How long before the jaws snap shut?

Two Major news items today: Sadrists Boycott Iraq Government over Bush simply Meeting with Al-Maliki:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Jordan for meetings Wednesday and Thursday with President Bush aimed at halting escalating sectarian violence and paving the way for a reduction of U.S. troops. Lawmakers and Cabinet ministers loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr promptly suspended participation in parliament and the government to protest the meeting.
The political bloc is a mainstay of support for al-Maliki.(boldfacing mine)

A statement issued by the 30 lawmakers and six Cabinet ministers said their boycott was necessary because the meeting constituted a “provocation to the feelings of the Iraqi people and a violation of their constitutional rights.” The statement did not explain that claim.

“This visit hijacked the will of the people during days when the sons of Iraq write their destiny with blood and not ink,” said the statement, which referred to Bush as “cursed,” the “world’s biggest evil” and a “criminal.”

Link

And Americans are close to pulling out of Anbar province…

There are now 30,000 U.S. troops in al-Anbar, mainly Marines, braving some of the fiercest fighting in Iraq. At least 1,055 Americans have been killed in this region, making al-Anbar the deadliest province for American troops.
The region is a Sunni stronghold and the main base of operations for al Qaeda in Iraq and has been a place of increasing frustration to U.S. commanders.
In a recent intelligence assessment, senior Marine Intelligence Officer in al-Anbar, Col. Peter Devlin, concluded that without a massive infusement of more troops, the battle in al-Anbar is unwinnable.

Link

The Shia is feeling its oats. Hardly a whisper has been heard from Al-Sistani as the radical elements of the Iraqi Shia are embroiled in the civil war. Al-Sadr makes several big moves recently- another of which was seizing a state run news television station, to issue a call to arms.

Forcing the Americans out of Anbar province would be a major victory for the Sunni and Al Quaeda elements. The clock is ticking. Both sides of Iraqis apparently have STOOD UP. I don’t imagine this is what the neocons were picturing, but then, NOTHING they envisioned quite worked out the way they had “planned”.

Both sides are calling for American occupation to end so they can get to the proper business of fighting their civil war. The so-called Democracy that America instituted was a joke. Elected Iraqi officials refusing to take part in the government at all if their Prime Minister merely speaks to President Bush and militia infiltration of virtually every single police and army unit we have trained is our Seventh sign… It’s time to get our troops out of Iraq.

The Iraqi people have “spoken”. They don’t want us in the way of their power struggle. I personally don’t see any way out of this at all. It won’t be long until the attacks on U.S. forces become concentrated tenfold. Will our leaders remain sitting on their hands until the two sides of this beartrap clang shut on our forces there?

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