The Enigmatic Second Battle of Basra

26 March 2008

On the surface, the story may look plausible enough. A provincial city rich in oil degenerates into mafia-style conditions affecting the security of citizens as well as the national oil revenue; the central government intervenes to clean up. This is how many in the media have been reporting the latest clashes between government forces and militiamen in Basra: the Maliki government has launched a security operation with the single aim of getting rid of unruly militias. Pundits with ties to the Bush administration have added that these are essential "preparations" for this autumn’s provincial elections, or moves to forestall Iranian influence in Basra, or both.

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Plans for Redrawing the Middle East: The Project for a “New Middle East”

Please note how Iraq is divided in three parts: Sunni, Shia and Kurd...Read more

And then read this article of Dahr Jamal again.

Kaart toont plannen VS voor 'Het Nieuwe Midden-Oosten'

Ook lijkt de bloedige oorlog in Irak nauwkeurig de op deze kaart aangegeven doelstellingen na te streven, namelijk een opdeling van Irak in een Sunnitisch en een Shiitisch gedeelte, waarbij de pro-Amerikaanse Arabische Shia Staat de olierijke gebieden van de Saudische en Iraanse kust rond de Perzische Golf moet annexeren. Lees meer

Zie dus...Dahr Jamal

Flashback: Golden Mosque bombing...Who Benefits?

Who benefits from the Golden Mosque bombing? Who benefits from a divide between Iraqi Sunni and Shia muslims? Independent journalist Dahr Jamahl wrote about this attack, the profiteers and the consequences, on his blog. Read here

Wie profiteert er van de aanslag op de Gouden Moskee? Wie profiteert er van verdeeldheid tussen Iraakse Soennieten en Sjiiten? Onafhankelijk journalist Dahr Jamahl schreef over deze aanslag, de profiteurs en de gevolgen op zijn weblog. Lees hier

17 US soldiers captured by Mahdi Army in Basra (not confirmed yet)

News: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers……Update……

Reported, Abu Al-Khasib another city close to Basra, now under Mahdi Army control, Iraqi government calls special forces from Karbala led by Maliki’s “brothers in law” to move to Basra.

…….End update….

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Sadr militia battle troops in four Iraqi cities

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Moqtada al-Sadr's militiamen battled troops in four Iraqi cities on Tuesday, including the capital, as the hardline Shiite cleric threatened a countrywide campaign of civil revolt.

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Is "Success" Of Iraq Surge About To Unravel?

A cease-fire with Muqtada al Sadr and his loyalists in the Mahd army is showing signs of deterioration. The agreement, which has been critical to the improved security situation in Iraq, has shown signs of unraveling as his supporters shut down parts of Baghdad as part of a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience:

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