Friday, February 24, 2006

Iraq Civil War, Continued…..

I’m going to try and get info on what is going on in Iraq at present...it is hard to get clear real-time news out of there, and I am nervous about it, as I stated before. 

Healing Iraq posts here, with some audio files of nearby gunfire.  I listened, but I’m no expert.  Maybe a concentration of what would otherwise be termed ‘sporadic’ fire? 

Iraq the Model has no posts from the 24th yet. 

Al Jazeera reports on the bombing of a Sh’ia tomb.  Not much else, save remarks about al-Sadr calling for his ‘militias’ (read:  thugs and criminals)not to attack Sunnis. 

The BBC has a take.  Basically, they say that it seems to be ebbing a bit.  That matches what The Belmont Club and Bill Roggio have been saying, and I consider them a lot more educated than I.

I’ll check back in in a few.  I’m posting the link at The Belmont Club.  Go there for some damned fine analysis. 

UPDATE:  Reuters reports here.  Americans are keeping a low profile and letting the Iraqis hash this out for now.  a good thing, if you ask me.

It seems that most of the news outlets are reporting a leveling off in the violence. 

In a small break to give good news, it looks like the US Forces bagged a top Al Qaeda guy in Baghdad today (Iraq’s 2-24).  Any port in a storm.  Thanks to Security Watchtower.

Newsday.com has an article from just a few minutes ago.  It is looking more and more that the Iraqis have stepped to the brink, and are doing their damnedest to step back.  It also appears that al Sadr is trying to come out of this as a stronger political force than he was when it started.  Lastly, it looks as if the Iraqi security forces are holding their own in this, and not running or being pushed over by either the Sh’ia or Sunni. 

Note that people were walking to mosque.  Open warfare would preclude that.  The violence seems to be sporadic at this time, and localized around certain mosques....a very few mosques.

Make sure you comment freely about this.  I’ll post and respond to comments, ya’ know!!

DOD updates from CENTCOM:  US soldiers found and destroyed a weapons cache.  So, as a commenter on The Belmont Club asked, where are the Americans?  They’re still there, doing what is needed to starve and kill the real enemy, the terrorists. 

An Iraqi blogger whom I have never read, 24 Steps to Liberty, tells us that the road to civil war is being aided by the wrong reporting on what is happening.  Go there.  Read that blog.  Daily.

Arab News has a relatively new article, less than an hour old, telling of another Sheikh asking for calm in Iraq. 

Looks like the curfew is going to be extended into Saturday, according to a story I saw at Global Security. 

Slow news now, as it is 3:10 or so in the morning.  I’ll check back in later, unless something big occurs.  Again, comment freely, or add info in the Comments section if I miss anything. 

UPDATE 2-25 at 0746 EST:  CNN is reporting an attack on a funeral and a reported home invasion.  However, again, this isn’t a huge, widespread war.  This is more along the lines of two incidents within a state of tension.  Note how the mention of al-Sadr’s militias is a steady theme.....he didn’t waste a lot of time in rolling his guys out, did he? 

Update 12:29 EST:  Iraq the Model reports that the MSM has been printing exaggerated numbers.  Also, it appears that the Iraqi government is now making direct requests that the militias stand down.  Let’s see if they do, because I think that they are al-Sadr’s political tool of choice....he’s still in the ‘old’ mindset of intimidation, and he’s being bankrolled by Iran.  If the Iraqi government can stand down the militias without a fight, they will come out of the current situation ahead of the game. 

UPDATE 11:08 EST 2-26:  Healing Iraq is on the horn again, but he is more mistrusting of the government numbers.  However, a careful read of his entry seems to back up what we have been hearing...that the violence is sporadic and is not a widespread phenomenon.  It also mentions that American forces are operating in the background, steadying the Iraqi forces that are deployed to qwell any outbreak of violence.