What is going on in southern Iraq?
Two soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment were killed Friday in Numaniyah after being hit by an IED. Anyone got an idea of what is going on down there? The smart money says this is the beginning of pre-withdrawal jockeying for power, with factions and splinters putting in bids by hitting American troops. "Sadrists ...
Two soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment were killed Friday in Numaniyah after being hit by an IED.
Two soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment were killed Friday in Numaniyah after being hit by an IED.
Anyone got an idea of what is going on down there? The smart money says this is the beginning of pre-withdrawal jockeying for power, with factions and splinters putting in bids by hitting American troops. "Sadrists and splinter groups (PDB and AAH and JAM) trying to show they are driving us out," reports a friend at the State Department. "They are back from training sabbatical in Iran and his speech in early April unleashed them." War as politics by other means. But when is it not?
In Baghdad, meanwhile, an Iraqi general was blown up, three other government officials were assassinated, and churches were attacked.
More from Foreign Policy
No, the World Is Not Multipolar
The idea of emerging power centers is popular but wrong—and could lead to serious policy mistakes.
America Prepares for a Pacific War With China It Doesn’t Want
Embedded with U.S. forces in the Pacific, I saw the dilemmas of deterrence firsthand.
America Can’t Stop China’s Rise
And it should stop trying.
The Morality of Ukraine’s War Is Very Murky
The ethical calculations are less clear than you might think.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.