Posted on 04/08/2007 4:31:42 PM PDT by jdm
BAGHDAD, Iraq - With his powerful anti-American movement losing its footing amid U.S.-led round-ups and military operations, the Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is trying to recast himself in his one-time image as a national resistance figure for all Iraqis - Shiite and Sunni alike.In central Baghdad, a large billboard featuring al-Sadr's defiant visage proclaims: "I'm not Shiite/I'm not Sunni/But I am Iraqi."
On Monday, the fourth anniversary of the U.S. conquest of Baghdad, al-Sadr ordered his followers to unite in the holy city of Najaf in a "mammoth demonstration" against the U.S. military presence and to "raise the Iraqi flag above all others."
Iraqi legislators and regional experts see an element of desperation in his attempt to re-position his movement and maintain the power he's garnered in the last year.
Not so long ago, al-Sadr's fiery anti-American rhetoric and appeal for unity garnered him support across the sectarian divide. In 2004 Mahdi Army fighters and Sunni insurgents banded together to fight U.S. troops in Fallujah. Al-Sadr has called for joint prayers between Sunnis and Shiites in the past, and the late leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Sunni, pointedly excluded him and his followers from his list of assassination targets in a 2005 statement.
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Today, analysts and politicians doubt that a nationalist stance will restore his cross-sectarian appeal. Many think al-Sadr's intention is to repair fractures in his own movement.
Joost Hiltermann, Middle East director for the International Crisis Group think tank, said that al-Sadr's "lie-low" strategy has backfired among his more militant followers.
(Excerpt) Read more at realcities.com ...
So... Al-Sadr is the Barack Obama of Iraqi politics?
*snicker*
He’s fast becoming the Rosie O’DoughNUTZ Joey Behar of Iraqi politics.
“I’m not Shiite/I’m not Sunni/But I am Iraqi.”
Nice try, but it’s a patent lie. He is Shiite.
There is a slight resemblance.
Why didn’t we kill him three years ago when we had the chance
Just put a IED in front of his vehicle, and no one will know who did it.
And it would be poetic justice.
Regards.
Hey, if we have recovered tons of ieds and other weapons, why not use THEM to take out Sadr...he IS a TERRORIST and needs to join Saddam, Uday, Usay, Al Zarquawi, etc...
He should start his campaign in the sunni triangle. I’m sure they will welcome him with flowers and candies.
You know what’s “funny”? Although being “obviously” enemies, why haven’t Al-Q/Sunni Terrorists ever seriously attempted to kill Sadr? They apparently can bomb and target randomly Iraqi offcials and politicians... but why not Sadr, their alleged arch-rival?
Smells like they need each other to worsen chaos and drive their respective sect into each others arms.
This guy needs to be taken out ASAP
Al-Sadr is about to become Al-ainsayin’ praise be Jesus.
Better yet, just feed him a ham sandwich and tell him it’s hummus.
Who’s paying follow the money.
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