At least 13 people died in street battles between Iraqi security forces and gunmen in Mosul today after a suicide bomber attacked a police patrol, officials said. Four policemen, including a colonel, were killed and eight injured in the car bombing, which happened in the al-Nour quarter of the northern city, police commander Major General Within al-Hamdani said.
And, chants of 'Death to America' rang out around Baghdad.
Thousands of Shiite youths, some armed and many covered in white shrouds, gathered Friday in Iraq's capital for a pro-Hezbollah rally, amid increasing sectarian violence that senior U.S. generals warn could lead to civil war.
The Shiites arrived late Thursday from southern provinces, heeding the call of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who will preside over the rally after Friday prayers in the Sadr City slum to show support for the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group in its fight against Israel.
A reminder, Muqtada Al-Sadr also controls the Mahdi army millitia in Iraq. This is a force thought to number up to 100,000 loyalist, with over 10,000 active participants. We currently have 130,000 men in Iraq. If the Mahdi army were to become active in it's resistance to the US, it could make a losing situation even worse.
Also remember, this is a nation that we overthrew because Bush claimed that it would bring stability to the middle east. Now, a nation that blocked Iran, is closely allied with Iran, and is cheering on Hazballah in it's current battle against Israel.
Total incompentance has led to a situation where the most radical, most anti-west nation, may now also be the most powerful one in the area.
Great work George.
Tags
Iraq Mosul Muqtada al-Sadr Iran
1 comment:
Great job! I found your blog because you linked to the same WaPo article I did.
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