Iraqi lawmaker to U.S.: "Back off"

CNN:

Iraqi lawmaker to U.S.: Back off or 'all options are open'

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- An Iraqi lawmaker warned the U.S. military Sunday that if it doesn't immediately end its attacks on Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army, "all options are open to us."

Fawzi Tarzi, a Sadrist member of parliament, made his remarks as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad. His comments also follow airstrikes and firefights Saturday that left seven Shiite militants dead in Baghdad's Sadr City.

"Let it be known that disbanding the Mehdi Army will mean the end of [Prime Minister Nuri] al-Maliki's government, and therefore the siege of Sadr City and Shula should end immediately or all options are open to us," Tarzi said. "There is a fierce military and media campaign and a dirty political conspiracy planned and supported by the occupier against the Sadr trend."

...

Tarzi called on humanitarian organizations and the world media to visit Sadr City to see what he described as a "humanitarian tragedy." The Baghdad neighborhood is plagued with "random airstrikes and raids," which are causing a deteriorating humanitarian situation, he said.
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Al-Sadr on Saturday gave his "last warning" to the Iraqi government that he would "declare a war" unless U.S. and Iraqi forces stop their assaults on his followers.

Loudspeakers at Sadr City mosques announced al-Sadr's warning Saturday evening, calling for followers to fight the "occupier," a witness said.

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Al-Sadr's threat was issued the same day that a man claiming to be the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq urged his fighters to launch an offensive against U.S. forces in the next few weeks.

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Within the the next month, militants should "offer the head of an American as a gift to the deceitful [President] Bush," he said.

The speaker also called for attacks on members of Iraqi awakening councils, a movement of mostly Sunnis who have joined forces with the U.S. and Iraqi governments in battling Islamic jihadists loyal to al Qaeda in Iraq.

"The occupier"?  What does Condi think about the use of that term by a member of the Iraqi government to describe U.S. forces?

And what does "all options are open" mean - Iraq as a sovereign nation is going to attack U.S. forces in Iraq?

I'm shocked CNN is even covering this. How much more of this is coming from the Iraqi government that is not being reported in the U.S. media?

John McCain - I think it is more important than ever that, as a United States Senator, you undertake an effort to understand the existence of, and difference between, Sunni and Shia.

Oh, and I almost forgot - the surge is working!

How much of this article impeaches everything Petraeus and Crocker said to Congress about 2 weeks ago?

•  "when the iraqis stand up, we will stand down" -

  i don't think THIS is what they meant by that statement.

  but hey - go iraq!  we can't seem to get us out of your country - maybe you can.

  by jj24 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 08:00:50 AM PDT

•  Sadr's 9 month cease fire is coming to an end.

  One of the main reasons for the reduction in violence was the cease fire coinciding with the surge.  Now we're back to pre-surge days.  Al Sadr getting ready to rally his militia, al Maliki looking inept, and the US playing bully to both sides as if that is going to help anything.

  Condi should be grounded until the end of bush's term.  Never let her leave Washington...for any reason.  She's not going to help anyone.

  by darthstar on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 08:12:29 AM PDT

•  Fighting 'them" everywhere

  It bears repeating. there is no reliable partner for the US ambitions in Iraq. No Iraqi, except al Maliki who has no power or large militia army of his own faction wants enduring permanent US presence.

  The Sadrists called a cease fire, in part to extend the reconciliation efforts held outside the country and get a date certain that the US occupier would leave. They called a cease fire so Iraqis wouldn'tbe fighting Iraqis. Al Maliki refuses to ask for a date.

    Now the Iranian's backing Maliki who is closer to them then Sadr, (they prefer the weaker and more dependent Shiia factions to work with and also keep Iraq weak), and the US which needs the insurgency and nationalist efforts(Iraqi to be run by genuine Iraqis, not US puppets)cut down  are attempting to instigate various power shifts.

  The USA breaking the cease fire has decided that there is something to be gained by attacking the Sadrists now. Even though they are in the government, there is an attempt to push them out and make Maliki more likely to survive after the provincial elections, especially if they can be largely prevented from voting.

   This is a higher stakes game like the illegal disenfranchisement of non Republican voters in the USA.

   Sadr is warning that he cannot sustain the ceasefire, which was a way of avoiding the unnecessary internecine factional fights and gave the USA an pretext (when it wasn't honored)to stay and "maintain order".

   The US military thinks eliminating Sadr is doable and somehow will strengthen Maliki and the clients dependent on US military power.  Many Shiia will not fight other Shiia, Maliki still double crosses and uses tactics to marginalize Sunnis, so the Iraqi national reconciliation and liberation front may end up being formed to counter Maliki and his US backers.

  by Pete Rock on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 08:33:10 AM PDT

•  Time to Declare Victory and Leave

  But it's not going to happen.

  And the Iraqi Army is in no shape to put this down - if such a thing was possible - so this means the hole is getting deeper by the day and it will cost more lives.

  Bad News.

  Ms Rice? Ball in your court.

  by koNko on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 11:32:39 AM PDT