The AmeriKan corporate media has been in full-blown war promotion mode lately.
This is part of it.
"Anti-American cleric vies for more power in Iraq" by Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Lara Jakes, Associated Press Writers | October 1, 2010
BAGHDAD --A Muslim cleric who once used a militia to resist the American invasion positioned himself as a big winner in Iraq's monthslong political deadlock Friday when his party threw its support behind the beleaguered prime minister.
First of all, it was the occupation he's resisted, but that's quibbling; the real point is THIS is the SUCCESS of the mission?
The hard-line Shiite group led by Muqtada al-Sadr called it the start of its ascent to nationwide power -- a specter sure to spook the United States.
Another specter!
Washington considers the cleric a threat to Iraq's shaky security and has long refused to consider his movement a legitimate political entity. But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may be unable to govern without him.
Related: Occupation Iraq: The End of Sadr
I love my lying, agenda-pushing, horse s*** corporate media.
March elections failed to produce a clear winner and left the nation in turmoil -- a power vacuum that U.S. military officials say has encouraged a spike in attacks by Sunni insurgents.
Readers, I'm sick of war-promoting propaganda.
See: Occupation Iraq: Insurgents Awakening in Iraq
Occupation Iraq: Criminal Reporting
See what I mean.
Final agreement on how to form the new government could still be weeks if not months away, but "the Sadrist acceptance of al-Maliki as prime minister could begin to break the logjam," said Iraq expert Daniel Serwer of the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington.
In a late-night appearance on state-run TV, al-Maliki thanked his fellow Shiite allies for the support that will likely hand him another term as prime minister.
"I promise them and all beloved Iraqi people that we will take care with the big, heavy responsibility of serving all Iraqis," al-Maliki said.
It is still too soon for him to declare victory, however, because his chief rival, former prime minister Ayad Allawi, continues to scramble for support.
Shiite leaders from the Fadhila party and the devout Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council met late Friday night to discuss the political developments with Deputy Prime Minister Rafia al-Issawi, a lawmaker with Allawi's Sunni-dominated Iraqiya coalition. Iraqiya won the most parliament seats in the March 7 vote, narrowly beating al-Maliki's coalition, but neither side has the 163-seat majority needed to control the government outright.
Allying with al-Maliki poses a political risk for al-Sadr among his followers, many of whom hate the prime minister, and the cleric's top aides refused Friday to publicly explain why he did it. The most that Sadrist lawmaker Nassar al-Rubaie would say is that both camps now seek to "open dialogue with the other winning political groups to form the government."
But it is clear to Iraqi and U.S. officials that al-Sadr seeks unfettered and increased influence in the next government if al-Maliki comes out on top.
The cleric, whose militia once ran death squads out of the health ministry headquarters in Baghdad to target Sunnis, has been in self-imposed exile in Iran since 2007.
As part of agreeing to back al-Maliki, a leading Sadrist said the movement has demanded key government positions, including deputy parliament speaker and as many as six Cabinet-level ministry posts of the 34 to be filled.
Controlling service agencies like Iraq's health, oil, construction and electricity ministries would allow Sadrists to hire supporters and boost political loyalty.
Like any PoS AmeriKan political party, right?
Sadrists also are clamoring to run the trade ministry, which would carry some sway over foreign policy, and at least one of the agencies tasked with Iraqi security missions -- a huge red flag to U.S. officials.
Would they have as much sway as Israel has over U.S. foreign policy?
And HOW DARE THOSE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE take charge of their own security!
Yeah, better off a FOREIGN POWER INVADE and SMASH the COUNTRY over LIES to "protect" them!
Down the road, after the American military has fully withdrawn in 2011 and U.S. diplomatic influence has waned, Sadrists will make a play for the prime minister's post, said a leading party official who spoke on condition of anonymity because al-Sadr has forbidden his aides from discussing the negotiations....
After we have withdrawn, right?
Having a Sadrist in power would endanger if not scuttle hopes of establishing a thriving democracy in Iraq that could be a model in the region.
Is that what this impasse has proven? A thriving democracy?
I mean, LOOK at this NEO-CON WAR CRAP posing as REPORTING here in AmeriKa's newspapers!!
There are worries about how much influence Iran now carries over al-Sadr after offering him refuge for more than three years.
But NO WORRIES about the INVADER INFLUENCE from the WAR-PROMOTING CORPORATE PRESS!
This is getting SO TIRESOME, dear readers!
While saying it does not have a favorite candidate among those vying to become prime minister, the Obama administration strongly opposes giving power to al-Sadr and his followers.
Welcome to George W. Bush's third term.
It is largely a moot wish: Sadrists were the only party to gain seats in parliament in the March 7 vote, winning 39 of the 325 in a signal of their rise.
Obama's presidency has been such a failure.
That has put them in the position of being wooed by other Shiite political leaders for support.
"The Sadrists having a key role in the next government of Iraq was one of the few redlines that the Obama administration had," said Ken Pollack, an expert at the Brookings Institute think-tank in Washington who was a key Iraq policymaker in the Clinton administration.
"They've staged this major comeback, and the administration is very, very worried about that," Pollack said. "This is something Iran has been trying to do for months. Clearly this is a big win for them and really bad for the U.S."
Was the BLOOD and BILLIONS worth it, America?
Here we are 7 YEARS LATER and the WHOLE THING has become a COMPLETE and UTTER FAILURE (unless you were a war-profiteer).
Is IRAN TAKING OVER what the GOAL of the MISSION WAS, America?
That was where the print article ends.
In Baghdad, U.S. Embassy spokesman David J. Ranz avoided even using the word Sadrist when asked for an official statement Friday about the movement's partnership with al-Maliki.
Ranz said the embassy welcomed actions that would lead to a new government in Iraq, now stalled for nearly seven months. And he said the U.S. hoped to see "an inclusive and legitimate government, responsive to the needs of the Iraqi people."
Then that would be INCLUDING SADR!
Al-Maliki has been scrounging for allies since his political coalition fell short in the election to Iraqiya coalition, which is largely backed by Sunnis and led by Allawi, a Shiite.
Also see: Occupation Iraq: Moving In on Maliki
The media's choice terminology pretty much proves my point.
Pollack, the U.S. expert, said the deadlock between al-Maliki and Allawi allowed the Sadrists to step into the void. "They have played their hand really skillfully," Pollack said....
Pollack was one of the former Clinton people that swore Saddam had weapons -- so why should we listen to him?
Ultimately, Kurdish parties that hold 43 seats are likely to tip the balance, and they are widely expected to throw their weight behind al-Maliki....
I wouldn't be too sure of that.
See: Plan B
P.J.A.K.
Ever wonder why Kurdistan never gets much press?
--more--"
Related: Hard-line cleric vies for more power in Iraq (By Steven Lee Myers, New York Times)
Also see: The Real Muqtada al-Sadr
Now Obama's nightmare!
