World-News

Truthout's Maya Schenwar and Christopher Kuttruff report: "As conflicts swell in Basra and Baghdad, the Maliki government, supported by the Bush administration, claims it is subduing terrorism and cracking down on militia violence. However, the attacks on the Sadr forces may be primarily motivated by electoral politics and oil control, according to policy experts following Iraq's civil conflict closely."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032608R.shtml

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Iraq ruling elite needs US troops to stay in power

Sabah al Nasseri: Gov. attack on Sadr movement meant to prevent their election victory.

http://therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisdataswitch=0&thisid=1254&thisview=item

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Why al-Maliki Attacked Basra

By Juan Cole

The three reasons the Iraqi prime minister launched his ill-fated assault on the Sadrists of southern Iraq.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19666.htm



Who Is Iraq's "Firebrand Cleric"?

Veteran Middle East correspondent Patrick Cockburn explains why Muqtada al-Sadr is no maverick.

By Justin Elliot

If there were elections tomorrow he would probably sweep Shia Baghdad and most of the south. He's not going to take over the whole of Iraq because Iraq is such a divided place these days. The Kurds are never going to let the Arabs take over their chunk, and the Sunni are going to fight like tigers to keep the Shia from taking over their areas.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19665.htm



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Basra
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http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Muqtada
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http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=militia+violence
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