Off-topic post — (relatively) good news from Iraq
May 30, 2004This is an unusually optimistic perspective on the recent fighting, which has generally sounded like a dismal failure in most media reportage: “Subtle strategy, lethal tactics pushed Iraqi cleric into deal” (from the Chicago Tribune, by Bill Glauber, via Yahoo! News)
What is clear is this: U.S. forces pushed Sadr’s fighters into two final strongholds in Kufa and Najaf by the end of last week and brought the U.S. to the cusp of solving one of the thorniest problems before the June 30 hand-over of limited power to the Iraqi people.My feelings about Iraq are very mixed.
Regardless of whether the cease-fire holds, American commanders say they inflicted maximum damage to Sadr’s organization while limiting damage and civilian casualties in urban environments. . . .
Even while operating in some of the holiest cities and around some of the holiest shrines in Islam, the U.S. in its offensive against Sadr did not inflame Iraq’s wider Shiite Muslim population. It also has succeeded in isolating Sadr, the son of a martyred man with a revered family name.
“It was pretty clear he was trying to take what was a fairly small–let’s call it narrow–uprising [and] was trying to expand it to a popular uprising,” said Dempsey, commander of the 1st Armored Division. “The principal goal in return was not to allow this thing to become a popular uprising, because if he gained broad support of the Shiite population, there truly would have been nothing we could have done.” . . .
Once the militia was beaten in skirmishes, humanitarian projects were quickly started and radio stations were opened to spread the news. The former foes were given jobs. “In Kut, we were fighting the al-Mahdi Army one day, and the next day we put them to work repairing the amusement park,” Dempsey said. Rubble was also removed as the battle moved to the next city.
Not wanting to inflame religious or political passions, U.S. troops couldn’t forcibly remove Sadr’s militiamen from holy sites in Karbala or Najaf. “In both cases the local populace became so outraged by the use of the shrines essentially they were able to tip the scale in our favor,” Dempsey said.
Sadr finally relented and agreed to negotiate after U.S. forces captured his key aide and brother-in-law, Riyadh al-Nouri, early Wednesday. Apparently, al-Nouri was relieved. “He said,First of all, thank you for capturing me not killing me,"' Dempsey said. "Thank you for treating me as well as you are, and thirdly, I’m really glad this is over.”‘ Read more
Clearly, there is much about our objectives and execution of this war that can be legitimately questioned and criticized.
But we’re in it now, and this article suggests our military may not be quite as bumbling as many would have us believe. It also points out that fortunately there is (still) not a widespread rebellion against the occupation.
Remember, everything you read about domestic or foreign economic, political, diplomatic, or military American policies between now and November is likely to be written by somebody who has long ago picked sides in the election (full disclosure: I haven’t yet).
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