I Tend To Harp On Iraq

This is an important week, as saintly, reverend, majestic General Petraeus is coming to Washington to tell part of the truth.

IRANIAN forces were involved in the recent battle for Basra, General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, is expected to tell Congress this week.

Yeah, no kidding. A lot of them were fighting under Prime Minister Maliki's command. The Iraqi government is closely linked to the pro-Iranian Badr Brigades, with many of their members inside the Iraqi security forces, and in fact in the aftermath of Basra Maliki inducted 10,000 Badr militia members into the police and Army.

We also have the bizarre situation of Maliki calling on Shiite militias to disband while hiring other Shiite militias. I guess some pro-Iranian forces are better than others. And this could just be a total mess.

With tensions rising, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, himself a Shiite, told CNN Sunday that al-Sadr's followers would not be allowed "to participate in the political process or take part in upcoming elections unless they end the Mahdi Army."

He was referring to provincial elections expected in the fall that are likely to redistribute power in Iraq. The Sadrists have accused al-Maliki's government and rival parties of trying to diminish their standing ahead of the vote.

If you try to disenfranchise the movement that can put a million people in the streets on a few day's notice, somehow I'm thinking that won't end with hugs and kisses.

But this of course doesn't matter to the Republican spinners trying to absolve themselves of blame for this catastrophe. The great and glorious war in Iraq can only be lost because of Iran. So we must fight Iran, and that great and glorious war could only be lost because of... I don't know, Russia... we have over 190 countries, so this thing could extend.