Posted on 04/02/2006 7:40:15 PM PDT by neverdem
BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 2 — Iraq's dominant Shiite political bloc fractured Sunday when its most powerful faction publicly demanded that the incumbent Shiite prime minister resign over his inability to form a unified government. The split came as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Jack Straw, the British foreign minister, paid an urgent visit to Iraqi leaders here to convey in the most forceful terms yet that their patience for the country's political paralysis was wearing thin.
It was not clear whether the joint visit by Ms. Rice and Mr. Straw, the top emissaries of the two countries that led the invasion of Iraq three years ago, played a direct role in the splintering of the Shiite bloc, and whether that schism would lead to forward movement on forming a new government, which has been stalled for months.
The developments suggested that a new phase in Iraq's convulsions might have started by opening a possibly violent battle for the country's top job between rival Shiite factions, which both have militias backing them. The incumbent prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, has said he will fight to keep his job, and his principal supporter is Moktada al-Sadr, a rebellious cleric whose Mahdi Army militia has resorted to violence many times to enforce his wishes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Moktada al-Sadr should be starring in a snuff-flick!
but then, we don't know what Sistani's boy (whoever it might be) would be like.....
Good, it is time to end Al Sadr once and for all.
Well, now that the NY Times has joined in I feel better!
The news on the political front couldn't make me happier today.
The US is "losing patience"?
What is the US going to do when the Iraqis, who are already fighting a civil war in everything but name, don't do what Rice and Straw have called for?
Pull out in defeat?
Get really, really, extra-double serious?
What?
But the strong odds are they will. Jaffari is history. After all, we're still the United States, not France.
The US is "losing patience"?
Uh, no...not a snuff film as that would involve sex and I really don't want to see al Sadr in the nude. A revolting image! ha.
But I get your point and darn, it would be just awful if there wold be some car accident with him....hmmmm, where is the Mafia when you need them?
The biggest Shi'ite party just urged al-Jaafari to resign. This is exacty what Rice and straw called far.
The requirement for a two thirds majority is a real problem. The whole thing could implode. One hopes not, for a host of reasons, both foreign and domeestic. But team Bush is clearly very worried.
As I've said before...
The nice thing about Moslem civil wars? Everybody wins.
subtract out Jafaris half of the Shiite vote and they 2/3 is there. IMO
When did patience in war cease to be a virtue? Invading, occupying, and rebuilding a country with violent political factions is not a TV dinner that's ready in 30 seconds.
The assault last weekend was a warning to the Shiites to get their Shiite together.
help me out, what does Al Sadar have to do with this?
Ping
Jaafari is beholden to Sadr, because Sadr supported Jaafari for PM. So if Jaafari stays as PM that would make Sadr pretty much the most powerful man in Iraq. But, that isn't going to happen because everyone outside the UIA and now people inside the UIA are opposed to him.
Fat boy is threatening to attack the SCIRI and the Badr militia if Jaafari isn't kept on.
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