Political Threat

Friends,
Another look at Iraq from the New York Times. This is really becoming provincial political now. If al-Maliki bans the Mahdi's from voting, all hell will break loose. The upcoming elections will be violent and will tell us how much influence Iran does have in Iraq. Everyone looses, except Iran. Just what the neo-cons feared most. And they are the cause.

Rev O

"The attacks also came as Iraq’s national security council intensified pressure on the Mahdi Army, the armed wing of the political group led by Moktada Al-Sadr, the powerful anti-American Shiite cleric, to disarm. In a statement, the council declared that all political parties must immediately dissolve their militias and surrender their weapons if they wish to take part in elections."
"The timing of the statement was seen as a message in particular for Mr. Sadr, who represents the biggest political threat to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and his associates, and who derives much of his support from Sadr City, which has been encircled by American and Iraqi troops for more than a week."

U.S. and Iraqis Battle Militias to End Attacks
By ERICA GOODE and MICHAEL R. GORDON New York Times
At least three U.S. soldiers were killed and 31 wounded and at least 20 Iraqis were killed in a failed operation to stop militia attacks on Baghdad’s Green Zone.