Posted on 08/04/2008 6:27:19 PM PDT by flyfree
BAGHDAD -- Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr -- long a thorn in the side of the U.S. military and Iraqi government -- intends to disarm his once-feared Mahdi Army militia and remake it as a social-services organization.
The transformation would represent a significant turnabout for a group that, as recently as earlier this year, was seen as one of the most destabilizing anti-American forces in Iraq. For much of the past several years, the Mahdi Army, headed by Mr. Sadr, a Shiite cleric, controlled sizable chunks of Baghdad and other major cities. Its brand of pro-Shiite activism had the side effect of pitting Iraqis against each other, helping to stir worries of civil war.
Recently, however, the group has been hit by a largely successful Iraqi military crackdown against militia members who have been operating as criminal gangs. At the same time, Mr. Sadr's popular support is dwindling: Residents who once viewed the Mahdi Army as champions of the poor have become alienated by what they see as its thuggish behavior.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Reminds you of the Democrat party in Chicago, doesn't it?!
Well last time I checked America was leading the efforts in Iraq with very little help from the EU or other world powers. The Democrats were the only ones in this country that took the position that we must remove ourselves from Iraq regardless of the consequences... This rhetoric from the Democrats started in mid/late 2003 as a political posturing measure to support the Kerry presidential bid. Once they started down the path of retreat and defeat they could not change their position back. However, due to the courage and conviction of ONE MAN... George W. Bush got it right with the surge. Victory in Iraq is at hand. Al-Sadr is neutered and the world will be much safer for it. Even when you confront the Democrats with these facts they refute them it is truly sickening again Democrats in this country were on the wrong side of History..... Again.. and any moron that votes for a Democrat deserves what they get.... read my last post for a vision of the whats to come.
a-la Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Iraqi Seals (if there is such an organization) need to do a hit on him. If they can't or won't....the real Seals need to do it!
Mookie’s becoming a “Community oganizer”? He took his lessons from Obama. Get some rich sponsor to bankroll you, fail at what you do, and get nominated for president by the great Left/Ayatollah.
Nothing succeeds like success.
Just like Nasrallah in Lebannon is a “community organizer”.
Yes. He hasn't been seen in Iraq in some time.
He, like most chest-thumping terrorists, is a coward.
That’s the plan
Praise the LORD!
You make me giggle.
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