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Sadr fighters raise white flag (Great Job Iraqi Troops with minimal US help)
The Times ^ | 3/31/2008 | AFP

Posted on 03/31/2008 11:22:26 AM PDT by tobyhill

BAGHDAD - Fighters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have melted away from the streets of the Iraqi capital and Basra where they fought fierce battles with security forces, AFP reporters said today.

Yesterday, Sadr ordered his fighters to withdraw from the streets in a move signaling the end of clashes which erupted in the southern port city of Basra and quickly spread to Shiite areas across Iraq.

AFP correspondents in Baghdad and Basra said that militants were off the streets in the two key cities where they fought Iraqi security forces backed by US-led coalition air power.

The Sadr group in Baghdad confirmed that fighters from the cleric’s feared Mahdi Army militia were no longer deployed in the capital.

"Sadr movement and Jaish al-Mahdi (Mahdi Army) are committed to the order of Sadr," said Hamdallah al-Rikabi, spokesman of the cleric’s movement in western Baghdad. "We are implementing what Sadr has ordered."

(Excerpt) Read more at thetimes.co.za ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 4victory; basra; iran; iraq; oops; sadr; sadrslaststand; victoryoverterror
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To: r9etb

I agree. Exceedingly good news. Of course it needs to hold for a while, but this is a major feather in the cap for Maliki. He showed toughness and resolve, and gets some “street cred” out of it.


21 posted on 03/31/2008 11:47:41 AM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: domenad

22 posted on 03/31/2008 11:48:39 AM PDT by 50sDad (Liberals: Never Happy, Never Grateful, Never Right.)
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To: tobyhill
He’ll be back but he got his ass handed to him this time and it’s something that the Iraqi Troops should celebrate.

And if Mookie keeps bouncing back like that, the Iraqi troops can keep smacking him down.... I don't imagine Mookie's folks are all that keen on being the next round of cannon fodder, though.

23 posted on 03/31/2008 11:48:58 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: tobyhill

The MSM seems to be giving Sadr and the Iranians all the credit for stopping the fighting.


24 posted on 03/31/2008 11:49:26 AM PDT by rightinthemiddle (The Mainstream Media Controls Our Party. Go, RINOS!)
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To: oneolcop
One of the main purposes of this operation was to “blood” the new Iraqi army. They had to fight, shed some blood and gain confidence that they can actually fight and win. It’s called “BLOODING” a long tradition in military philosophy.

And what's really good about it is that they did it successfully, and (according to the MSM reports, at least) against the better judgment of the US military.

Of course, in saying the US military were disturbed, the MSM probably relied on their "hand-wringer" pool of doomsaying military sources, so that they could set up the pieces to lament the "failed US policies" again.

Instead, those damned Iraqis had to do a good job ... which makes it that much harder for the Dems and the MSM to predict failure.

25 posted on 03/31/2008 11:53:14 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: tobyhill

For all the press drama this didn’t take very long, Im not sold on the Iraqi army yet but they must feel good taht they led their own operation with just a little US help. Also, it seems major that they cracked down on a “fellow” Shiite group.


26 posted on 03/31/2008 11:53:17 AM PDT by Williams
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To: Eric in the Ozarks; tobyhill; Allegra

THIS is important!!


27 posted on 03/31/2008 11:54:32 AM PDT by CPT Clay (Drill ANWR, Personal Accounts NOW , Vote Hunter in the Primary)
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To: tobyhill

How can this @ hole ask that they stop the fighting f he wasn’t involved in starting the fighting.

Michael Savage was right, we should have leveled Fallujah, and wiped out Sadr from the beginning when we have the support and leverage.


28 posted on 03/31/2008 11:56:14 AM PDT by nikos1121 (typical white person)
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To: rightinthemiddle
That would be from the McClatchy News:

Iranian general played key role in brokering Iraq cease-fire

29 posted on 03/31/2008 11:56:21 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: DAC21
Keep in mind how wildly anti-American the press is. The Sunnis were the oppressors in Iraq but when they joined Al Queda against us they became an oppressed minority. The Shia were the oppressed but they became the corrupt oppressors because they formed a government friendly to us. Now a kook like Al Sadr is boosted because he is pro Iranian and is against our "occupation".

The left are a terrible bunch, they are not reporters.

30 posted on 03/31/2008 11:59:15 AM PDT by Williams
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To: tobyhill

Does the thought “finish the bastard off” ever enter into the thinking?


31 posted on 03/31/2008 12:04:08 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: tobyhill
In case you haven't seen it...Special Operations Firefight in Iraq ( Special Forces )
32 posted on 03/31/2008 12:04:33 PM PDT by jellybean (Write in Fred! - Proud Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: Williams

I’m not sold yet either but this helps make other Middle-Eastern countries think twice about trying to lay claim to a sovereign Iraq.


33 posted on 03/31/2008 12:04:50 PM PDT by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: jellybean

I saw it yesterday and I know the MSM will try to claim it was too much American involvement but the Iraqi Troops performed 95% of the mission in Basra and at least 70% of the Sadr City Mission.


34 posted on 03/31/2008 12:08:07 PM PDT by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: tobyhill

That little bastard is lying his ass off, regrouping and rearming, making a better plan while we stop killing them.


35 posted on 03/31/2008 12:26:19 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: jellybean
WOW -- Can you say dead insurgents!

Laser scopes & tracer rounds from machine guns and some awesome sounding gattling-gun in the background.

36 posted on 03/31/2008 12:32:37 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: tobyhill

sadr was doing a “reload through negotiation” ploy.

very transparent.


37 posted on 03/31/2008 12:33:32 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: tobyhill

.....that fighters from the cleric’s feared Mahdi Army militia were no longer deployed in the capital.....

Did the Brits leave Bashra because they feared Mookie? Are you giving them cover for leaving Mr Times


38 posted on 03/31/2008 12:37:12 PM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Never say never (there'll be a VP you'll like))
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To: bert
I think the Brits did leave Basra because they feared Mookie but IMHO I think Sadr is nothing but an Iranian Paper Tiger that has forced Iran to recreate a save facing measure.
39 posted on 03/31/2008 12:41:08 PM PDT by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: TexasCajun
FR thread:

The reason al-Sadr surrendered

YouTube ^ | March 30, 2008 | Thomas W.

40 posted on 03/31/2008 1:10:55 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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