Posted on 12/07/2006 6:37:54 PM PST by jmc1969
The Iraq Study Group says the private army of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr could be 60-thousand fighters strong.
Al-Sadr's Mahdi army is one of the concerns highlighted in the Iraq Study Group's report, released yesterday. It's one of many factions undermining U-S efforts to help Iraq's democracy gain control.
The study group says many of al-Sadr's followers are planted throughout the security forces that protect Iraqi government institutions.
And more worrisome than their numbers, which stood at ten-thousand in 2005, is al-Sadr's organizational ability. One terrorism expert says cell phones, Internet communications and other technology gives the Mahdi army an "enormous" ability to mobilize their forces.
And the panel worries that al-Sadr himself may not be able to manage his growing network.
Very nice devolve!
Good post Phil
Re-Bump-Eroo
"A smart secular young Iraqi Army officer is going to have to step up and end this crap and the US is going to have to let him do it."
Those are the folks who I pray for every day.
The young men will take care of things, if they are allowed.
BTTT!
Thank you!
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