Iraq Council discusses deal to end Shi'ite violence (by Not Prosecuting Al-Sadr!)

reuters ^ | 4/7/04 | Reuters

[Mark Felton]

BAGHDAD, April 7 (Reuters) - Iraq's U.S.-installed Governing Council has discussed a proposal not to prosecute the rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr for murder if he agrees to halt a Shi'ite uprising, council members said on Wednesday.

They told Reuters after meeting to discuss the violence sweeping Iraq that using more force against the young cleric and his followers could lead to more civilian casualties and bolster support for him.

"Iraq could refrain from pursuing the arrest warrant in return for Moqtada renouncing violence," said one Shi'ite council member, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The situation would be akin to Lebanon's Subhi al-Tufaili, who is contained," he said, referring to the ex-Lebanese Hizbollah Shi'ite guerrilla group leader.

Tufaili is wanted for allegedly killing Lebanese soldiers and trying to assassinate a former Lebanese president years ago, but he roams the Bekaa Valley freely while staying away from vocal politics.

An arrest warrant is out for Sadr in connection with the killing of another cleric who returned from exile a year ago.

The murder of Sayyed Abdel Majid al-Khoei, the son of the late Grand Ayatollah Abu al-Qassem al-Khoei, sparked fears of violent divisions among Iraq's Shi'ite leadership.

Sadr has denied involvement in Khoei's murder. The arrest warrant was issued months ago but was only announced after his followers clashed with U.S. forces last week. The U.S. military says he will be arrested.

UPRISING

The cleric's followers have fought with occupation forces in the southern cities of Nassiriya, Amara, Kut, Kerbala and Najaf, vowing to carry on a revolt that has killed over 130 people since Sunday.

The Governing Council issued a statement denouncing the violence, but was considering taking a proactive stance to end the crisis, council sources said.

"The members will not sign on the plan and no delegation will go see Moqtada unless we are sure he can be contained," said an official with close links to the 25-member council.

"Using more force against him will not work and the Americans know this. Many more will die and even more radical elements could emerge if he is killed," he said.

Council members said previous attempts to integrate Sadr into the U.S.-led political process had failed.

They said a Governing Council delegation secretly met Sadr last year after his supporters fought in Kerbala with followers of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, regarded as the country's most influential Shi'ite cleric.

Sadr then agreed not to resort to violence but insisted the United States should withdraw its occupation forces from Iraq, they added.

Moderate Shi'ite leaders such as Sistani are seen as wary of being drawn into the conflict. Police in the seminary city of Najaf have allowed Sadr's followers to occupy their stations, and Sistani's followers let them effectively take over the city.

"There is not much Shi'ite holy men like Sistani can do," the council official said. "They are men of religion, not interior ministers."

[Mark Felton]

Very bad idea...

[mewzilla]

Not a good way to start off your nation. Bribing an alleged murderer with a Get Out Of Jail Free card...

[cripplecreek]

I suggest making the deal, then stage a fatal attack on him to look like an al qeada operation.

[dead]

Once the US Democratic Party Presidential Candidate labeled al-Sadr “a legitimate voice in Iraq” you could’t very well expect the Governing Council to disagree.

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[Joe Boucher]

Capitulation? No f-ing way.
Why are our boys fighting and dieing?

This punk is responsible for my nephew getting seriously injured yesterday in Iraq.
We better kill the bastard or I will take it way too personally.
Kiss heis ass? You gotta be kidding.

[johnfrink]

If they do this, they'll totally invalidate that "arrest warrant" they issued the other day, and will make a (further) mockery of the judicial system.

It's not unlike training a puppy: the minute you say "sit," you have to enforce it, even if you don't really care if the puppy sits, because once he believes that you lack the will to enforce your commands, it's all over.

[hellinahandcart]

This punk is responsible for my nephew getting seriously injured yesterday in Iraq.

Prayers for his recovery.

[samadams2000]

Why do we take so long and let things like this happen?

[sarasota]

Let the "discussion" end with the capture/kill of Sadr. End of story.

[laconic]

Achmed Chalabi and his bunch are not worthy of deciding on amnesty for the murderer of American troops. Their decision should be given the deference it merits: NONE.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Let the "discussion" end with the capture/kill of Sadr.

You mean he's still alive?

[Silver Bird Worker]

This is like a skit out of Monthy Python and the killer rabbit... RUN AWAY/RUN AWAY...........

[GraniteStateConservative]

Oh, it's just starting. They'll do things like this all the time.

[threat matrix]

No deal. Kill them all!

[Filibuster_60]

You don't understand the real problem here. . . the fact that whatever they think of Sadr, most Iraqis - excluding Kurds - view the Governing Council as a bunch of US puppets.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Don't blame it on Kerry. You hand car keys over to a toddler, don't be surprised or angry when the car ends up in a ditch-- or worse.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Hey, it gets better. You know how the government executes and enforces its laws via the backing of the military? We're that military. They'll decree stupid things and our military will make sure it is carried out.