[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 ;)

[mdittmar]

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

[Destructor]

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

[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'.

[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.

[Smartass]

ISLAMOFACISTS WANT TO FINISH THE JOB WHERE HITLER FAILED

[KC Burke]

I wish it was as simple as it is portrayed in this limited distribution site's citation of a Reuter's article.

I am pretty sure we have inflicted a few hundred casualities in Sadr's area of influence, so claims that he only mobilizes 150 apppear to be misleading.

Sadr needs to be taken off the field of play. Saddam needs a cell mate or, failing cooperation of surrender, other options are availible through the courtesy of the USMC or the Kurds.

[TomGuy]

Options and choices

Decisions, decisions

Easter egg hunt or rally for al-Sadr.

Chocolate Easter eggs or maybe a bullet in the brain?

'I got some choc-late!'

[somedaysoon]

What I find troubling is the Iraqi police who tuck their tails between their legs and run at any sign of trouble.

This needs to be addressed before June 30th.

[Wilhelm Tell]

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.

It is not surprising that Sadr's supporters are mostly restless, uneducated, unskilled youths. These are people who could not make it in a normal society and they sense that so they do whatever they can to prevent peace and normality. Often such people live isolated in slums, although some of them join together in crime gangs. With Saddam, they had an opportunity to "be somebody" -- work as a torturer or executioner. Sadr offers this riff-raff a new opportunity -- they are given food and housing and the chance to appear as big shots. I think -- I hope -- that most Iraqis understand that if Sadr's thugs were to run off all foreigners, ordinary Iraqis would be the next target, just like they were under Saddam. Sadr is counting on keeping Iraq so dysfunctional that there will always be a plentiful supply of frustrated young men to be the new executioners/cannon fodder. That way, if Sadr kills enough people he will wind up on top and be the new dictator.

[johnb838]

out of 27 Million Iraqis, 150 Iraqis show support for Al-Sadr.

Next we're going to find out that they are sponsored by moveon.org and International A.N.S.W.E.R.

[shrinkermd]

"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...

This is a good place to start buying weapons and explosives. A no question asked buying spree by local authorities would be a boon to the local economy and diffuse tensions as well as reduce armaments. Not the only solution, but one that shouldn't be forgotten. Young men who can make money selling guns and explosives are going to pick the community clean.

[mrsmith]

Several hundred thousand pilgrims came to Kerbala and 150 rallied for Sadr. That's about .1% and that's a fair sign of his support. Estimates of his actual "army" have run as low as 500.

They were expecting 4 million pilgrims in Kerbala before Sadr acted up, Sadr has no doubt made himself intensely unpopular with Kerbala merchants.

[Jorge]

I love it.
CNN and the lib networks were portraying this as a massive widespread uprising of the Iraqi people against the American occupation!

So for the gullible Bush haters who believed the leftist media propaganda, they must now be amazed at how the Bush Administration officials in Iraq have seemingly succeeded at pacifying this massive uprising.

[SuziQ]

"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."

We need more regular Iraqis doing this all over the country!

[TrueBeliever9]

150 Iraqis show support for Al-Sadr

The majority do not want to be photographed - they know that the photos are being used to identify insurgents (e.g., Iranians, Syrians, Palestinians, etc.)

[Guillermo]

Al Sadr DOES have MASSIVE support (among US and European lefties).