Posted on 08/29/2007 7:04:54 AM PDT by jveritas
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
BAGHDAD — Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered a six-month suspension of activities by his Mahdi Army militia in order to reorganize the force, and it will no longer attack U.S. and coalition troops, aides said Wednesday.
The aide, Sheik Hazim al-Araji, said on Iraqi state television that the goal was to "rehabilitate" the organization, which has reportedly broken into factions, some of which the U.S. maintains are trained and supplied by Iran.
"We declare the freezing of the Mahdi Army without exception in order to rehabilitate it in a way that will safeguard its ideological image within a maximum period of six months starting from the day this statement is issued," al-Araji said, reading from a statement by al-Sadr.
In Najaf, al-Sadr's spokesman said the order also means the Mahdi Army will no longer launch attacks against U.S. and other coalition forces.
"It also includes suspending the taking up of arms against occupiers as well as others," Ahmed al-Shaibani told reporters.
Asked if Mahdi militiamen would defend themselves against provocations, he replied: "We will deal with it when it happens."....
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294990,00.html
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
In other words, please stop shooting at us while we reload.
Another sign that the Surge is working...
Absolutely.
Man, is this as big as it sounds?!?! Combine this with the head Sunni insurgent guy (Mr. King of Clubs) promising to “be good” last week, and I think just about all the democrats will soon be on suicide watch!
just taking a break
bttt
Mookie is suspending his army’s activities because we killed all of his soldiers.
“Time out! We are losing! We need help and money to get our act together!”
Take it to them Petreaus, crush them.
In addition, a suspension of attacks would enable the Democrats to increase their demands that we bring the troops home.
No way. They'll just take credit for pushing the Iraqi Gov't, declare victory and demand withdrawal (again).
Perhaps they are having trouble finding anyone that wants to be a target for our forces, proof positive that the surge is working.
We ought to open the throttle and go after them with everything we have at this point.
Ensure that they are never able to come out of this truce.
Liberals and their media had bet on a US defeat in Iraq, they lost their bet but they do not know it yet. They are going to pay heavily for siding with the enemy.
Which means there will be some major re-armament coming across the border during the next few months. Let’s hope our guys intercept most of it before it reaches the bad guys.
I’ve been waiting to see al Sadr’s name in the news. There seemed to be a media blackout until this article. He is “suspending” operations and Katie Couric is travelling to Iraq to see “firsthand” how the people are living.
Yep, I’d say the surge has worked. Ooorah, General Petraeus!
Is there a correlation between Iraqi leadership verbally blasting Democratic leadership in the U.S., and progress on the Iraqi political front? Let’s have more of it and see.
Yup, to re-supply and re-load. I call BS. No quarter -attack now.
I trust him as I would a pet rattlesnake.
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