By Andrew L. Jaffee, August 18, 2004
Posted on 08/18/2004 9:30:29 AM PDT by stevejackson
| BREAKING NEWS: al-Sadr to Disband Militia, Leave Imam Ali Mosque By Andrew L. Jaffee, August 18, 2004 |
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Threatened with an imminent raid of the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf by Iraqi forces, radical Islamist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed to disband his militia, vacate the mosque, and "enter into the mainstream political process."
Pressure has been building against al-Sadr for quite some time now. The power-hungry cleric has been stirring up trouble in Najaf, Karbala, and Baghdad since early April. On May 21, over 2,000 Iraqis held a demonstration in the city of Karbala insisting that al-Sadr and his militiamen -- thugs -- get out of town. On May 11, about 1,000 moderate Shiite Muslims protested against al-Sadr in Najaf. Over the last two weeks, 1,800 Iraqi troops alongside 2,000 U.S. marines have been attempting to clean up the mess that Sadr and his militia have made of Najaf. The joint U.S./Iraqi forces have killed about 300 of Sadr’s 1,000 militiamen. Today, Iraqis showed an iron will in bringing stability to their own country.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has lost all patience with Sadr. He made the decision to have Iraqi forces storm the Imam Ali mosque, the most holy site for Shiite Muslims and the place where Sadr was cynically holed up, and take out the trash. According to Allawi,
Iraq will not stand with arms folded. The government's position is clear and specific to ending armed manifestations, stopping acts of sabotage and making the armed men leave Najaf and the mosque.
Iraq’s interim Defense Minister Hazem Sha'alan said the Iraqi government was committed to free "Najaf city from the gang of mercenaries."
Najaf has been a major sore spot in the rebuilding of Iraq. Hopefully the removal of Sadr and his thugs will enhance the nation’s security.
Dear lord....I hope we have enough sense to not fall for this crap!!!!
That guy needs to be taken into custody, holed away for a while til he's pretty much forgotten, then disposed of quietly in a private burial ceremony -- while he's still conscious.
They can't let this guy slip away again. Grab him and put him on trial for the murder with which he was tried...or he could have an accident on his way home, oh, maybe an IED goes off as he goes by. Either way, it is time (past time) to put him away.
I would hate to be in his carpool for his new Iraqi cabinet assignment. It looks like he smells.
In other news, lefty reporters were dead wrong once again about the possibility of a general Shia uprising in support of Muck.
NEXT?
Even ignoring the obvious fact that he is a paid agent of the Iranian government.
I hope and pray we have not shed our blood and given our treasure just to have an Islamofascist state end up being established.
Sadr's going to "enter the mainstream political process". That should be interesting.
The government is going to give him AND HIS MEN AMNESTY!
The government is going to give him AND HIS MEN AMNESTY!
He wins. This was his plan all along. Make a fuss, get vilified by the Americans, act like a soon-to-be-martyr, and then, after you've gotten tons of press, enter the political process.
Yes all well and good but has agreed to buy a toothbrush ????????????
And will live to fight another day. Don't you know this GALLS our Marines who gave up their buddies, only to see this puss-pocket walk out to run for office, and no doubt become a folk hero? We are stupid.
wasn't this dirt bag under indictment ?
Sounds alot like John Kerry.
:-(
Awww! Too bad the Democrats have already had their convention.
He really doesn't have a choice except to blow up the mosque, which would curse his name for generations.
No, with the Iraq army poised to root him out, he has not other choice.
Another bully gets kicked.
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