Iraqis Fault Delayed U.S. Plan in Attack

[jefferson_dem]

February 5, 2007
Iraqis Fault Delayed U.S. Plan in Attack
By DAMIEN CAVE and RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.

BAGHDAD, Feb. 4 — A growing number of Iraqis blamed the United States on Sunday for creating conditions that led to the worst single suicide bombing in the war, which devastated a Shiite market in Baghdad the day before. They argued that the Americans had been slow in completing the vaunted new American security plan, making Shiite neighborhoods much more vulnerable to such horrific attacks.

The critics said the new plan, which the Americans have started to execute, had emasculated the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia that is considered responsible for many attacks on Sunnis, but that many Shiites say had been the only effective deterrent against sectarian reprisal attacks in Baghdad’s Shiite neighborhoods. Even some Iraqi supporters of the plan, like Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister who is a Kurd, said delays in carrying it out had caused great disappointment.

In advance of the plan, which would flood Baghdad with thousands of new American and Iraqi troops, many Mahdi Army checkpoints were dismantled and its leaders were either in hiding or under arrest, which was one of the plan’s intended goals to reduce sectarian fighting. But with no immediate influx of new security forces to fill the void, Shiites say, Sunni militants and other anti-Shiite forces have been emboldened to plot the type of attack that obliterated the bustling Sadriya market on Saturday, killing at least 135 people and wounding more than 300 from a suicide driver’s truck bomb.

“A long time has passed since the plan was announced,” Basim Shareef, a Shiite member of Parliament, said Sunday. “But so far security has only deteriorated.”

<SNIP>

“People’s expectations went up,” said Mr. Zebari. “They were hopeful, optimistic that this new surge, this new plan would provide a better life for them. And this daily killing — this bomb — they lose hope. Still the troops haven’t arrived.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/world/middleeast/05iraq.html?hp&ex=1170651600&en=13c3f000a12a18ef&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[rodeodance]

1. seems the troops are dammed if they do and damned when they don't.

[Skip Intro]

2. But I thought they were already being sent -

I'm sure I read that. And if the bush regime believed it had the power to "surge" without any approval, then why wait? It only makes sense that its already underway.

Makes me wonder if they are being sent elswhere, like along the Iraqi-Iranian border?

The bush wars, part 3 - Iran or bust.

[951-Riverside]

3. ....They can't seriously believe we're able to do anything about that mess n/t

[PATRICK]

4. Bush got what he wanted

Tamp down the Shia militias in advance of an attack on iran. they will be left holding the bag in staving off the Sunnis and the easier targets in the rage period will all be Iraqis, the 20,000 "surge' safely guarding the Green Zone and other Crusader castle interests. After Iran, the whole silly implementation scheme, if ever intended by the WH, will just fade from discussion.