Posted on 04/06/2008 2:49:46 PM PDT by james500
Iraq's major Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties have closed ranks to force anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to disband his Mahdi Army militia or leave politics, lawmakers and officials involved in the effort said Sunday.
Such a bold move risks a violent backlash by al-Sadr's Shiite militia. But if it succeeds it could cause a major realignment of Iraq's political landscape.
The first step will be adding language to a draft election bill banning parties that operate militias from fielding candidates in provincial balloting this fall, the officials and lawmakers said. The government intends to send the draft to parliament within days and hopes to win approval within weeks.
"We, the Sadrists, are in a predicament," lawmaker Hassan al-Rubaie said Sunday. "Even the blocs that had in the past supported us are now against us and we cannot stop them from taking action against us in parliament."
Al-Sadr controls 30 of the 275 parliament seats, a substantial figure but not enough to block legislation.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
This is long overdue - Sadr is the #1 enemy of democracy in Iraq and a tool of Iran, so that makes him a terrorist in my opinion. I hope somebody takes Sadr out- it’s not enough to get him out of the political landscape, he’s a threat as long as he breathes!
There is not a political solution to Sadr. He disbands and reforms his militia more often than most people change socks.
If the other groups want his force truly neutralized for good, they will have to be defeated by force, and Sadr will have to be removed. He cannot be part of any political process unless you want him to eventually take total control.
“Sadr will have to be removed”. Removed from this earth would be good.
The tyranny of the minority ceases to exert its former clout when the minority becomes sufficiently small....
Only the threat of carrying violence to the streets has supported Moqtada al-Sadr for as long as he was a force to reckon with. The rest of the Iraqis have closed ranks against him, and he stands isolated, with no friends in Parliament.
I have an idea al-Sadr is having a very bad time. He's going to be defeated in the legislature and if he wants to pick another fight with the military, he knows what he's going to face -
Here's a feel-great video of a recent action in Sadr City with the Iraqi Army in the lead, our Spec Opts guys backup.
We done trained 'em good.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3tMDhVu-f2Q
See my following post for direct link.
Anyone who thinks anything less than his death will end his reign of terror is deluding themselves.
I’m glad the other factions are starting to get a clue, but the actions of Iraqi politicians towards Sadr remind me an awful lot of how the UN treated Saddam. You cannot try to handle a military situation with just political pressure.
But, but, but ... the MSM told me that Maliki, not Sadr, has the loser here. How could it be?
I love that video. Those laser lights are incredible.
If I ever run across an Iraqi military guy, I’m pretty sure he’ll understand “go, go, go.”
Malaki is backed 100% by the Iranian government the cease fire was negotiated by iran. that is how they got sadr to stop.
The article states Mookie is thought to be hiding out in Qom. Qom is known to be earthquake prone. For once I can regret God having infinite patience.
1. This is not the actions of a government that thinks it lost.
2. This is the action of a government and a PM that has power and is willing to use it.
3. Judicial cover for the elimination of JAM...
(Badr and Peshmerga have already been folded into ISF under the budget law. They are no longer officially militias.)
Sadr is now guilty of treason. Try him, convict him and hang him right next to the Iranian border as a message to his enablers.
“Malaki is backed 100% by the Iranian government the cease fire was negotiated by iran. that is how they got sadr to stop.”
As my mama used to say: “Boosh-wah!!”
Lot of lead.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.