Angry Al-Maliki

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is fed up with all the attacks.

Extremists are targeting Shite pilgrims as they travel to Karbala for the Shabaniyah festival, but that's not all that has Maliki bent out of shape.

He's not happy with his American critics.

He's also not happy with the raids conducted by the U.S. military.

From the Associated Press:

BAGHDAD -- A sniper killed a Shiite pilgrim on a Baghdad bridge Monday while another was killed and six injured in other attacks as tens of thousands of faithful made their way to the southern city of Karbala for a major religious commemoration.

...[A]l-Maliki lashed out at American critics, saying Clinton and other Democrats who have called for his ouster should "come to their senses" and stop treating Iraq like "one of their villages."

He also lambasted the U.S. military for raids in Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad, adding new strains ahead of next month's showdown in Washington over the future of the U.S. mission.

The grim combination of ongoing violence and political deadlock have increased frustration in both Washington and Baghdad, with American lawmakers increasingly critical of al-Maliki's performance and Iraqi leaders growing weary of what they consider unfair U.S. criticism.

And from Newsday:

WASHINGTON -- In a further sign of Iraq's dominance in next year's presidential contest, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was slammed yesterday by besieged Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki who dismissed her call for his ouster as "ugly interference" in Iraq's affairs.

...[A] visibly angry Maliki charged at a Baghdad news conference: "There are American officials who consider Iraq as if it were one of their villages, for example Hillary Clinton and Carl Levin ... They should come to their senses." His comments follow Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin's call last week for Maliki's replacement, citing failure to quell sectarian strife or create a stable ruling coalition that would allow a phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.

The rift between American lawmakers and Maliki and the Iraqi government is a victory for the extremists and the enemies of democracy.