Comments on: Iraq Voter Registration Drive Over

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:31:02 +0000

Actually, Michael, a stable Iraq would help to stabilize the world oil market which would be good for everyone’s economy. Most of the recent spikes are the result of stupid tricks by the Hedgemony that threaten oil producing areas.

Jack, the Sadrist have always been the people we should have been talking to, because they were the group that stayed behind in Iraq and opposed Saddam. We kept backing the ex-pat groups of the Iraqi National Congress which had no credibility with the people of Iraq. I don’t doubt we will do the same stupid thing when Cuba finally decides to become democratic. No matter how many times an idea is proven to be wrong, it keeps getting tried.

The Sadrist are the only Shi’ia group that still tries to communicate with Sunnis and Kurds, and the only group that really thinks the idea of Iraq as a single nation is a good idea. Bremer et al. kept listening to Chalabi, Malaki, and Hakim about Sadr, and attacked him. It was stupid and ill-informed from the start.

By: Jack K., the Grumpy Forester

Jack K., the Grumpy Forester — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:12:15 +0000

...I stumbled across this piece on the Time.com website that talks about just how sweeping was the victory that al Sadr achieved in the botched Basra offensive. Can't say that I disagree with any of it. The US, both up front and behind the scenes, has been trying to defeat, marginalize, and/or imprison al Sadr for the better part of four years, and the fruit of our efforts is that he is probably in a more politically advantageous position now than he ever has been...

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:45:28 +0000

I agree with this analysis. Iran is obviously interested in having peaceful and ideally friendly relations with its neighbor, and were it not for the US interference they might be able to help everyone sit down at the table and negotiate for something stable — but any such plan is not going to economically advantage the US right now.

If we are patient once we are ready to withdraw, I think all parties will be happy to help us out the door. I think under those circumstances we’d also have a seat at the table for at least diplomatic purposes, if not a deciding vote. If we wait until we are chased out we won’t have any say at all.