Posted on 05/12/2008 10:39:50 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Like everything in life the surrender of the Mahdi Army to the Iraq rule of law, as defined and imposed by the duly elected government under Prime Minister Maliki, is not cut and dry - or instant. It seems the final form of the agreement was just signed by representatives from each Shiite camp - which means any side that violates the agreement will be shown to be inept, at best.
The deal was officially signed Monday between five representatives of firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and four member of the main Shiite political bloc.
Khalid al-Attiyah, the deputy parliamentary speaker, says Iraqi government forces will be able to enter Sadr City as early as Wednesday.
I am certain the Iraqi government would have liked to known the truce was still actually days away before they sent an army group in, which was attacked with roadside bombs. It also seems some bloodthirsty Islamo Fascists want to get one last lick in on the US Forces, and are dying to do so (literally):
Three people were killed separate incidents as violence flared Sunday night into Monday morning, CNN reported.
U.S. troops were fired upon and in the ensuing fight killed one person, officials said. Later, military officials said a criminal attacked U.S. soldiers with a rocket-propelled grenade and was shot and killed. In a third confrontation, soldiers fired upon a band of attackers, killing one.
There will always be dead enders. But I note again that the general public is all for the removal of the Mahdi thugs and the establishment of the rule of law by the elected Iraqi government forces.
(Excerpt) Read more at strata-sphere.com ...
No more “truces”. Fight until they surrender.
Truce = “We’re getting our arses kicked....cease fire cease fire....let us regroup and rearm.”
No freakin’ way!!!!
***************************EXCERPT************************
Get ready for more celebrations of Moqtada al-Sadr in the American media. Earlier today, he signed over control of Sadr City to the Nouri al-Maliki government in Baghdad, effectively ending his grip on any territory in Iraq. In the document, the Sadrists recognize the elected government as the sole legitimate authority in Sadr City and everywhere else in Iraq:
We have signed the agreement today, said Khalid al-Attiyah, the deputy parliamentary speaker from the main Shiite political bloc, United Iraqi Alliance.
Al-Attiyah said the cease-fire went into effect on Sunday and Iraqi forces will be allowed to enter the area as early as Wednesday and take over the security there.
The statement said the government will decide on the number of Iraqi forces to be deployed in Sadr City to achieve security, in order to refrain from asking help from foreign forces, a reference to the U.S. military.
Any attack against residential areas, government offices and the Green Zone are prohibited from Sadr City or from another area, the agreement said.
The cease-fire stipulates that Iraqi forces have the right to impose the law and to pursue illegal situations.
The government will allow the Mahdis to retain personal small arms, but anyone with anything heavier will be subject to arrest or attack. Those efforts continued today to clear Sadr City of splinter elements who have not accepted the cease-fire, with several more radicals killed by Iraqi and American forces. The agreement will not keep Maliki from imposing his will on the Baghdad suburb any more than a similar capitulation did in Basra, where Maliki uprooted the Mahdis from control after several years.
American media outlets have been surprisingly quiet about the latest developments. In Basra, they couldnt wait to proclaim Malikis operation a disaster and the battle a Sadr victory. Unfortunately for them, Sadr sued for peace and agreed to dump his own militias in exchange for political crumbs. In Sadr City, where he based his political power, he has done exactly the same, winning only a reprieve for his forces while conceding the entire territory to the central government.
I’ll believe it when it’s in place and lasted for at least a few years without a resurgence.
Odds?
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