(Smoke rises from Basra at twilight. PHOTO By ESSAM AL-SUDANI)
More details are coming out about today’s invasion of Basra, Iraq’s second largest city (population 2.7 million) and it’s major oil hub. At dawn, 15,000 Iraqi Army troops invaded the city, backed by US air support. They’re battling Shiite Militias—mainly Moqtada al Sadr’s Mahdi Army but also the SCRIRI party’s Badr Brigade and other criminal elements. 33 have been killed, 81 injured.
Basra’s been in chaos for months. The British Army “handed” Basra back to the “Iraqis” last summer. And by handed I mean left the city in anarchy. And by Iraqis I mean Shiite militias. Basra was the only major city fully under British control. The Limey’s legacy in Iraq hangs in balance.
A majority of Iraq’s 2 million barrels of oil a day move through Basra, which sits at Iraq’s southernmost tip on the Persian Gulf. The port earns $100 million a day. Control of Basra equals control of Iraq. Meanwhile America’s deadliest foe, Moqtada al Sadr, is the most powerful warlord in Basra. It’s probably not a good idea to leave your worst enemy in charge of the oil fields. Hence this battle to re-take the city.
In response Moqtada al Sadr called a nationwide “civil revolt.” Baghdad remains paralyzed. Sadr City, the Shiite slum that shares Moqtada’s namesake and is home to 2 million, is under siege. Fighting has spread to Kut and Hilla, medium sized cities south of the capital.
Genral Petreaus and President Bush will likely blame Iran for this. (Petreaus already blamed Iran for Sunday’s Green Zone attacks.) Duh! Iran’s been funding the Shiite militias for over three years. Why bring that up now? Maybe to explain why the Surge is falling apart.
Fear that Iran is destabilizing Iraq will help McCain, too. Who can handle the threat of Iran? John McCain, warrior!
But there’s nothing new here: Iran’s been fighting a proxy war against the US in Iraq for years. The language of war is so easily manipulated. Obama and Hillary should just come out and say, “We’ve been in a proxy war with Iran since at least 2004.”
TAGS: attack, Hillary, Iran, Iraq, John McCain, mccain, obama, Shiite, war
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