tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post7204331097624190896..comments2024-01-09T15:03:54.986-05:00Comments on Wolf Howling: Assumptions & Conclusions About Sadr, Maliki and the Basra OffensiveGWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814327154035433443noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-28976315520937007872008-04-18T06:33:00.000-04:002008-04-18T06:33:00.000-04:00Al-Sadr always gets the benefit of the doubt while...Al-Sadr always gets the benefit of the doubt while the U.S. and its allies are always guilty until proven innocent.<BR/><BR/>This is yet another defeat for Al-Sadr that is being spun as a victory by those who havent got a clue about what is really happening on the ground.Freedomnowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09498640235994153216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-11292717217615522892008-04-07T18:48:00.000-04:002008-04-07T18:48:00.000-04:00Soccer Dad, Jimmy J and Ymarsakar:Thanks for the k...Soccer Dad, Jimmy J and Ymarsakar:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the kind words.GWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05814327154035433443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-52019231732399681532008-04-06T17:19:00.000-04:002008-04-06T17:19:00.000-04:00This is a sort of reply to your post, Wolf. LinkTh...This is a sort of reply to your post, Wolf. <A HREF="http://ymarsakar.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/maliki-vs-sadr-vs-armchair-observers/" REL="nofollow">Link</A><BR/><BR/>The historical perspective of Basra and Steven Vincent was my personal take of things. That's where I started from and that's where I ended. All the military and political machinations were just stuff in between, of little import except in how they impacted the lives of the people.Ymarsakarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11246906722493964175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-51549463120821437632008-04-06T16:28:00.000-04:002008-04-06T16:28:00.000-04:00The jury is still out on Maliki, but at this point...<B><BR/>The jury is still out on Maliki, but at this point, I do have tremendous respect for the man.</B><BR/><BR/>I think like any individual, if you keep hammering him either he will break and fall apart, or become stronger.<BR/><BR/>It took a little longer hammering this leader into shape, but any President has to go through the same things.<BR/><BR/><B>I don't believe that Nouri Maliki is Iraq or the Iraqi government and I'm concerned about relying to highly on him.</B><BR/><BR/>You can always do a Diem and get rid of a leader you don't like. Whether you'll like what happens afterward, of course, is probably not a good thing to bet on.<BR/><BR/>Concerning the British... now we know what Bush bought when he gave Tony Blair the UN support(and the UN fiasco that went with it) Blair needed to convince his Parliament to side with us in Iraq. Bush bought some snake oil. Not like I didn't suspect after awhile.Ymarsakarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11246906722493964175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-89207522370430755992008-04-06T14:36:00.000-04:002008-04-06T14:36:00.000-04:00Outstanding post! This is the type of informed ar...Outstanding post! This is the type of informed argument that has made the blogosphere my source of news about the war on radical Islam.<BR/><BR/>Just added you to my daily must read list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-89236928410377231922008-04-05T17:20:00.000-04:002008-04-05T17:20:00.000-04:00As to Maliki, in December, 2006, I was convinced h...As to Maliki, in December, 2006, I was convinced he had to go. By March, 2007, I found myself in agreement with Taheri - http://www.asharqalawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=8620<BR/><BR/>The jury is still out on Maliki, but at this point, I do have tremendous respect for the man.GWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05814327154035433443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-42893373280590313882008-04-04T13:20:00.000-04:002008-04-04T13:20:00.000-04:00Gleaned this comment from Steven Den Beste over at...Gleaned this comment from Steven Den Beste over at Dafydd ab Hugh's place:<BR/><BR/><I>I think it's too soon to say who won. This is only the opening stage of the battle.</I><BR/><BR/>That's basically my position, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-13093026607281944502008-04-04T12:17:00.000-04:002008-04-04T12:17:00.000-04:00This is a very solid, thoughtful post and I think ...This is a very solid, thoughtful post and I think it deserves anb equally solid, thoughful response. I'm not sure I have the energy to produce one in detail but I do think I see where you're coming from.<BR/><BR/>As I see it the differences between our positions are almost entirely contained in one assumption and I think it's yours: that Nouri Maliki is essential to the success of our enterprise in Iraq. I don't believe that Nouri Maliki <B>is</B> Iraq or the Iraqi government and I'm concerned about relying to highly on him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-86386157137565243582008-04-04T09:14:00.000-04:002008-04-04T09:14:00.000-04:00Very nice and thorough. This picture (and commenta...Very nice and thorough. <A HREF="http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/04/post_16.asp" REL="nofollow">This picture</A> (and commentary by Bill Roggio emphasizes point 4 and 5, I think.Soccer Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16142724823098073038noreply@blogger.com