"Shia Backlash Wrecks US Strategy"

[Rowdyboy]

When troopers of the 101 airborne division first entered the Iraqi city of Najaf they were greeted by huge and welcoming crowds chanting "Die Saddam, die"

This weekend, the same streets were littered with the debris of a over a weeks sustained and bloody combat. Empty shell casings and burnt out vehicles have replaced the flowers and flags of welcome."

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=941632004

Very interesting piece. The author says Americans expected the Shia to be our "Trojan Horse". Seems like they're more like our "Achille's Heel"

[wtmusic]

1. "huge and welcoming crowds chanting "Die Saddam, die"

in Donald Rumsfeld's self-gratifying, broken dreams.

[Rowdyboy]

3. Actually, the Shia were horribly oppressed during Saddam's regime

It's not at all unreasonable that they were happy with WHOEVER overthrew him at first. The point of the article, is that our bungling, inappropriate foreign policy SINCE the overthrow has alienated the 60% element of Iraqi society that BFEE expected to supply their base support.

I really doubt the "Scotsman" is particularly likely to be shilling for GWB.

[wtmusic]

5. Point well taken

but the "huge and welcoming crowds" stuff is nonsense. There has been no footage of that happening anywhere in Iraq, and there's no reason to repeat the lie, whether or not a good part of the Shia population was glad to see Saddam go.

[Trajan]

2. All True Scotsmen ...

Know that the Bush WH is full of shit ....

Really ... they do ...

[Rowdyboy]

4. And that's the point the Scotsman got across

The article really is worth a few minutes. Especially since all the news we've been fed lately is Kobe, Michael, Scott and Charley.

You need to go to foreign news sources to get real reporting on Iraq these days. If I were an American correspondent in Baghdad, I'd probably stay holed-up in my hotel room too.

[opihimoimoi]

6. The result of a Brazenly arrogant and Insensitive approach when

dealing with the civilians during search/recon patrols.

Harsh treatment of what turns out to be innocent civilians produces resentment and in many cases, Hatred.

This is what Kerry was re too. Cheneys approach is a brutal one and very insensitive toward innocent people. The system is too rough, needs refinement.

[Downtown Hound]

7. Wait, the U.S. had a strategy?

When did this happen?

[Doctor_J]

8. you beat me to it

this quote is way too nice to RoveCo. It assumes they had a strategy.