and arresting 4 of his captors.
Elsewhere in the capital the troops are using not only guns and Humvees, but also shovels and bulldozers. In areas such as Karrada and Palestine Street Iraqi soldiers and workers of the Baghdad municipal services are working on removing trespasses on public property and irregular roadblocks set by locals at earlier times. The measure sparked anger and dismay among some people whose businesses were damaged because the bulldozers also removed irregular kiosks and stalls.
An Iraqi officer explained the decision yesterday by saying that those illegal roadblocks and trespasses were making it difficult for the troops to quickly reach areas where intervention is needed.
Other law enforcement officials are also getting more serious in doing their job. Traffic cops who would normally stop a suspicious vehicle only if it passed by their post are now riding their motorbikes and chasing suspected vehicles down highways and other streets.This is an indication that Imposing Law does not mean only sending soldiers to kill terrorists. It is reaching out to deal with other aspects of mess and to counter relatively “benign” violations-like breaking the “odd and even” traffic rule, defensive irregular roadblocks and unlicensed kiosks and stalls-by providing protection for the personnel of civilian departments while they do their job.
Topics: Iraq
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:16 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2007
5 Responses to “False Sense of Security”
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March 5th, 2007 at 1:51 am
Sadr City Sweep Underway, Major Action In Anbar,AQI Head Captured Or Another False Alarm? (Updated)
Coalition Forces Move Into Sadr CityGreyhawk (And other news from the first four days of March in Iraq) A new phase in the Baghdad security plan begins: Hundreds of U.S. soldiers entered the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City on Sunday
March 5th, 2007 at 5:30 am
If ever one wanted to create a single symbol of all that went wrong in Iraq, al-Sadr would do nicely–from not destroying him and his merry band of murderers at the Mosque, to inviting him (and other, less powerful clones) into the government, to allowing him to run roughshod over his own little fiefdom these past couple of years, he serves as a lesson we’ve yet to learn.
March 5th, 2007 at 6:25 am
I would prefer this militia was just destroyed, but if they run away and the territory is held it will become more and more difficult for them to regain their old positions. The people will find out what life is life without them. That is the idea.
March 5th, 2007 at 11:03 am
The more important question is whether Moqtada is a symptom. His power base comes from a “world class” Ghetto called Sadr City. Just as Charlie Rangel’s power base comes from another “World Class” Ghetto called Harlem.
The residents of Ghettos will gravitate to whatever leader they percieve is providing for their basic needs. The Government of Iraq needs to establish in the minds of Sadr City residents that their basic needs will be provided for with or without Moqtada. Once that is done, Moqtada is irrelevant.
March 5th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
The lesson here is clear, whether it will be heeded or not: Go after the enemy, fearlessly, with all you’ve got, and he will give up, or run and hide. If he hides, wait him out, dare him to emerge, kill him if he does. If he doesn’t, then wait until he runs out of patience or resources, and then kill him. The ultimate goal is to kill him, and this can be physically or politically, either way, he is effectively dead.