Shiite Mahdi Army Significantly Weakened In Baghdad

The militia that was once the biggest defender of poor Shiites in Iraq, the Mahdi Army, has been profoundly weakened in a number of neighborhoods across Baghdad, in an important, if tentative, milestone for stability in Iraq.

It is a remarkable change from years past, when the militia, led by the anti-American cleric Moktada al-Sadr, controlled a broad swath of Baghdad, including local governments and police forces. But its use of extortion and violence began alienating much of the Shiite population to the point that many quietly supported American military sweeps against the group.

Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki struck another blow this spring, when he led a military operation against it in Baghdad and in several southern cities.

The shift, if it holds, would solidify a transfer of power from Mr. Sadr, who had lorded his once broad political support over the government, to Mr. Maliki, who is increasingly seen as a true national leader.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[AmandaBC]

The US government is paying gazillions in bribes so that hyper-gullible Americans (the same people who by and large easily bought the WMD lies while the rest of the world was harshly criticitzed for knowing better...) can buy the fairy tale of the surge working. The Iraqi resistance will gladly take the money (to buy weapons for their post-election surge...) and let McIn$ane get elected (what a great recruiting tool! They certainly don't want any diplomatic solution.)

Come mid-November, the $hit will indeed hit the fan and the old man will send more GIs into the meat grinder. Meanwhile the Chinese banks will stop extending credit...

[SmellyOne]

HumeSkeptic, are you sad that the people you call "Freedom Fighters" are less powerful?

[fuzzwald]

We know that the NY Times has always told us the complete unvarnished truth. We also know that the press has free reign in Iraq. Right? So it follows that Bush and his chicken hawk brigade was right all along. The "surge" worked. Everything is better now.

Onward to Iran!

[Doofus]

[Iraq: we broke it, we own it, we fixed it, now it's time to give it back,
except for the oil. Put that in bottles, 'to go'. Thanks!
We're so outta there, dudes!]

Analysis: US now winning Iraq war that seemed lost

By ROBERT BURNS and ROBERT H. REID, AP, Sat Jul 26, 10:45 PM ET

The United States is now winning the war that two years ago seemed lost. Limited, sometimes sharp fighting and periodic terrorist bombings in Iraq are likely to continue, possibly for years. But the Iraqi government and the U.S. now are able to shift focus from mainly combat to mainly building the fragile beginnings of peace " a transition that many found almost unthinkable as recently as one year ago.

Despite the occasional bursts of violence, Iraq has reached the point where the insurgents, who once controlled whole cities, no longer have the clout to threaten the viability of the central government.

That does not mean the war has ended or that U.S. troops have no role in Iraq. It means the combat phase finally is ending, years past the time when President Bush optimistically declared it had. The new phase focuses on training the Iraqi army and police, restraining the flow of illicit weaponry from Iran, supporting closer links between Baghdad and local governments, pushing the integration of former insurgents into legitimate government jobs and assisting in rebuilding the economy. ...

[freedomis]

Doofus: Thanks for bringing up that article.The fact that we made the cities into little gated communities and the different groups can't or wont mingle with each other is certainly a big part of this and "we" call this progress.I don't think so.Maybe,just maybe they have stopped for awhile because of our prez elections here? Tony

[southafrica4obama]

You are day dreaming. Those guys are just observing a ceasefire!

[mergina]

Armies and yes, even terrorists, can be PAID not to kill.

[SmellyOne]

I guess since this perspective is the least complimentary to the U.S., then that's the one to go with.

[AmandaBC]

Denial, denial...

Even the US Army is admitting they're bribing insurgents left and right...

[JiminNC]

Congratulations to our kids for making that happen. We'll see if someone in Iraq gives a ratsass about it in 10 years.

[Meatball1]

Danoj,

Stop waisting your time. These people, yes, I said these people, want nothing less than the destruction of our Great Nation. They live by the rules of Karl Marx.

Ignore all of the bad people in the world who want to take over this world, and direct all hatred against those who have already figured out that capitalism and a representive form of government works!

In their minds, if we just think happy thoughts and ask every ambitious jerk in the world to like us, there will be peace on Earth. They think that there is reason in these dictators minds other than a reason to kill as many of their own countrymen as it takes to put the fear of God in them so that they can control every aspect of there lives.

Staying out of politics,
http://www.djgoski.com

[StillAmused]

Do you always tremble and sweat profusely like that when you're expressing your world view?

[1differentdrummer]

Meatball1, your post puzzles me. Who lives by the rules of Karl Marx, and what are those rules? I've been a capitalist all of my life and the runaway capitalism I see today, with government subsidies for big oil, big insurance and big drugs, is bankrupting our country. Seems to me Marx or someone said that capitalism would kill itself and it looks like whoever said that may have been at least somewhat right. No one wants pure capitalism, not even the capitalists, because they want socialism for themselves and capitalism for everybody else. Look at our tax laws if you doubt me.

[danoj]

Subsidies are not a mark of capitolism sad to say, and any self respecting repub that voted for said subsidies ought to be run out of office. I agree with you on this point there does need to be some regulation, but not to the point that it kills investment and makes it to burdensome to start businesses.

[cheshirecat831]

oh! i guess that means we're winning. hurrah! for another view, see

http://sfbaysailingpix.com/pez2008p1.htm

[lippp]

And the terms of oil distribution in Irag is exactly? I don't see any news here that clearly states this essential matter has been satisfactorily resolved. When that is accomplished, I will begin to have hope for Irag. And will the sectarian factions remained walled and segregated forever? If so the potential for civil war is always there.

[danoj]

IDK, look at our politicians on both sides and class warfare; look at our politicians on both sides and race baiting. Is Iraq really so much worse? We expect them to do in 7 years what we still haven't got waway from in over 200 years.

[cdnnewsjunky]

The New York Times? The paper that claimed Iraq had WMD's? Oh, okay. Next.

[AmandaBC]

Give Joe American a flag pin and he'll believe the same lie over, and over, and over...

[lisakaz2]

Is this AP's propagandistic "winning" in Iraq? What winning? Against whom or for what? They'll say anything for McB---.

[bikerdude]

Its a pity to watch AP ruin their reputation for neutrality and excellent reporting and become one more apologist for the failed Bush administraton. We will miss them as an international voice.

[joebhed]

There's some good news and bad news in here.

The good news is the Times has exposed possibly many transgressions of commerce by the Shiite insurgents under Muqtada al Sadr. And gas is getting much cheaper.

The bad news is in the message that is being delivered back to the group that called for a cease fire in the hope of a peaceful and timely resolution on ending the occupation of Iraq.

The message seems to be that this group of folks will not be able to participate in the coming betterment of the neighborhoods that have been destroyed in the war.

They, and their companies and businesses, will be excluded from participating in the coming benefits. Kind of boycotted. Sounds American to me.

So, for ceasing the fire and all that, Al Sadr and his followers would become second-class citizens.
Which, they may be willing to accept for a while in return for the coming withdrawal of soldiers that are occupying their sacred holyland.

I kind of hope so.
Cause they'll win in the end.

[cct84]

This is good news and further proof the surge is working. Of course, had we dealt with al-Sadr four years ago when we had the chance, we could have saved ourselves and the Iraqi people a lot of aggravation.

[danoj]

Yup the surge is working the question is what happens after the 16 month plan. If iraq erupts into chaos do we go back in, and how many more lives would be lost if we just stayed until the Iraqi army is ready and the government reconciles some issues?

[cct84]

No arguement here. I believe Obama's insistence on a rigid 16-month withdrawal plan that will be executed without regard to circumstances on the ground is dangerous; he risks allowing Iraq to slide back into civil war. Once we pull out, the folks at home will be loathed to allow the president to send troops back in--not that Obama would have the stones to do it anyway.

[FatherWolf]

Great. Time to pull out troops out and let the Iraqis handle things themselves.

[danoj]

And if Iran steps in or Al-Queda reimerges than what? Reinvade, or allow mass genocide? We are there now, and I have no proof, but my gut tells me no matter how ill concieved the invasion was less death will occur if we stay until the Iraqi Military is fully trained and the government reconciles some stuff.