Iraqi leaders not happy with US military raid

Wow. The US raided a Shia militia site in Baghdad this morning, and now Prime Minister Maliki and Kurdish President Talabani are openly criticizing the US for the action.

Al-Maliki, a Shiite, said he was "very angered and pained" by the operation, warning that it could undermine his efforts toward national reconciliation.

"Reconciliation cannot go hand in hand with operations that violate the rights of citizens this way," al-Maliki said in a statement on government television. "This operation used weapons that are unreasonable to detain someone — like using planes."

He apologized to the Iraqi people for the operation and said "this won't happen again.".....

After the Sadr City attack, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, met with the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., to discuss security operations in Baghdad. Talabani said he told Casey "it is in no one's interest to have a confrontation" with al-Sadr's movement.

This speak volumes about the true state of affairs in Baghdad. Sadr and his militia are running the show. That Maliki is protecting them isn't a huge shock as they are a part of his power base and governing faction, but for Talabani....?

The pro-US Talabani is trying to warn the US off its current Baghdad strategy which will activate the Shia militias transforming them into a force directly fighting the government and the Americans.

Effectively, Maliki and Talabani are only open to the US attacking their common Sunni foes. Tell me this isn't a civil war.

Get out. Get out now.

(UPDATE: AP changed the headline from "Iraqi PM Criticizes..." to "Iraqi Leader Slams..." Same author, just a much stronger headline.)