Iraq Shi'ite Political Leaders Try to Contain Sadr (Iraqies getting their act together)

Reuters ^ | Tue, May 04, 2004 | Khaled Yacoub Oweis

[Eurotwit]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Shi'ite political leaders called on Moqtada al-Sadr to disarm on Tuesday and vowed to forge a domestic solution to the brewing crisis involving the anti-U.S. cleric and the country's holiest cities.

The move is the first collective effort by Sadr's political rivals to try to avoid further violence in Najaf and Kerbala, and regain political ground lost to the firebrand cleric, whose nationalist brand of Islam has gained him support.

"It is a shame to ask the occupation forces to solve this problem," Shi'ite leader Mohammad Bahr al-Uloum told a meeting of Shi'ite parties, including those on the Governing Council.

"We are taking a clear stand: Najaf and Kerbala must be disarmed. These are holy cities that must have a Vatican (news - web sites)-like status," he added.

Iran, which backs almost all Shi'ite political forces in Iraq (news - web sites), earlier said the United States should leave the politicians to solve the problem instead of inflaming the situation by trying to arrest Sadr.

This scenario could involve attacking Najaf, which contains the grave of Imam Ali, for Shi'ites the most revered descendent of Prophet Mohammad.

Sadr has threatened suicide bombings if U.S. forces attacked the town, whose population has been influenced traditionally by an elder religious establishment. Both are critical of Sadr.

The Shi'ite leaders said they were against a U.S. assault on Najaf and Kerbala to apprehend Sadr and eliminate the threat posed by his militia, but that he must submit to the postwar political system.

Sadr, aged about 30, derives his authority from his father, Ayatollah Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, who paid with his life for defying Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) from within Iraq. He and two elder sons were murdered there in 1999, probably by the dictator's agents.

Since U.S. forces toppled Saddam's Sunni-dominated secular administration in April 2003, the young Sadr has marked himself out from older Shi'ite leaders by his virulent rhetoric against the U.S.-appointed Governing Council and raising his Mehdi Army militia, several thousand strong.

Haidar al-Moussawi, a spokesman for Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi, said Shi'ite pressure has already yielded results in defusing the crisis in Najaf and Kerbala, such as Sadr's militia removing part of its arsenal from the Imam Ali shrine.

"The Najaf seminary is also playing a discrete role," he said, adding that Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's aides were in talks with Sadr. Sistani is the most influential Shi'ite spiritual leader in Iraq.

Chalabi and other leaders still envisage a peaceful outcome although fighters loyal to Sadr clashed with U.S. forces overnight near the Iraqi city of Kufa. A clash on Monday in neighboring Najaf, south of Baghdad, between U.S. forces and members of Sadr's Mehdi Army killed five Iraqis and wounded 15.

Hamid al-Bayati, a senior official in the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, said Sadr would eventually disband his Mehdi Army and provide answers to Iraqi prosecutors investigating the murder of Abdel Majid al-Khoei a year ago.

"Even the Americans know that arresting Sadr without a political solution will not make the problem go away," he said.

Sadr says he was not involved in the murder of his rival Khoei, the son of a late grand ayatollah. The murder ended a peace that ruled among Iraq's Shi'ite religious establishment for decades.

[Eurotwit]

"It is a shame to ask the occupation forces to solve this problem," Shi'ite leader Mohammad Bahr al-Uloum told a meeting of Shi'ite parties, including those on the Governing Council.

"We are taking a clear stand: Najaf and Kerbala must be disarmed. These are holy cities that must have a Vatican (news - web sites)-like status," he added. ----

Promising signs.

[oceanview]

could be something. I hope so, we need some good news.

I still don't think it gets diffused without at least one "big" battle against these Sadr militiamen.

[No Blue States]

I agre, a good sign.

"Sadr, aged about 30, derives his authority from his father, Ayatollah Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, who paid with his life for defying Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) from within Iraq. He and two elder sons were murdered there in 1999, probably by the dictator's agents."

So Saddam killed this guys dad and 2 brothers, I didnt know that. Yet he hates the USA who kept Saddam from doing this to any more famlies?

[Uncle Miltie]

"The Najaf seminary is also playing a discrete role," he said, adding that Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's aides were in talks with Sadr. Sistani is the most influential Shi'ite spiritual leader in Iraq."

Every time I look, Sistani provides a steady hand, with an eye towards stability, democracy and separation of Mosque and State.

[BushisTheMan]

About darn time!

Until and unless the Iraqis start taking care of their own crap, I'm not going to support them. I'm really ticked these days at their lack of support for the military that freed them.

Of course, these guys don't wear their Sadr uniforms anymore because a few have been killed by locals who want them gone.

[Dog]

fyi..

[ken5050]

The Shia are gettig the message..either they do it, or they get an ex-saddam Sunni general as their next mayor..

[oceanview]

too few, they should have gotten more of them. they have been using drive by shootings, we ought to send the Crips and the Bloods in there as special forces to show them how its done!

[oceanview]

I'd have General Saleh start eating at the Najaf Burger King once or twice a week to send the message louder.

[ken5050]

Yup..he loves the smoked sausage..

[AQGeiger]

When Hussein was first overthrown, al-Sadr was very happy with the United States, because he saw it as an opportunity. He knew he couldn't beat Hussein by himself, so he supported the Americans while they took care of it.

It was only after Hussein was out of the way that al-Sadr became openly anti-American, because at that point he wanted U.S. forces to leave and let him make his power grab.

[Frank_Discussion]

I support them, but do not respect them as a group. They have to take care of themselves, and we're teaching them how. You have to remember that under Saddam, the government took care of everything, though that often was not the greatest of bargains. Now they look to our troops to do everything, but that will change.

[No Blue States]

Thanks for the history and helping me understand that AQGeiger. He is only looking out for himself and doesnt care about Iraqis.

[oceanview]

reminds me of the Clintons!

[Cap Huff]

The hint of a step in the right direction.

Thanks for the ping, Dog, and thanks for the post, Eurotwit.

[No Blue States]

Reminds me of Clintons attitude toward to Israelis too during his term.

[AQGeiger]

You are most welcome for the former and exactly correct on the latter.

[theFIRMbss]

?the brewing crisis involving the anti-U.S. cleric and the country's holiest cities

In the Muslim world,
is there even one city
that is not "holy?"

[alley cat]

Iran, which backs almost all Shi'ite political forces in Iraq (news - web sites), earlier said the United States should leave the politicians to solve the problem instead of inflaming the situation by trying to arrest Sadr.

Iran needs to Shut The F Up.

[ambrose]

Every time I look, Sistani provides a steady hand, with an eye towards stability, democracy and separation of Mosque and State.

Let's hope he is well guarded.