Scant support for Al-Sadr [supporters numbered at 150]

Smccdi ^ | 4/11/04 | Smccdi

[freedom44]

KERBALA - Tens of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims headed home on Sunday after a subdued religious festival overshadowed by a rally in support of a radical Shi'ite cleric and fears of Sunni militant attacks.

Few pilgrims voiced support for Sadr and his uprising -- the young cleric draws more support from poor, angry youths in the Baghdad slums than among the traditionalists in Kerbala.

Around midday on Sunday, as many pilgrims were leaving, about 150 people rallied in support of Sadr.

"We are supporting Moqtada because he challenged the Americans, the Zionists, and exposed the hypocrite Ayatollahs," said one, Morad al-Mohammadi from Baghdad's Sadr City slum.

In one street, where most windows were shattered and walls were pockmarked with bullet holes after fighting with Polish troops, locals shoved away a man chanting his support for Sadr.

"Go away from here, we have women and children," said one of the locals. "If you want to fight them, go fight them in your neighbourhood, don't fight in our city."

Iraqi police, whom U.S.-led forces had previously entrusted with keeping order during Arbain, were not seen in Kerbala after this week's clashes. Shi'ite militias and local guards, some employed by the clerical authorities, were patrolling streets.

Some clerical authorities expressed concern at the extra security risk created by the police abandoning their positions, but said pilgrims would continue to come to Kerbala to celebrate Arbain anyway.

"Thanks be to God that nothing has happened until now, but even if there were attacks people would come," said Afdhal al-Shami, head of security for Kerbala's Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines. "During Saddam's time people were tortured and killed to try to make them stop coming, but they still came."

[freedom44]

US Media: MASS SHIITE SUPRISING IN IRAQ - EVERYONE HATES US - EVERYONE WANTS US OUT - WHAT ARE WE DOING?! - AL-SADR HAS MASS SUPPORT... reality check: out of 27 Million Iraqis, 150 Iraqis show support for Al-Sadr.

It's amazing that even though we're all aware that the US Media deceptively twists reality we tend to consistently believe them.

[AntiGuv]

Although the basic point is more correct than not ('scant support for Sadr'), this article is hardly saying that he has only 150 supporters in all of Iraq (which BTW has a population of 24 million, not 27 million). It merely says that he had only 150 supporters at one rally in Karbala, which is not a stronghold of his support to begin with.

[Rams82]

I would think it would be a little more than 150... I don't think its as widespread as the media says, but I dont think Iran would be paying millions to Al-Sadr for 150 people. If 150 guys are pushing our military out of multiple cities we REALLY have problems.

[freedom44]

Here's the mass anti-US shia uprising we keep hearing about--- 150 people --- No Shiite ;)

[AntiGuv]

Actually, the Mahdi militia alone is estimated at close to 10,000 combatants - leaving aside other supporters. Stop being foolish or gullible people..

[freedom44]

Point is that when tens of thousands of extremely religious people attend a holy function and only 150 show support for Al-Sadr it's called rather scant.

[mdittmar]

I don't quite get having a "cease fire" with a "bunch of thugs".

[Rams82]

I wasn't being foolish of gullible. There is no way only 150 people are causing this trouble

[Destructor]

Good news! We have enough body bags for all 150 of them.

[AntiGuv]

Well, yes. That is in fact the point. The point that you are proclaiming, however, is that he has '150 supporters out of "27 million" Iraqis', which is not the point, because it is false.

[Rams82]

of=or

[gilliam]

I heard this morning, can't remember which show, that Sadr is loosing support among the Shiites because of his support from Iran. This goes back to the Iraqi hate of Iran.

I would also note the article about suicide bombers shows that the Sunni's were preparing to kill the Shiites as well, so that alliance won't go anywhere.

Unless I am really missing something, things don't look very good for this 'uprising'.

[freedom44]

We're not doubting the "total" numbered, what we're doubting is the mass support we've been hearing about from the US Media.

The Mahdi Army is not solely compromised of Iraqis, therefore a mere 10,000 is still a small following.

[Rams82]

I have heard the Kurds in the north are more than ready if the Shiites and Sunni's try to start trouble there.

[TomGuy]

about 150 people rallied in support of Sadr.

Wow, that's almost as many who showed up for the million man march a few years ago.

[gilliam]

I have heard the Kurds in the north are more than ready if the Shiites and Sunni's try to start trouble there.

Undoubtedly.

[AntiGuv]

That is fine and I have no problem with that. My only issue is with the misleading way - perhaps unintentional - that you phrased your initial remarks.

[freedom44]

I don't know about that.

What's extremely interesting is that Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani is not an Arab, he's Persian from Iran, and he's the most reverred Ayatollah in Iraq. So the mere fact that Al-Sadr is receiving funding from Iran shouldn't damage his credibility.

[Smartass]

ISLAMOFACISTS WANT TO FINISH THE JOB WHERE HITLER FAILED

[freedom44]

You're right.

I should have posted out of the tens of thousands of religious pilgrims, only 150 showed Al-Sadr support.