Shiites Burn Bush Effigy in Protest

On Friday, supporters of a radical Shiite cleric, while chanting "no to America" burned an effigy of President Bush. This was in a protest demanding parliament scuttle a U.S.-Iraqi security pact and American troops begin withdrawing from Iraq immediately. The demonstration drew nearly 20,000 followers of Muqtada al-Sadr to Firdous Square, the same spot where U.S. Marines toppled a statue of Saddam Hussein and exultant Iraqis pummeled it with debris in what became an iconic image of the fall of Baghdad and the end of the dictator's rule. It is too bad there are so many different factors among the Iraqi. They can't seem to agree on anything.

Friday's protest was the latest display of opposition to an accord that could push Iraq into new political turmoil even though the ruling coalition appears to have enough parliamentary votes to narrowly approve the deal. Monday Parliament is scheduled to vote on the pact. I wonder how this is going to come out. Guess we will find out soon.

Iraqi Government Dismisses 1,300 Soldiers, Policement

Iraq's government moved on Sunday to restore discipline within the ranks of the security forces, sacking more that 1300 soldiers and policemen who deserted during recent fighting against Shiite militias in Basra. Is it any wonder? What good are they if they take off when the fighting gets tough. At the same time, Iraq's Cabinet ratcheted up the pressure on anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr by approving draft legislation barring political parties with militias from participating in upcoming provincial elections. Sounds like a good idea to me. Al-Sadr, who heads the country's largest militia, the Mahdi Army, has been under intense pressure from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, also a Shiite, to disband the Mahdi Army or face political isolation. Al-Sadr's followers are eager to take part in the local elections because they believe they can take power away from rival Shiite parties in the vast, oil rich Shiite heartland of southern Iraq.

Sunnis End Boycott Of Iraqi Parliament

Sunni legislators returned to Iraq's parliament July 20, after a five-week boycott, raising hopes the assembly can make progress on power sharing bills demanded by Washington before the lawmakers take a month's break. Nut the return of the Sunnis and the hard-line Shiite faction loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Mugtada al-Sadr could also signal problems for many of the bills, including the oil law, which is a top U.S. priority. The 44 members of the Iraqi Accordance Front attended the parliament session after striking a deal with the Shiites and Kurds to reinstate the Sunni speaker. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who was ousted by the Shiite dominated assembly last month for erratic behavior.