Rice Calls Sadr a "Coward"; Echoes "Bring'em On"

by: Brandon Friedman

Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 19:11:35 PM EDT


Sitting bravely behind concrete walls while visiting Iraq this weekend, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice chose to channel her boss (circa 2003) by responding to Muqtada al-Sadr's latest threat with an official "taunt" from the U.S. government:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mocked anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a coward on Sunday, hours after the radical leader threatened to declare war unless U.S. and Iraqi forces end a military crackdown on his followers.
::
"I know he's sitting in Iran," Rice said dismissively, when asked about al-Sadr's latest threat to lift a self-imposed cease-fire with government and U.S. forces. "I guess it's all-out war for anybody but him," Rice said. "I guess that's the message; his followers can go to their deaths and he's in Iran."

We can now expect a State-issued "double-dog dare" within the next 24 hours.  I realize that Rice is looking to strengthen Maliki's position, but I fail to see how this will help.  In fact, this schoolyard taunt by Rice actually provides a huge piece of propaganda for Sadr, who can now use it as a rallying point for his followers who will view this as a challenge to their honor.  

Again, we have yet another member of the Bush administration who--in a ham-handed effort to help our "allies"--is actually placing our own troops in more danger.  I don't think there's any question that this echoes George W. Bush's provocative invitation for terrorists around the world to descend on Iraq when he declared, "Bring'em on" in July 2003.  And we all know how that worked out.  

But it's not just about Rice's dismissive, provocative tone, either.  It's also this continuing, obnoxious Bush-brand of hypocrisy that the whole world sees: If Sadr had said the same thing of Rice--that she's a Washington, D.C. bureaucrat who sends others to fight her own battles--the Bush administration would freak out.  And that fact isn't lost on Iraqis.

As Rice is one who will not have to stay and fight the Mahdi Army side-by-side with our troops, I suggest that she keep her mouth shut if she's not going to say anything helpful.  Because statements like these are certainly not.  

UPDATE: The New York Times is now reporting a statement from Rice that could lead one to believe that her brain had fallen out of her head.  Here is our Secretary of State speaking of Muqtada al-Sadr from Baghdad:

"I don't know whether to take him seriously or not," Ms. Rice said.

After the uprising he spearheaded in 2004, and the bloody, EFP-driven charge against U.S. forces he led in Baghdad in 2007, I think it's probably pretty safe to "take him seriously."  Do our troops the favor, Condi.

UPDATE II: Spencer Ackerman has more on this at Attackerman:

So Sadr is a coward for making threats from Iran... and Condoleezza Rice, speaking from Washington, is a stateswoman for blustering Sadr into making a move that carries the potential of killing American soldiers. Why is this woman respected again?

UPDATE III: More on this from Steve Cernig at Newshoggers.
Brandon Friedman :: Rice Calls Sadr a "Coward"; Echoes "Bring'em On"
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Rice Calls Sadr a "Coward"; Echoes "Bring'em On" | 15 comments
As (4.00 / 2)
"I guess it's all-out war for anybody but him," Rice said. "I guess that's the message; his followers can go to their deaths and he's in Iran."

She quickly flys back across the big pond into the waiting arms of, oh you know who, and they snuggle under the oval office desk out of fear(?) or, as pickles searches for hubby!!

As posted over at KOS, Sadr said "Untill Liberation", if they let loose it'll be an extremely bloody loose, an American forces won't just be in the crossfire, Sadly they will be prime targets!!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

Great diplomacy there, Condi (4.00 / 3)
I was astounded to read the report of Rice's statement.  Is diplomacy being left to the military?  Tonight on NBC News there was a US brigadier general trying to smooth things over with al-Sadr, promising he could still have a political role in spite of recent events.  

Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, says "We've made it very clear that the Mahdi Army itself ... is not the enemy."  

I have my doubts about how far the Bush administration really can really go in making friends with al-Sadr-- his bottom line is, end the occupation.  But clearly our commanders realize, as Condi Rice apparently does not, that the Mahdi Army cease fire was the main reason they were able to make the specious claim "the surge is working."

Is President Bush trying to provoke an all-out war with the largest and most popular Shiite militia?  To what end?
   

To answer your question... (0.00 / 0)
... President Bush couldn't tie his own shoe laces without help, as the saying goes. Don't you think that all of this is pretty much under the control of the Veep...I mean, I just can't wrap my mind around the concept that this President is capable of following any of this, much less in charge of larger "goals".

There was some "chatter" a while ago about a strategy known inside the beltway as the "Darwin Principle". According to this survival of the fittest strategy, which emanates from the inner sanctum of the Veep's office, if not from the man himself, it would be best for the US to back the Shiites in Iraq because they are the ones who will win a fight to the death since there are more Shiites than Sunnis in Iraq. Here's where it gets scary...this would spark a Sunnis vs Shiite all-out war in the region and, while Shiites out number Sunnis in Iraq, there are more Sunnis than Shiites everywhere else! And so, in that battle, Iran is the loser. See...doesn't it all make sense now?

Here is the link to the article outlining this grand vision - it should come with some sort of warning!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12...

[ Parent ]
One comment alone... (0.00 / 0)
"I don't know whether to take him seriously or not," Ms. Rice said.

is enough to remove her from office -- immediately.

This is sickening.  My heart fell into my stomach when reading this.  It's beyond incompetence... I don't know what the word it, but it's worse than incompetence, stupidity, ignorance... only I can't find the word to describe it.

Now we know the purpose of Rice's visit (0.00 / 0)
I echo your sentiments, exactly.  Rice is a war criminal.  What is now clear to the Democrats, is the astounding stupidity of the party's leadership, especially Pelosi.  Had she done what the nation demanded when they voted in November, we might have avoided giving the Bush gang this opportunity to blow the roof off the middle east.  If the May 1st activities don't do anything else, they better send the message loud and clear that Bush and Cheney and Rice and the rest of them need to be under house arrest for the duration.
[ Parent ]
I can't imagine what it's like to be in the military (0.00 / 0)
right now or having just gotten out and seeing/living what's going on with the "policy makers."  I've never been in the military, although my parents, brother, aunts, uncles, and cousins have or are currently.

I think you have to be a very special kind of person to enlist, and I'm not special.  I hold so much admiration for the people that do.  And my heart breaks when they are misused and treated badly.  I know life's not fair, but we have to try to make it better.

In a day or two, her comments will be habituated into society's thinking and life will go on as "normal."

Bush said, "Bring 'Em On" in 2003, yet he was elected in 2004.  

Maybe, just maybe THIS time our citizens will take notice.  I won't hold my breath, though.  But I can count on cable shows to say how "horrific" this statement is... even maybe a Special Comment from Keith.  Then onto baseball, spring, summer, with no consequences to Condi or Bush.  Same old, same old.

[ Parent ]
Try evil. (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Oil Tanker Condi (0.00 / 0)
SNEWS.

Can't find the link right now, but remember reading a blog calling Condi big oil's ___. The blank is because it is a racial slur that is offensive. Here is a link that you might enjoy.

http://www.aztlan.net/oiltanke...

Did you know that Condi was an adviser at the Pentagon during  Iran-Contra? I seem to recall that she and Gates [CIA] supported each other and GHW Bush during testimony. Sorry, I can only verify the position at the Pentagon.

Both she and Gates are "USSR" specialists.

She has slid under the radar for way too long as Nat'l Security Advisor, yada.

I also recall her statements made with Rummy about the positive need for 'Propaganda' to win hearts and minds. Her involvement in the "Torture" scandal is soo believable. ?Records of her at US Black Sites?

"her" DoS is a mess. Can't fill State Dept. openings, let alone get folks to take assignments at  the Embassy in Iraq. DoS just renewed Blackwater's contract  because " they can't find anybody else". Gave the contract to Aegis Defense Services to investigate/oversee Blackwater. ADS has a nasty history including Sandline, Sir Thatcher, Mann, Lt. Col. Spicer.

Damn (0.00 / 0)
Pot calling kettle . . .

She was supposed to be the educated one wasn't she?  How could she not see the irony in her statement?  If anything, she gave more credibility to Sadr . . . as he can be likened to our "fearless" leaders in DC.

Difference being... (0.00 / 0)

That there is an ocean and a lot of land between Iraq and the US. There is not much of a border between Iraq and Iran.
[ Parent ]
True (0.00 / 0)
Which makes it even scarier.
[ Parent ]
I agree Brandon... (0.00 / 0)
...the problems with Sadr and his followers are not going to be solved with rhetorical John Wayne-type speak.  The whole issue is exceedingly complex and this wasn't very diplomatically coy of her.
Questions for any front pagers from (0.00 / 0)
a really interested Mom. I got the big, bad willies when Adm. Fallon resigned. Have to say that I felt like he added some 'brakes' or 'ballast' or 'reason' to the "John Waynes, yada".

From what I could follow in the press, mostly from Fallon's area of command, he and Gates took on a lot of the 'diplomatic chores'.

Is there an old diary about his resignation? [I was sick and off line for quite awhile]  If not I would love to read what you thought about the effect of his resignation.

Did you catch al-Maliki "iraq will not become the next Somalia"/
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/...

and also that Iraq issued a list of Oil Co. that they were willing to work with. NO TURKEY folks were on the list. Found this interesting with all the pipelines and the PKK thing. Comments?
http://www.turkishweekly.net  

[ Parent ]
Don't worry about Fallon... (0.00 / 0)
...it was more a conflict of personalities and DC politics rather than a big precursor to "bomb Iran".
[ Parent ]
This is one more of... (0.00 / 0)
many good reasons why politicos should stay out of war zones and shut the f**** up.
Rice Calls Sadr a "Coward"; Echoes "Bring'em On" | 15 comments
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