Operation Imposing Law: Security Sweep Targets Baghdad
by John Little on 25/01/2007Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is talking about the plan:
“We are full of hope. We have no other choice but to use force and any place where we receive fire will not be safe even if it is a school, a mosque, a political party office or home,” he said. “There will be no safe place in Iraq for terrorists.”
Past attempts by American forces and Iraqis have failed to cleanse the capital of Sunni insurgents and Shiite militiamen. Previously, al-Maliki intervened to prevent the crackdowns from going after members of the Shiite Mahdi Army that is run by one of his prime political backers, anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
The militia force is believed responsible for much of the sectarian killing in Baghdad and central Iraq in recent months. Its forces and death squads have deeply infiltrated Iraqi security forces.
The crackdown “aims to disarm all groups and only leave weapons in the hands of the government,” al-Maliki said, repeating a phrase he has consistently repeated for months. “This plan will not be the last. The battle between us and terrorists is open and continuous.”
It’s nice to see al-Maliki talking about an “open and continous” battle against terrorist forces but talk is cheap. I wonder how many insurgents will bury their weapons and sit this one out. We’ve already told them the surge won’t last long.
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