Opposing Digits

Last week's attack by U.S.-led Iraqi paramilitary forces on a building that Shi'ite leaders claim was a mosque may have marked the beginning of a new stage of U.S. policy in which Iraqi forces are used to carry out military operations against Shi'ite militia forces – especially those loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr.

However, such a strategy risks uniting the Shi'ites against the U.S. military occupation and leading to a showdown that makes that presence politically untenable.

# posted by madthumbs @ 9:29 AM