Muqtada al-Sadr

March 30, 2008

If there is an Iraqi nemesis, and there are many, Muqtada al-Sadr has to be clsoe to the top of the list. He struts his stuff, challenges all authority, and ten when he get penned in a corner he backs down for a few months. The latest repeort has him pulling his men off the streets, but not turning over his guns. Someone needs to pull Muqtada al-Sadr off the street!

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said Sunday that he was pulling his fighters off the streets nationwide and called on the government to stop raids against his followers and free them from prison. The Iraqi government quickly welcomed al-Sadr’s apparent move to resolve a widening conflict with his movement, sparked Tuesday by operations against his backers in the oil-rich southern city of Basra.

But he’ll be BAAAACCK, unless he’s locked up!

Al-Sadr’s nine-point statement was issued by his headquarters in the holy city of Najaf and broadcast through loudspeakers on Shiite mosques. It said the first point was: “taking gunmen off the streets in Basra and elsewhere.” One has to wonder who tells the tallest tales- Hillary or al-Sadr?

He also demanded that the Iraqi government stop “haphazard raids” and release security detainees who haven’t been charged, two issues cited by his movement as reasons for fighting the government. He “demands”? How about the Iraqi government “demands” his militia disarms and disbands?

The strength of the resistance to the week-old offensive has taken the U.S.-backed government by surprise, forcing it to come up with a new tactical plan targeting several Mahdi Army strongholds, a government official said. In other words, we’re back in the action.

That’s not going to help John MnCain any- not that they’re trying.

The official, who was in Basra but spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information, said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also had brought in reinforcements and appealed to local tribal leaders to help secure the area.

The curfew has ended but the terrorism of al-Sadr hasn’t.

Written by Ernie · Filed Under Daily Commentary