Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Allegra; SunkenCiv; avacado
From the Blogosphere (Strata Sphere):

Sadr’s Call For Friday Protest A Total Bust

***************************EXCERPT****************************

Published by AJStrata at 2:03 pm under All General Discussions, Iraq, Sadr/Mahdi Army

As I predicted a few days ago, Moqtada’s call for Friday protests by his followers has fallen way short of previous protests:

Thousands of people heeded a call from anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to protest talks between Washington and Baghdad on keeping U.S. troops in Iraq beyond 2008, but turnout on Friday was lower than past marches.

Explaining the relatively low numbers, spokesmen for Sadr’s movement said the protests were widely spread through the country but security forces prevented marches in some areas.

In the Kadhimiya district in northwest Baghdad, hundreds of demonstrators with raised fists marched behind a banner asking the United Nations to “stand with the Iraqi people against this security deal between the government and the occupation”.

In the Shi’ite holy city of Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, several hundred demonstrators marched, chanting: “Out, out occupier” and “Iraq won’t be an American colony”.

Actually, what lowered turnout was all the horror stories about atrocities committed against fellow Muslims by the Sadrist ‘controlled’ Mahdi Army thugs. Interestingly the media is avoiding talking about the level of protest in Basra - the first place liberated from the Mahdi Army and Iraq’s second largest city. My guess is the protests there were a total bust beyond all other locations. And this will be the high point for these kinds of demonstrations. They will taper off each week from now on.

More people are quietly celebrating the defeat of the Mahdi Army than worrying about any long term agreements between Iraq and America. While this was another missed opportunity for the SurrenderMedia to find evidence of our mythical defeat in Iraq, it is not a driving issue for war weary Iraqis who are not swarming to support Sadr and his Sadrists any more. Politically the Sadrist movement has been severely damaged because they gave cover to cruel and violent animals.


11 posted on 05/30/2008 1:52:58 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies ]


To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

The “Powerful Mahdi Army” as the liberal media likes to call them are now down to organizing a once per week street protest and I read on another site they’re planning a petition drive. I feel like I live in an occupied country. The news is so controlled and biased.


13 posted on 05/30/2008 4:38:12 PM PDT by Hamilcar_Barca (RINO's Of The World Unite!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies ]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Explaining the relatively low numbers, spokesmen for Sadr's movement said the protests were widely spread through the country but security forces prevented marches in some areas... Actually, what lowered turnout was all the horror stories about atrocities committed against fellow Muslims by the Sadrist 'controlled' Mahdi Army thugs. Interestingly the media is avoiding talking about the level of protest in Basra -- the first place liberated from the Mahdi Army and Iraq's second largest city. My guess is the protests there were a total bust beyond all other locations. And this will be the high point for these kinds of demonstrations. They will taper off each week from now on... Politically the Sadrist movement has been severely damaged because they gave cover to cruel and violent animals.
Thanks Ernest.
14 posted on 05/30/2008 6:06:03 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______________________Profile updated Monday, April 28, 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson