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Quote:
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BAGHDAD, March 31 (Reuters) - "Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's crackdown on militias in the southern oil port of Basra appears to have backfired, exposing the weakness of his army and strengthening his political foes ahead of elections." |
This is the way I keep hearing it. Al-Maliki apparently thought the time was right to step out and show that his government was strong enough to start asserting control over opposition groups.
Oooops! Seems the government troops were totally out fought, and that al-Sadr is negotiating with a definite upper hand.
You paying attention, Patreus?
McCain?
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