Moqtada Al-Sadr, leader of the Shiite Mahdi Army militia in Iraq, announced an extension of a cease-fire for six more months. The Mahdi Army is one of the most brutal, violent extremist armies in Iraq. Extending the cease-fire calmed the American troops and officials and relieved Sunni volunteer fighters. The original cease-fire was triggered by an extremely violent response to the bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra: Shiites, particularly the Mahdi Army, revolted against the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, and committed waves of sectarian violence. Sadr realized that his army was getting out of control and, last August, ordered the cease-fire. Extending this cease-fire solidifies Sadr as a strong, nationalist leader, who has the capacity to lead Iraq once American troops leave. Some rebellious Shiites see the extension as an exploitation by the U.S. and Sadr's rivals as a way to reveal the easy access to Shiite arrests (now that they are not fighting). Many Shiites are hurt and confused; they still want revenge, or they believe that ending the violence will only result in attack from enemies. Sadr's army is made up of many who believe that Iraw's current Shiite rulers are inefficient; the Mahdi army is energized and unpredictable. Regardless, the cease-fire was met with respect from many Iraqis, Shiites and Sunnis, and U.S. troops and officials and regarded as a step towards peace. Gen. David H. Petraeus said the cease-fire held "potential for a further reduction in violence in Iraq" and referred to Sadr with an honorific used for descendants of the Islam prophet Muhammad. Wathiq Kassim, an Interior Ministry employee in Iraq commented that the cease-fire could very well weed out "rouge" elements of the militia.
This article contains a great deal of prominence. A cease-fire in the Iraq war is very important and marks a huge event in American history; the war greatly affects Americans. If Sadr's cease-fire is the beginning of peace in Iraq, Americans can breathe a sigh of relief. The impact is great. Society, the economy, and family life depend on the outcome of the war: as it is, our economy is suffering and our soldiers' lives are being lost. Sadr could prove as a competent leader who can take over Iraq and let American troops come home victorious. There is timeliness, because the cease-fire was announced only a week ago; all those affected are anxious for updates. (Washington Post, 2/23/08, p. A01).
The best article, in my opinion, was "Dark Victory at the Oscars." I think it was cleverly written, because the author used a lot of insight in his observations. For example, his use of language in describing the negatively-charged themes and characters of the winning films: "cruelly-driven oilman", "morphine-addicted train wreck", "feel-bad films of the year." He reeled the reader in to the dark feelings he got from watching the 2008 Academy Awards. Truly, very dark films won, such as "No Country for Old Men" (Best Picture), "There Will be Blood", "La Vie en Rose", "Taxi to the Dark Side", and the slightly happier "Juno (about a pregnant teen). He even commented on the fact that several Hollywood starlets showed up in black! My favorite line in the whole article capitulated the wittiness of the author: "Lovers died in a time of war; the thirst for oil took precedence over humanity; greedy corporate types stooped lower than low; a killer roamed the desolate U.S.-Mexican borderland." It was a perfect summation of the 2008 Oscars. (Washington Post, 2/25/08, p. A01).
The 2008 Academy Awards had a turnout of dark films; many Europeans won. (Washington Post, 2/25/08, p.A01)... Critics questioned Barack Obama's speech-skills and dug into his past to find he could always capture an audience. (Washington Post, 2/26/08, p. A01)... Reports were made about U.S. troops allying with Iraqi Sunni insurgents in Mosul. (Washington Post, 2/24/08, p. A01)... U.S. payments to Pakistan reported to not having accounted for much to support Pakistan's Defense Ministry (U.S. ally). (Washington Post, 2/21/08, p. A01)... The Supreme Court dealt this week with an Exxon Oil Spill case that happened 16 years ago; people of the area were still suffering from the deadly effects. (Washington Post, 2/24/08, p. A01)...
