| Juan Cole gives a plausible explanation of why al-Maliki decided to send the Iraqi army into Basra. The Mahdi army was definitely the major force and US air power had to come in. In October there will be provincial elections. If Sadr loses his current struggle to curb use of stolen oil, a more favorable result to the elections might allow US to stay in Iraq longer. Iran is the strategic factor involved. |
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At www.salon.com
Margaret Bassett passed away August 21, 2011. She was a treasured member of the Opednews.com editorial team for four years.
Margaret Bassett--OEN editor--is an 89-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political philosophy. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboard into the lives of those who come after her.
