Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sadrist movement withdraws from political process [Checkmate!]
The Long War Journal ^ | 6/15/2008 | Bill Roggio

Posted on 06/15/2008 12:10:10 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush

Muqtada-Sadr-image.jpg

Muqtada al Sadr.

Muqtada al Sadr has ordered the Sadrist political movement to boycott the upcoming provincial elections. Sadr's order comes one day after his order to disband the Mahdi Army as a fighting force and the creations of a small, armed wing to attack Coalition forces exclusively.

Sadrist aides claim Sadr rejects the election process and fears being associated with the occupation. "Sayyid Muqtada does not believe in elections or in the coming provincial governments as long as the occupation forces are here," Salah al Obaidi, a senior aide to Sadr, told The Washington Post.

"We don't want anybody to blame us or consider us part of this government while it is allowing the country to be under occupation," Liwa Smeisim, the leader of the Sadr movement's political committee told The Washington Post.

But the Sadrist movement has embraced the political process in the past and never feared being associated with the "occupation." The Sadrist movement won an estimated 30 of the 275 seats in Iraq's parliament. The Sadrists then joined the United Iraqi Alliance, an umbrella Shia political group. The movement was instrumental in Nouri al Maliki's appointment as Prime Minister.

The Iraqi government had threatened to bar the Sadrist movement from participating in the upcoming provincial election if the Sadrists did not disband the Mahdi Army. The move, which has wide support amongst all of Iraq's political parties, sparked panic within the Sadrist movement. Sadr had refused to disband the Mahdi Army, claiming Shia clerics supported it. But Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the senior-most Shia cleric in Iraq, said the Iraqi government is the only authority that should enforce the law.

The Iraqi government has achieved its goal of disbanding the Mahdi Army while Sadr's political rivals in the Shia benefit from the absence of Sadrist opposition at the ballot box. On June 14, Sadr essentially disbanded the Mahdi Army as a fighting force after he called for the creation of small, specialized cells to attack Coalition forces. He ordered the Mahdi Army to put down its weapons and become a social organization.

The Sadrists' withdrawal from the provincial elections and the demobilization of the Mahdi Army comes as the Iraqi government has pressed a relentless series of offensives against the Mahdi Army in Baghdad, Basrah, and the wider South.

Operation Knights' Assault was launched against the Mahdi Army in Basrah on March 25. After six days of heavy fighting, the Mahdi Army pushed for a cease-fire. The Iraqi security forces also dealt the Mahdi Army a heavy blow in the southern provinces of Najaf, Karbala, Qassadiyah, Maysan, and Wasit.

The Iraqi security forces and the US military also confronted the Mahdi Army in Sadr City in Baghdad. After six weeks of heavy fighting, the Mahdi Army and the Iraqi government signed a cease-fire that allowed the military to enter Sadr City uncontested.

During the month of May, the Iraqi security forces expanded operations throughout Basrah province in Az Zubayr, Al Qurnah, and Abu Al Khasib along the Iranian border. This week, an operation kicked off in Dhi Qhar province. Just yesterday, the Iraqi military began operations in the Mahdi Army strongholds in Maysan province.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alsadr; basra; iraq; jam; mookie; roggio; sadr; toast
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

1 posted on 06/15/2008 12:10:10 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush

Iraq War mistake #3281 -— Sadr’s existence.


2 posted on 06/15/2008 12:11:56 PM PDT by EagleUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Allegra; ari-freedom; arthurus; Bahbah; Ben Hecks; Blood of Tyrants; BOBTHENAILER; Boundless; ...
What am I missing? Is this not victory?
3 posted on 06/15/2008 12:15:29 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EagleUSA
Iraq War mistake #3281 -— Sadr’s existence.

Sadr has proven time and again to be, unwittingly of course, our greatest ally in the fight against his own Mahdi army. I am not sure we would have so easily defeated them without his help.

4 posted on 06/15/2008 12:17:40 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush

Yes, this is further evidence.


5 posted on 06/15/2008 12:19:51 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (Obama is al Qaeda's only hope in Iraq.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush

BUMP-TO-THE-TOP!


6 posted on 06/15/2008 12:21:09 PM PDT by PGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush
What am I missing? Is this not victory?

Our efforts there will go down in history

and yes, my FRiend, this is VICTORY.

Only needs to be preserved by a leader with the guts to seal it.

7 posted on 06/15/2008 12:24:58 PM PDT by BOBTHENAILER (One by one, in small groups or in whole armies, we don't care how we do it, but we're gonna getcha)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush
What am I missing? Is this not victory?

Because we have not yet made the political gains that need to be made as a result of the military victory.

The political gains need to be made ... in the United States of America.

8 posted on 06/15/2008 12:26:22 PM PDT by FredZarguna (-- I see my invisible hands --)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush
What am I missing? Is this not victory?

Sure looks like it. I look forward to seeing peaceful Iraq next month.

And we must never forget that to achieve victory, our troops and the coalition have also had to defeat the media and the Democrats.

9 posted on 06/15/2008 12:40:01 PM PDT by Allegra (If you lived here, you'd be home by now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush
Sadr's order comes one day after his order to disband the Mahdi Army as a fighting force and the creations (sic) of a small, armed wing to attack Coalition forces exclusively.

That's going to bite you in the butt as well, Mookie. You'll never learn, will you?

10 posted on 06/15/2008 12:42:44 PM PDT by Allegra (If you lived here, you'd be home by now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FredZarguna
Because we have not yet made the political gains that need to be made as a result of the military victory.

Perhaps, but all that needs to happen is for Bush, Petraeus, or even Maliki to declare victory.

I think McCain might win in a landslide if he campaigned this summer leading up to the nomination, from Iraq. The press would have to follow him to every stop, and at every stop the heaviest un-stated question on everyone's mind would be "Where is Obama?"

11 posted on 06/15/2008 12:45:29 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre

McCain needs to campaign from Iraq.


12 posted on 06/15/2008 12:46:17 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BOBTHENAILER

McCain should tour Iraq in July with Maliki and jointly declare victory, and after that Petraeus can announce dramatic reductions in force.


13 posted on 06/15/2008 12:47:40 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

I think the Democrats could get it handed to them if the GOP would just show a little courage and campaign from Iraq. The message: Obama, by his own admission, would have lost this war.


14 posted on 06/15/2008 12:49:42 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: EagleUSA
Iraq War mistake #3281 -— Sadr’s existence.

You are as wrong there as it is possible to be.

There seems to be a desperation around here to cling to ignorance of how Counter Insurgency differs from Conventional War. This is one of the political aspects of the problem that Conventional Military thinkers find so hard to deal with.

For example Al Sadr. Al Sadr is a clever little thug. He walks right up to the line but he does not cross it. He is typical of the sorts of messy little problems that crop up in a Counter Insurgency. NOT exactly an enemy not exactly an ally. So how you deal with him is troublesome.

Since Malki and Al Sadr are both Shia, Malki cannot squish him without splitting his own power base. So he keeps trying to negotiate with the twit. Frankly, I think with the terrorists mostly broken now is the time to finish breaking the militias.

Unfortunately as usual the Arab way kicks in again. Talk,talk,talk,talk,talk,talk and more talk. Someone needs to sit Maliki down and speak truth to him.

Here how Counter Insurgency done the Dinocon way would look.

-

Americans: Yo, all you Iraqis. Now we know you all have been oppressed and terrorized by Saddam and his goons for about 40 years so we came over here to show you a better way. So gather round and we are going to teach you this thing called Democracy. We want to teach you this cause we figure if we get can get enough of you following this ideology you will not follow the ideology that preaches it is a good thing to fly airplanes into buildings full of our Civilians.

Now the first things you need to learn is this part about the Rule of Law. Study the sub chapters on Innocent until prove Guilty, Trial by Jury, Right to Legal Representation and really important, the chapter on outlawing Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Ok, now while you do that, we are going to arbitrarily round up and kill any Iraqis who we think maybe have ever talked mean about us.

What? No we are not going to bother with any of that messy Democracy stuff cause we are at war. And according to our Holloweird Movie guide to Military Action flicks any time you are at war you can waste anyone who pisses you off for what ever reason you want any way you want to do it. According to Hollyweird, we don’t need nothing like proof or nothing we can just go wack that little Al Sadr freak cause he pisses us off. Evidence? We don’t need no stinkin’ evidence. Our action movie heros never bother with any evidence. In the Movie we watch on TV says we are just suppose to go kill him because he pisses us off so that what we want to do here. Now quit talking back and learn our lessons on Democracy.

Iraqi 1. Hey Mahmoud, why are we helping these clowns?

Iraqi 2. What do you mean Achmed, they got rid of Saddam!

Iraqi 1. They did? Looks to me like they just took his place.

Iraqi 2. Well ya so?

Iraqi 1. Well at least the old thugs were from around here. These guys are not only from out of town they are not even Muslims. We may has well have Muslim thugs if we got to have thugs.

Iraqi 2. You right, time to join the Jihad!

That is what this “Counter Insurgency doctrine as learned from watching TV dramas” would produce. It would of been utter stupidity for the US to follow the macho boy tactics as advocated by the Internet warriors and the Never been talking heads.

15 posted on 06/15/2008 12:53:51 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (http://www.iraqvetsforcongress.com ---- Get involved, make a difference.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Allegra
That's going to bite you in the butt as well, Mookie. You'll never learn, will you?

It will never happen, it's just his blustering. Everyone knows he is finished. Even if he hadn't declared this he was headed to certain humiliation at the polls. He has lost his constituency. Just as al Qaeda lost their Sunni constituency, he has lost his Shia following. The war is won. This is the closest you will get to a surrender. Bush has outlasted everyone. The greatest fighting force in the history of warfare, composed of the bravest, most intelligent, most compassionate, and most professional soldiers in history have done what hardly anyone expected they could do. The war is won!

16 posted on 06/15/2008 12:58:15 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush

That scenario would be absolutely perfect.


17 posted on 06/15/2008 12:59:43 PM PDT by BOBTHENAILER (One by one, in small groups or in whole armies, we don't care how we do it, but we're gonna getcha)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Tennessean4Bush
McCain should tour Iraq in July with Maliki and jointly declare victory,

They should put a "Mission Accomplished" banner in the background, too.

18 posted on 06/15/2008 1:04:56 PM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: BOBTHENAILER

If McCain went to Iraq for a month and everywhere he went declared victory it would totally emasculate and humiliate Obama. I mean, what could Obama say? Think of the interviews they could conduct with ordinary Iraqis, Iraqi military, the Sons of Iraq. They would all say, thank you so very much for helping us and not abandoning us, and could you leave as soon as possible. McCain could look at the camera and say “If I am elected President, that is what we will do. And because we didn’t abandon Iraq like Obama wanted to do we will be coming home as victors with a stable ally right in the heart of the Middle East.”


19 posted on 06/15/2008 1:10:22 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: sam_paine
They should put a "Mission Accomplished" banner in the background, too.

Yes! Perfect! But not as perfect as hanging it at the GOP convention as well. Wouldn't that make their heads explode at the DNC?

20 posted on 06/15/2008 1:11:54 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson