Green Zone Means “Go” to Shiite Militias

Two American soldiers were killed and another 17 injured in a rocket attack on the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad this weekend.

Another American soldier was killed and 14 more injured in a separate attack in Baghdad as violence erupted between Iraq’s army and Shiite militiamen loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Iraq’s government is pressuring al-Sadr to disband his Mehdi Army, the largest, most sophisticated and well-armed of Iraq’s many militias. Prime Minister al-Maliki has said that unless the Mehdi Army disbands, al-Sadr’s powerful following won’t be allowed to participate in upcoming elections.

The violence represents a new phase in the American occupation of Iraq in which instead of Shiite and Sunni factions attacking each other, rival Shiite factions vie for supremacy against each other and the Shiite-dominated parliament. This new phase has American forces scrambling to meet yet another strategic challenge in a war that defies traditional military planning.

The apparent decline in security in Baghdad, which had been somewhat pacified in the wake of President Bush’s surge strategy, will be part of contentious hearings on Capitol Hill this week. Both Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are scheduled to speak before House and Senate committees.

Observers of the American presidential race can expect the flareup in Baghdad to be used as a political football by both sides. Most Americans, however, will remain purposefully ignorant and apathetic about this most complex and relevant war.

Meanwhile, as of this writing, both CNN and MSNBC prominently feature the deteriorating situation in Baghdad in their online reporting, while The Drudge Report and FoxNews make no mention of it.

Newsprism

Hillary’s Penn Leaves Black Mark on Campaign

Hillary Clinton’s chief campaign strategist Mark Penn has been forced to resign after meeting with Colombian officials to discuss a bilateral trade agreement opposed by Mrs. Clinton.

Trade agreements that could hurt American workers are a touchy subject in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, where a declining industrial base is damaging local economies. Pennsylvania holds its primary on April 22.

Penn, sometimes referred to as Clinton’s “Karl Rove,” had clashed with numerous campaign staffers and was blamed by many for the failed electoral strategy that allowed Barack Obama to establish an imposing lead in pledged delegates shortly after Super Tuesday primaries in February.

Particularly problematic was Penn’s dual role as chief campaign strategist and president of PR firm Bursten-Marsteller, which brought up questions of propriety and conflicts of interest. Colombian officials have suggested that they weren’t sure whether their meeting with Penn involved just one or both of his roles.

Penn’s resignation is just the latest in a string of black marks on a campaign that a year ago was seen as virtually unstoppable.

Newsprism