Al Sadr Threatens All Out War

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer 48 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr
gave a "final warning" to the government Saturday to halt a U.S.-Iraqi
crackdown against his followers or he would declare "open war until
liberation.

Iv'e said it before and I'll say it again-- Iraq will not settle their differences with one another as long as we are occupying their country and calling the shots. They are a proud people and will not except their fates being dictated by a western superpower. Just won't happen, no matter how long we stay and how much blood and treasure we expend,

Saturday Iraq Report

Updated at 1:45 p.m. EDT, April 19, 2008

At least 46 Iraqis
were killed and 135 were wounded in the latest attacks. Many were killed or
injured in Sadr City where fighting between the Mahdi army and security forces
continues. Two American soldiers were killed in separate incidents. Meahwhile,
the Australians are delaying
their withdrawal, while civil war is breaking
out between Sunni factions.

One
American soldier was killed when an IED exploded yesterday in Salah
ad Din province. The DOD reported the death
of an American soldier the day before in Sama village during a small arms
attack.

Police in Sadr City reported receiving 12
bodies and treating 71 people for injuries during overnight clashes between
the Mahdi army and security forces. Hospital officials said
they treated of 130 people for injuries.

No Light in This Tunnel

America's allies in Iraq under pressure as civil war breaks out among Sunni - Americas, World - The Independent: "A vicious civil war is now being fought within Iraq's Sunni Arab community between al-Qa'ida in Iraq and al-Sahwa while other groups continue to attack American forces. In Baghdad on a single day the head of al-Sahwa in the southern district of Dora was killed in his car by gunmen and seven others died by bombs and bullets in al-Adhamiya district"

This is just dandy. A Sunni civil war to bookend the Shia civil war with a sectarian one between Shia and Sunni. Not to mention the countless internecine squabbles by various ethnic groups and criminal gangs. What's your plan for this Saint McCain. Have you found the pony yet?