Ballot-box win boosts Iraqi radical (purple finger democracy in-action)

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060130/ts_csm/osadr&printer=1;_ylt=AtguQ02u.oxSnhBaBNcrwVuOe8UF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-


Ballot-box win boosts Iraqi radical

By Charles Levinson, Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
Mon Jan 30, 3:00 AM ET

The crowd of Moqtada al-Sadr's followers stretched 10 blocks, blanketing a sprawling boulevard in Sadr City, the Baghdad slum. Loudspeakers rattled as a cleric railed against the US occupation.

Off to the side, Abbas Rubaie, Mr. Sadr's chief political tactician, looked out over the sea of the radical Shiite cleric's supporters who gathered Friday. "The Shiite alliance is the biggest party in parliament and the Sadrists are the biggest bloc in the Shiite alliance," he says. "We cannot be ignored."

When Iraq's election results are certified this week, Sadr is expected to increase his numbers in parliament by 50 percent. That rise will give significant power to the most rigid and anti-US wing of the Shiite bloc, further complicating efforts for the US to maintain influence in Iraq's emerging government.....

[Dhalgren]

1. The sooner that the Iraqis can kick the US out of their country

the better for them and for us...

[Sparkman]

2. when will the Sunis and the radical Shite Political faction oust the U.S.

military. Harry Belefonte, life long human rights, peace, and liberty activist as well as two year U.S. military veteran says joining was an act of conscience, and today he thinks the U.S. military should REFUSE TO SERVE IN IRAQ!! So the U.S. troops should join with the Sunis and the Shiite rads, and denounce the 100,000 - 200,000 Iraqi civilian deaths as a war attrocity. DUers can't agree about the level of culpability by the U.S., and it's not likely that Iraqis will unite with the U.S. soldiers in a denunciation...PER U.S. PLANS FOR PERMANENT IRAQ OCCUPATION AND MILITARY BASES.

[enigma000]

3. al-Sadr seems willing to work with the Sunni

But Sadr's rising clout could yet be a blessing for US officials, say analysts, who are pushing for a government of national unity that includes Iraq's Sunni Arabs, the backbone of the insurgency. Sadr stands closer to the Sunni Arabs on key issues such as federalism, and seems more willing than many of his fellow Shiites to make the sort of compromises necessary to bring them into the government.

"He will be very extreme, a real die-hard fundamentalist in terms of religion and state issues, and the US occupation, but at the same time when it comes to making some concessions to the Sunnis he can be a moderating force," says Amatzia Baram, an Iraq expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.

If his faction can push the UIA towards compromise with the Sunni, a multi-ethnic coalition government could be formed. This could, in turn, lead to a ceasefire with many insurgent groups. In turn, providing an opportunity for the US to begin withdrawing troops.

[Army]

4. Soldiers for Lunatics

We were hoping those crazy bastards would win. Whichever ones told us to leave the fastest are the ones we were rooting for.:toast:

[enigma000]

5. Hi Army.

You would think, judging from the polls in Iraq, Iraqis would welcome a withdrawal of foreign troops. But still, I believe you need some sort of "we can take it from here" message from the Iraqi government. Maybe these al-Sadr types are the ones we need in this new government.

Stay safe.....

[Army]

6. Majority Party Doesn't Want That

We are pumping too much money into their pockets. The other parties want us to go, but Bush isn't going anywhere out of the middle east.