The Blog

Of Course They Would

1:07 AM, Apr 1, 2008 • By MICHAEL GOLDFARB
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The headline from the Los Angeles Times:

Iraq showdown made Sadr stronger, backers say

Besides quoting Sadrists praising Sadr, the article quotes an Iraqi officer lamenting the poor performance of Iraqi security forces. The Iraqi military may not have performed well, which is troubling, if it's true. I'm skeptical that an accurate assessment is possible so quickly after the fighting stops. What we do know: the Mahdi Army have accepted a cease-fire, and they have "retreated from the streets." Given those facts, it seems likely that the Sadrists didn't make out quite as well as they claim. Islamic radicals tend not to 'retreat' under a cease fire after they've won a major victory.

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