Posted on 02/13/2007 4:48:18 PM PST by mdittmar
Feb. 13, 2007 The story tonight in Iraq is not the arrival of more U.S. troops, but the departure of one of the country's most powerful men, Moqtada al Sadr and members of his army.
According to senior military officials al Sadr left Baghdad two to three weeks ago, and fled to Tehran, Iran, where he has family.
Al Sadr commands the Mahdi Army, one of the most formidable insurgent militias in Iraq, and his move coincides with the announced U.S. troop surge in Baghdad.
Sources believe al Sadr is worried about an increase of 20,000 U.S. troops in the Iraqi capital. One official told ABC News' Martha Raddatz, "He is scared he will get a JDAM [bomb] dropped on his house."
Sources say some of the Mahdi army leadership went with al Sadr.
Though he is gone for now, many think al Sadr is not gone for good. In Tehran he is trying to keep the Madhi militia together.
In recent months al Sadr has come to the political table to force change rather than using military force to have an impact. Sources say an even more extreme faction within his militia isn't pleased with this turn of events, and is trying to force the cleric to respond to recent Sunni attacks with more violence.
U.S. officials say they are going to watch those member of the Mahdi army left behind in Baghdad. Sources say two scenarios are possible: Either al Sadr will be driven further into extremist mode or he will continue going forward with the political process.
Um, apparently not.
Cluster the cockroaches in the Tehran roach motel...then bomb the hell out of it.
And he can stay there forever.
Now *this* is a duplicate post.
Run away! Run away!
How inspiring to all his followers who wish to be martyred eh?
This also suggests that the Iraqi Government is serious about reining in the militias.
"Al Sadr commands the Mahdi Army, one of the most formidable insurgent militias in Iraq."
Not any more.
Gotta love the Arab/Islamic combat model. When the going gets tough, flee!
A good answer for the geniuses in the DNC who say that the "surge" won't work.
Iran's principle agent in Iraq has left the battlefield.
Hope they level his buildings
It looks like Mookie has an aversion to martyrdom, he only favors it for his pals.
No reference in the story to all the demcritters that said the surge wouldn't work.
The terrorist coward fled to Iran! He is not as brave after all.
BINGO!
Doubling Our Troops in Baghdad looks like it is already working well and well it should!! GOD BLESS Our President Bush and damn the the Demorats who aid and abet the Enemy.
We snuffed his right hand man last week. He saw the writing on the wall. And also proved he was an Iranian stooge the whole time.
Bye Bye.
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