Washington - The US army will soon mark a milestone that the commander in chief, US President George W Bush, hardly anticipated. On Sunday, the US will mark its 1,347th day in Iraq - the same amount of time the United States fought Germany and Japan in World War II. With one of the worst 24-hour periods of carnage since the US-led invasion in 2003 - more than 170 people were killed from Thursday to Friday - Washington has no quick solution in mind. To the contrary, US government officials and military leaders, including General John Abizaid, the top commander of US forces in the Middle East, warn of failure and civil war if the murdering militia and death squads are not quickly brought under control. The Pentagon estimates there are at least 23 serious militia in Iraq. The biggest danger, US military experts say, is the Mahdi Army, the militia of the young Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
On Sunday, the US will mark its 1,347th day in Iraq - the same amount of time the United States fought Germany and Japan in World War II.
With one of the worst 24-hour periods of carnage since the US-led invasion in 2003 - more than 170 people were killed from Thursday to Friday - Washington has no quick solution in mind.
To the contrary, US government officials and military leaders, including General John Abizaid, the top commander of US forces in the Middle East, warn of failure and civil war if the murdering militia and death squads are not quickly brought under control.
The Pentagon estimates there are at least 23 serious militia in Iraq. The biggest danger, US military experts say, is the Mahdi Army, the militia of the young Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
US commentators like the Washington Post`s Colbert King point out that Sistani and his followers owe a debt of gratitude to the US for freeing them from oppression under Saddam Hussein.
