This Was Their Finest Hour
They took on the full fury of the enemy and they stood tall. If the Iraqi government last for 1000 years, men will still say “This was their finest hour.”
Over the past 6 day, we finally got to see what the Iraqi army was made of. Squaring off against Muqtada al-Sadr and his followers in fighting that began in Basra and soon spread through the South.
Scattered firing could be heard in central Baghdad hours after al-Sadr’s statement was released, and rockets or mortars were fired toward the U.S.-protected Green Zone. At least seven Iraqis were killed and 21 wounded when two rounds apparently fell short, striking houses in the commercial district of Karradah, police said.
A U.S. public address system in the Green Zone warned people to “duck and cover” and to stay away from windows. Iraqi security forces have been facing fierce resistance to their crackdown on militia violence in the southern city of Basra. Dozens of Shiite gunmen stormed a state TV facility in central Basra before al-Sadr’s declaration Sunday, forcing Iraqi troops guarding the building to flee and setting armored vehicles on fire. One of al-Maliki’s top security officials was killed in a mortar attack against the palace that houses the military operations center, officials said.
Still, despite the surprisingly tough resistance the Iraqi army was determined to handle the fight themselves and with US and alliance AC-130 gunship support and today al-Sadr announced his undonditional surrender as long as the Iraqis withdraw their troops from the streets of Basra, stop making arrests, allow al-Sadr control of Basra and leave the area. The Iraqis were understandedly thrilled with the surrender and their hard fought victory. The surge is working.
Yes, indeed, following Iranian diplomatic intervention behind the scenes, the Shi’ite militia that controls the government…excuse me, the Iraqi military…gloriously succeeded in battling its way out of one of its own major cities. Let’s see, the pro-Iranian Shi’ite party in control of the Iraqi government was persuaded by Iran to accept a ceasefire that leaves the other Shi’ite militia (whose head is currently studying theology in Iran) free to keep its weapons. And so, the two main Shi’ite political parties/militias in Iraq continue preparing for the upcoming local elections.
William deB. Mills
March 31, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Elections are further proof that the surge is working.
thatsrightnate
March 31, 2008 at 2:19 pm