Power struggle on Baghdad streets as Maliki replaced but refuses to go

[flamingdem]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Iraq's president named a new prime minister to end Nuri al-Maliki's eight-year rule on Monday, but the veteran leader refused to go after deploying militias and special forces on the streets, creating a dangerous political showdown in Baghdad.

Washington, which helped install Maliki following its 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, congratulated Haidar al-Abadi, a former Maliki lieutenant who was named by President Fouad Masoum to replace him.

Maliki said in a televised speech the president's decision to name a replacement for him was a "dangerous violation" of the constitution and, flanked by political allies, he vowed "we will fix the mistake."

Maliki's son-in-law, Hussein al-Maliki, called the move "illegal" and said it would be overturned in court. "We will not stay silent," he said.

Washington delivered a stern warning to Maliki not to "stir the waters" by using force to cling to power.

A Shi'ite Muslim Islamist, Maliki is blamed by his erstwhile allies in Washington and Tehran for driving the alienated Sunni minority into a revolt that threatens to destroy the country. Leaders of Iraq's Sunni and Kurdish communities have demanded he go, and many fellow Shi'ites have turned against him.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/12/us-iraq-security-idUSKBN0G808J20140812?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter

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Cue the Moody Blues "Go now, go now.."

Here's the new guy, the shorter one not they guy with the AK:

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. "driving the alienated Sunni minority into a revolt"

Oh sure,...and we need to take THEIR side.

Doesn't MATTER that they are terrorizing the public by ritualistically chopping off body parts of sinners.

Doesn't matter that their faith is the one shared by al Qaeda and the 9/11 fanatics.

All that matters is Saudi Oil.

So,....sorry Persia.

[phleshdef]

2. Why are you ignoring this part?

Leaders of Iraq's Sunni and Kurdish communities have demanded he go, and many fellow Shi'ites have turned against him.

[cstanleytech]

4. Best guess? Because they dont want us to get involved at all.

Hell even I dont want us to get involved either but I also dont think its right for us to go in, break the country apart with an invasion and then bail on them afterwards and tell them "well so long but we are outta here".

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. We didn't "bail". We were told to leave.

[kelliekat44]

11. yes, by the American public. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

16. And by the Iraqi people....

When the torture pictures came out the whole "winning hearts and minds" thing was done.

[cstanleytech]

12. Regardless though the point is the region is even worse off than before we invaded and if they

ask for assistance now I believe it behooves us to try and render what we can.
Not saying we should do a full deployment though, not unless their government agrees to foot the entire bill as we cannot afford it clearly but air support and maybe a loan of some special forces to try and render them enough aid to give them the time to get their act together.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. Saddam was a bastard but he was secular. He had a Christian on his cabinet....

The Bush Administration was full of super-Christy types who also were obsessed with transforming Iraq from a Socialist Dictatorship into a Fascist Utopia (run by a puppet for corporations). They were appalled at things like low gas prices and free electricity and acted like job #1 was to install meters on all the houses so the Iraqi people could be billed for something they used to get for free. They put the kids of conservative donors in key positions so you would have some 27 year old clean cut spoiled rich white boy in charge of all traffic in Baghdad.

Then there's Paul Bremmer who swept out all of the secular Ba'ath party and fired the entire army that was expecting to take over running the country and keep order. The Loyal Bushies early on declared all of Saddam's prisons were full of poor innocent political prisoners and they turned loose a bunch of murderers, robbers and rapists who often hit the streets looking for revenge against those who imprisoned them.

I remember when they proudly announced the opening of a nice, new, modern prison we had provided for the Iraqis. We taught them what the America Way was under our Right Wing all right. Getting people to focus on how much they hate each other for being different, threating the military like shit, lectures on pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps and not to expect anything from the government and lots of guns on the streets because they keep you safe. Oh, and seemingly random midnight raids by guys who don't speak the language wearing so much gear they barely fit through the door looking for "fighting age men" meaning any boy over 11.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. What I posted doesn't diminish the fact that he's an asshole....

He HAD to be. Bush and Cheney picked him.

[SunSeeker]

3. Hope Maliki just leaves, but this bluster is bad news. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. He's made enemies. He may have to flee the country....

If he leaves by helicopter let's hope the Shiite doesn't hit the fan.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Well it seems Washington and Tehran are in agreement on this.

A Shi'ite Muslim Islamist, Maliki is blamed by his erstwhile allies in Washington and Tehran for driving the alienated Sunni minority into a revolt that threatens to destroy the country. Leaders of Iraq's Sunni and Kurdish communities have demanded he go, and many fellow Shi'ites have turned against him.

Thanks for the thread, flamingdem.

[MADem]

9. He probably doesn't want to give up the armoured cars and security detail.

Can't say as I blame him. He should take an extended trip to a safer location.

[DeSwiss]

10. ''Here's the new guy, the shorter one not they guy with the AK''

- The short guy is gonna need an AK.

K&R


See, I told ya!






''President Maliki, the repo man is outside, what shall I tell him? Tell him I said to go to hell!!!!''

[Octafish]

13. ''Maliki Replaced...Refuses to Go.''

Ah...Democracy on the March!

[samsingh]

14. he can't fight isis but can call the military on his own people