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NEWS RELEASE
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August 18, 2004
Release Number: 04-08-53
GENERAL LAUDS EFFORTS OF BRAVE IRAQI LEADERS
BAGHDAD - Like a rising tide, brave Iraqi leaders are emerging to strengthen their citizens as they rebuild their country and counter the shrill cries of negativism from Muqtada al-Sadr, his militia and other insurgent groups.
This assessment is from a senior military leader who as a young man lived in Iraq during the mid '70s when his father served here as the British ambassador just before Saddam's regime.
Conversely the Mahdi Militia, said British Maj. Gen. Andrew Graham, now the deputy commanding general for Multinational Corps-Iraq, is much like a wave of the sea-choppy and turbulent, gathering up a lot of rubbish in its wake, but not extending down the length of the beach. Once spent, it breaks up and disappears leaving little positive trace.
That's how the general described what he sees as a body of misguided people who instead of working with the Interim Iraqi Government and its process will instead resort to violence, murder and bloodshed to gain a voice.
Al-Sadr's continued irreverence for his country's holy sites by using mosques as sanctuaries and command posts, cemeteries as ammunition caches and firing positions, and his supporters as muscle to terrorize and intimidate innocent civilians, are reasons why the general says al-Sadr and his band of thugs have got to go.
"Al-Sadr's father was murdered by Saddam for advocating a respectable and legitimate platform for political change for the disenfranchised and disadvantaged Shiia," said Graham. "Instead of continuing his father's footsteps, al-Sadr can only criticize the new government, criticize the people who are stepping up to try to make a better life for all Iraqis, and criticize the coalition forces for assisting the people of Iraq after a 35-year brutal reign."
He likened Al-Sadr to a man of many faces voicing populist themes-Coalition out, puppet government in-that appeal to the masses yet offering nothing positive. Instead of encouraging intimidation and violence, including sabotage of oil pipelines and electricity infrastructure, al-Sader could be using his influence to help stabilize the country and work change through peaceful means, said the general.
"What we have right now in Iraq are extraordinary men and women who've made this huge leap onto the world stage as leaders of a new nation," he said. "They're brave, they're imaginative and they've sacrificed much to get this country to this point. I want people to consider that we are committed to supporting the Prime Minister in the next most critical step for Iraq and that's the free, national elections.
"A free, prosperous and stable Iraq fit for all seems to me to be something we all, Arab, Kurd, Shiia, Sunni and MNF can agree is worth supporting," he said.
He reminds the Soldiers who work for him that the military's role in this process has and will continue to be to neutralize all those who stand in the way of that ideal Iraq, and it's not necessarily by weapons engagement.
"Every small action, a smile, words of encouragement, all the work we've done with rebuilding schools or providing water to villages leads to this ideal Iraq. We're asking our Soldiers to turn the other cheek when we've been attacked time and again with roadside bombs or gunfire. They are doing these things each day and yet they probably not going to receive the thanks they deserve. Our Soldiers and Marines have performed with skill, discipline and respect as we've defended innocent civilians at the request of Iraqi leaders in Najaf. It proves that we have respect for this historic and religious area. Make no mistake though, we are committed to supporting the Iraqi government in their desire to rid their country of these thugs who only offer violence as a solution to problems."
He said that MNF Soldiers can expect to continue to defend the citizens of Najaf and others throughout the country as leaders work the complex political issues that lay before them.
"Our Soliders are professional, sympathetic and understand what needs to be done for this country. I'm optimistic about Iraq's future, and together we'll help the rightful leaders bring the freedoms, rights and privileges the people of Iraq have longed for these past many years. That is our mission and that is what we will do."
Release Number: 04-08-53
GENERAL LAUDS EFFORTS OF BRAVE IRAQI LEADERS
BAGHDAD - Like a rising tide, brave Iraqi leaders are emerging to strengthen their citizens as they rebuild their country and counter the shrill cries of negativism from Muqtada al-Sadr, his militia and other insurgent groups.
This assessment is from a senior military leader who as a young man lived in Iraq during the mid '70s when his father served here as the British ambassador just before Saddam's regime.
Conversely the Mahdi Militia, said British Maj. Gen. Andrew Graham, now the deputy commanding general for Multinational Corps-Iraq, is much like a wave of the sea-choppy and turbulent, gathering up a lot of rubbish in its wake, but not extending down the length of the beach. Once spent, it breaks up and disappears leaving little positive trace.
That's how the general described what he sees as a body of misguided people who instead of working with the Interim Iraqi Government and its process will instead resort to violence, murder and bloodshed to gain a voice.
Al-Sadr's continued irreverence for his country's holy sites by using mosques as sanctuaries and command posts, cemeteries as ammunition caches and firing positions, and his supporters as muscle to terrorize and intimidate innocent civilians, are reasons why the general says al-Sadr and his band of thugs have got to go.
"Al-Sadr's father was murdered by Saddam for advocating a respectable and legitimate platform for political change for the disenfranchised and disadvantaged Shiia," said Graham. "Instead of continuing his father's footsteps, al-Sadr can only criticize the new government, criticize the people who are stepping up to try to make a better life for all Iraqis, and criticize the coalition forces for assisting the people of Iraq after a 35-year brutal reign."
He likened Al-Sadr to a man of many faces voicing populist themes-Coalition out, puppet government in-that appeal to the masses yet offering nothing positive. Instead of encouraging intimidation and violence, including sabotage of oil pipelines and electricity infrastructure, al-Sader could be using his influence to help stabilize the country and work change through peaceful means, said the general.
"What we have right now in Iraq are extraordinary men and women who've made this huge leap onto the world stage as leaders of a new nation," he said. "They're brave, they're imaginative and they've sacrificed much to get this country to this point. I want people to consider that we are committed to supporting the Prime Minister in the next most critical step for Iraq and that's the free, national elections.
"A free, prosperous and stable Iraq fit for all seems to me to be something we all, Arab, Kurd, Shiia, Sunni and MNF can agree is worth supporting," he said.
He reminds the Soldiers who work for him that the military's role in this process has and will continue to be to neutralize all those who stand in the way of that ideal Iraq, and it's not necessarily by weapons engagement.
"Every small action, a smile, words of encouragement, all the work we've done with rebuilding schools or providing water to villages leads to this ideal Iraq. We're asking our Soldiers to turn the other cheek when we've been attacked time and again with roadside bombs or gunfire. They are doing these things each day and yet they probably not going to receive the thanks they deserve. Our Soldiers and Marines have performed with skill, discipline and respect as we've defended innocent civilians at the request of Iraqi leaders in Najaf. It proves that we have respect for this historic and religious area. Make no mistake though, we are committed to supporting the Iraqi government in their desire to rid their country of these thugs who only offer violence as a solution to problems."
He said that MNF Soldiers can expect to continue to defend the citizens of Najaf and others throughout the country as leaders work the complex political issues that lay before them.
"Our Soliders are professional, sympathetic and understand what needs to be done for this country. I'm optimistic about Iraq's future, and together we'll help the rightful leaders bring the freedoms, rights and privileges the people of Iraq have longed for these past many years. That is our mission and that is what we will do."
