tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post8746993104342468551..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: Premier Maliki Lashes Out At His Political Rivals In The Iraqi National MovementJoel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-37542143862451400782011-12-22T07:50:24.249-08:002011-12-22T07:50:24.249-08:00The Sadrists are by far Maliki's strongest sup...The Sadrists are by far Maliki's strongest supporters. In return, he's given them the most ministries, released a bunch of his militiamen and taken in some into the security forces.<br /><br />The SIIC is a little different. They're a shell of their former self, the Badr Brigade is going to officially break from them, and they've been erratically trying to forge their own path since the 2010 election. About half the time they stand with Maliki and the other thalf they oppose him.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-28625572855757982582011-12-22T07:42:02.688-08:002011-12-22T07:42:02.688-08:00Yep 2008 was a year of hope for Iraq, violence gre...Yep 2008 was a year of hope for Iraq, violence greatly reduced, Maliki went after the miltias etc.<br /><br />But he subsequently changed tack in the run up to the elections and took an anti-'baathist' platform, which essentially targeted Sunnis politicians. His voters after that were almost exclusively Shiite Arabs. Nowadays he seems on better terms with the Sadrists and SIIC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-35340351535983756762011-12-22T06:46:30.335-08:002011-12-22T06:46:30.335-08:00Anon, in 2008 Maliki tried to portray himself as a...Anon, in 2008 Maliki tried to portray himself as an Iraqi nationalist by first going after the militias in Basra and Maysan, and then launching operations in Ninewa and Diyala against insurgents. That greatly increased his standing in the country and helped lead to him running alone with his State of Law list in the 2009 and 2010 elections, rather than with the rest of the Shiite parties. <br /><br />Beginning with the Diyala campaign, which went after the Iraqi Islamic Party and the Sons of Iraq there, and since then, he's pretty much focused upon expanding his own personal power and that of the Dawa Party, which is what he was doing before 2008 as well.<br /><br />Just trying to say for that year, 2008, Maliki was presenting a different image of himself, that pointed towards non-sectarianism and Iraqi nationalism.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-6126695497154232032011-12-22T02:29:22.737-08:002011-12-22T02:29:22.737-08:00Interesting to see the subtle differences in the w...Interesting to see the subtle differences in the way the news was reported by Press TV, CNN etc. <br /><br />Steve I'm surprised you mention reconciliation to this article. The sad thing is that Iraqis supporting Maliki (or most other Iraqi politicians for that matter) couldn't care less if he lies, renegades on promises, carries out intimidation campaigns or arrests members of the opposition. If anything they might support him for it. As long as it's directed against Iraqis not part of their ethnic, religious or political group. He would not have won the last election otherwise; reconciliation would be the death of Malikis political career.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-40233277246929427952011-12-20T12:37:13.321-08:002011-12-20T12:37:13.321-08:00I remembered in 2008 mapping and flagging all the ...I remembered in 2008 mapping and flagging all the mass killings (that were known then), and beginning to understand the scope of pain and score-settling still unresolved.<br /><br />Reconciliation is never easy, but could only start now, and only within Iraq.<br /><br />US involvement delayed, but did not displace, the need for that process.Steve Donnelly, AICPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11707306512563808960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-91516115872690711212011-12-20T12:10:19.603-08:002011-12-20T12:10:19.603-08:00Yes, I'm waiting to see how far this all goes ...Yes, I'm waiting to see how far this all goes as well.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-24881381293396177762011-12-20T12:07:53.646-08:002011-12-20T12:07:53.646-08:00Excellent recap.
Fingers crossed for the Iraqi pe...Excellent recap.<br /><br />Fingers crossed for the Iraqi people.Steve Donnelly, AICPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11707306512563808960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-25375976688347487722011-12-20T10:05:05.070-08:002011-12-20T10:05:05.070-08:00More on this story. First, the confessions of Hash...More on this story. First, the confessions of Hashemi's bodyguards were finally aired on Iraqi TV. Second, Hashemi stayed in Kurdistan after meeting with Kurdish Pres. Barzani, and said he would not leave while there is an arrest warrant for him.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.com