BAGHDAD, Iraq – U.S. and Iraqi forces on Wednesday raided Sadr City, the stronghold of the feared Shiite militia led by radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki disavowed the operation, saying he had not been consulted and insisting “that it will not be repeated.”
The defiant al-Maliki also slammed the top U.S. military and diplomatic representatives in Iraq for saying Iraq needed to set a timetable to curb violence ravaging the country.
“I affirm that this government represents the will of the people and no one has the right to impose a timetable on it,” al-Maliki said at a news conference.
The U.S. military said Iraqi army special forces, backed up by U.S. advisers, carried out a raid to capture a “top illegal armed group commander directing widespread death squad activity throughout eastern Baghdad,” the military said in a statement.
Al-Maliki, who is commander in chief of Iraq’s army, heatedly denied he knew anything about the raid:
“We will ask for clarification about what has happened in Sadr City. We will review this issue with the multinational forces so that it will not be repeated…
Complete article HERE
And this is the response from President Bush…………
Bush warns Iraqis that American patience has limits
WASHINGTON (Reuters) –
President George W. Bush said on Wednesday American patience over Iraq had its limits but pledged not to put unbearable pressure on the country’s leaders, after a protest by Iraq’s prime minister.
“We’re pressing Iraq’s leaders to take bold measures to save their country. We’re making it clear that American patience is not unlimited,” Bush told a White House news conference.
Even so, he added, “We will not put more pressure on the Iraqi government than it can bear.”
Bush said the United States remained committed to Iraq “until the job is done,” but would adjust tactics to confront a changing enemy.
He voiced qualified confidence in Maliki. “We’re with him as long as he continues to make tough decisions,” Bush said.
Wild Thing’s comment…….
The current PM is an appeaser to Muqtada al-Sadr. They probably did not notify Malki for fear his people would warn the militia of the impending attack and whomever was the target for the raid would dissappear.
SCREW YOU, Maliki. Everybody KNOWS the trouble in Baghdad stems from that festering hellhole called Sadr City. You’d better be glad we’re not just flat out LEVELING it.
Stop sticking up for your Iranian buddies and LEAD this nation for which our troops have spilled their blood.
And don’t give us that “will of the people” crap. Now get out of the way and let the U.S. and Iraqi forces do what has to be done to make this a stable country.
Oh, and SCREW IRAN AND MUQTADA AL SADR.
It’s about time George quit pacifying that raghead and demanded some results, this is why Muqtada Al Sadr has power right now, the weakness of Jawad Maliki’s leadership. He spent too much time in Iran and Syria for me to be comfortable with him as a leader, he’s either unwilling or to weak to exercise his authority. He wants the United States to finance him and spill American blood keeping the peace while he plays power games of intrigue behind the scenes.
Jack I agree so much that is exactly how I feel.
al-Sadr just looks plain evil. I can’t even imagine what goes on in his mind. He looks like a pit of seething hatred. Is Maliki really that afraid of him?
Gregor, I was wondering about that. Is Maliki afraid of al-Sadr? He might be and that’s why he caves in to him. Plus I think they are both Shiite’s.
In fairness, is Mr. Maliki reading and watching the liberal news media, and he is even more afraid of American liberals taking power here and cutting and running over there, so he is hedging his bets?
This is NOT to say that Mr. Maliki is a great guy, but it does make his behavior understandable.
I am reminded of the story of Duong Van Minh. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duong_Van_Minh)
“Big Minh” sensed that the American liberals would cut off aid and sell out the Republic of Vietnam (and in 1974 they did just that) so he began discreetly making contacts with the communists. When that terrible time came in April 1975, he oversaw the surrender. While so many others were killed or sent off to “re-education” torture camps, Big Minh was allowed to live in seclusion growing orchids for eight years, and then emigrate.