Tonight brings news of a deal with al-Sadr.
“These are just initial discussions,” said Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, commander of American forces in Iraq, who appeared with General John Abizaid, the commander of American troops in the Middle East, at a Baghdad news conference today. “We are not negotiating at this point until we achieve some confidence building and a period of stability. Then we would consider going into significant negotiations to end this battle.”
I’m withholding judgment for the moment. For this to be a “good thing,” however, I suggest the following two criteria must be met:
(1) al-Sadr must submit to the Iraqi authorities. It doesn’t need to be (indeed, likely shouldn’t be) us: Iraqis must start governing Iraqis.
(2) al-Sadr must pledge to assist us in rounding up and/or turning over the Jihadist forces that have been attacking us. He wants to be a power broker; well, he should act like one. (It’s ultimately in his self-interest to aid us: he can eliminate rivals and ensure himself a place in the coming Iraqi regime, all in one fell swoop.*)
von
*And the swoop could indeed be fell, if you dislike bargaining with the likes of al-Sadr.
“Wasta” = patronage-mediation via Juan Cole
This is old fashioned tribal medieval bs, in which chiefs survive wars and are outside the law.
This is the middle east, and why it is a mess.
Shoot the sucker….if we can.
al-Sadr is allegedly complicit in a brutal public murder. The facts surrounding that should be sussed out. By a prosecutor. While al-Sadr raptly listens. In an orange jumpsuit. If he doesn’t go to trial, then we are the arbitrary, violent thugs that we are accused of being.
“If he doesn’t go to trial, then we are the arbitrary, violent thugs that we are accused of being.”
Incorrect. If Sadr is given a chance to surrender and doesn’t take it, what happens to him afterwards is his responsibility, not the poor kid who’ll end up being the one who shoots him.
Ah, no. You misunderstand me. I mean if rather than standing trial he is allowed to go free via some form of truce, then we are arbitrary thugs. If he wants to go down in a blaze of glory, more power to him.
“Ah, no. You misunderstand me.”
I did indeed misunderstand you; my apologies, it’s late. I’m not getting the impression that we’re going to let him go – there’s still that capture or kill order out, and as far as I can tell Sadr’s fighters are retreating without getting concessions in return – so we’ll have to see how that goes.