The Art of Politics

Fight To The Death

Iraqi cleric promises to fight to the death - sounds reasonable...

Troublesome, corpulent cleric Moqtada Al Sadr is once again challenging coalition forces, and has defiantly declared his willingness to die in his struggle.

For the last five days, US forces have accomodated those wanting to martyr themselves for Al Sadr, to the tune of several hundred dead. This is unfortunately a result of the prior policy which allowed Al Sadr to simply fade away, rather than insist on his immediate defeat. It's unclear if this was a policy born in Washington, Baghdad, or on the front lines. But the policy once again shows peace requires victory - simply taking your adversary's will to fight isn't enough. The US is playing by a different set of rules, and until they change from trying to stop Al Sadr, to trying to defeat Al Sadr, we can expect flare-ups, shootings, and rebellions.

"I will remain in Najaf city until the last drop of my blood has been spilled.?

Your proposal is accepted.

Posted by MEC2 at August 9, 2004 07:54 PM