Word: sectarianism
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...Bush Administration didn't have a sufficiently tough challenge in securing Iraq in the face of insurgency and sectarian conflict, it has now added curbing Iran to its to-do list. Last week's raid in the Kurdish city of Erbil on a building claimed by Iran and the Kurds as a consular facility that saw the arrest of five Iranian officials signaled the onset of an aggressive push-back against Iranian influence in Iraq. And it's not only the Iranians that are unhappy about the new development...
...Among Maliki's major political assets were his ties to Moqtada al-Sadr. The argument was that Maliki could help moderate the fiery Shi'ite militia leader. And so, when sectarian violence began escalating dramatically in February 2006, U.S. forces repeatedly held back from a major confrontation with the Madhi Army at Maliki's behest. But there has been no sign of moderation on Sadr's part. Indeed, in November, Sadr ordered the 30 parliamentarians and four ranking government officials of his political bloc to end participation in the government in protest of Maliki's meeting with President Bush. Meanwhile...
...case has been, Maliki isn't likely to play a significant role in any confrontation to come. The Iraqi Army may or may not be fully under Maliki's control at this point, meaning Iraqi officers may simply ignore any orders from him that run contrary to their own sectarian agendas. U.S. troops who work with the Iraqi Army in Baghdad say Iraqi soldiers are showing greater sympathy to militias as the city's sectarian fighting grows still bloodier. In the battle for Baghdad, the Iraqi Army is unpredictable at best, virtually defunct at worst. That means most...
...addition to being deeply frustrating for U.S. commanders, al-Maliki's actions have convinced Iraq's Sunnis that their only hope for survival lies with insurgent and jihadi groups who can take on the Mahdi Army at its own game. This has led to an escalation in sectarian violence, especially in and around Baghdad...
...from his political dependence on al-Sadr. As long as al-Maliki needs al-Sadr's backing to stay in office, he is unlikely to allow U.S. forces-whatever the number-to confront the Mahdi Army. And without such a confrontation, there can be no hope of ending the sectarian...