Basra Official Wants Iraqis To Replace Us Troops In Najaf (Sadr supporter)

[Barrett808]

BASRA (AFP) - An official from the southern province of Basra offered to send 1,000 Iraqi forces to Najaf to replace US forces, threatening to take matters into his own hands if the government did not respond.

Basra's deputy governor for administrative affairs and a staunch supporter of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr offered to send 1,000 Iraqi police, special security and national guardsmen to help restore order in the holy city.

Their deployment would allow US troops to withdraw, Hajj Salam Awdeh al-Maliky said, as a joint US-Iraqi offensive against Sadr's Mehdi Army entered its second week.

If the government failed to respond within a couple of hours, he pledged to take action. Some national guardsmen in Basra had even said they would not hesitate to join Sadr's militia if Maliky's offer was rejected.

(more)

http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.asp?ID=24375

[daleo]

1. This was the outcome in Falluajah, sort of

It may be Fallujah is the template for Najef. It depends on how the military action is really going. Like Fallujah, we really don't have a clue at this point.

[htuttle]

2. They'll never make the deadline in a few hours

The Iraqi 'government' will need to clear it with Proconsul Negroponte. Negroponte will first have to run it by Washington. And the Bush administration won't do a thing until they see how it polls, so there's no way they can do anything about it within a few hours.

[jackofhearts]

3. It'll be interersting to watch the propaganda machine

What picture do you think the spinless news crews will paint for us tonight about all this...assuming they even mention it? By all accounts all hell has broken loose across the country and the middle east. How many "insurgents" killed while not mentioning 1 civilian? How will they portray the negotiations with Sadr? I'm sure we'll be spoon fed the cute little nazi talking points and quotes to make everything sound like its all under control.

While the warmongers have the blood on their hands all the press minions have blood smeared on their faces by being slapped around by the fascists. And all the while people are dying and getting blown up. It is all so sickening.

[mom cat]

5. Welcome to DU jackofhearts

Your post was right on target, Keep um coming.:yourock:

[Paulie]

4. 1000 armed Iraqi's near our troops?

Even if they arrived announced, I would fully expect them to be blasted. Shoot first, ask if they are friendly and there to help later.... sigh...