Given the number that deserted in earlier clashes between Iraqi government forces and Sadr's jihadists, there are all too likely some who will try to carry out this order. And this is Sadr trying to show his "peaceful" side. "Al-Sadr threatens 'open war' on 'occupiers,' not Iraq," from CNN:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened "open war," against the American "occupiers" and not the Iraqi government, according to a letter read by a top aide during Friday prayers.
"When we threatened to declare an open war until the liberation, we meant war against the occupier," al-Sadr said in his letter. "There is no war between us and our Iraqi brothers -- no matter what their nationality, race or sect. The blood of Iraqis are forbidden on you."
He encouraged not only his Mehdi Army militia to fight U.S. troops, but also every Iraqi, including the nation's security forces which are in league with U.S. troops.
"I direct my speech to all government security forces and others, and all the religious and political forces, if this open war is between us and the occupier, you should not interfere in the favor of the occupier," the letter said. "We want to liberate you and your lands from the occupiers, so our government would be a full sovereign government."
On Saturday, al-Sadr issued what he called a "last warning" and told his followers in Sadr City to fight the "occupier" there.
Despite the threat, al-Sadr has a freeze on Mehdi Army military activities, said Saleh al-Ageili, a spokesman for Sadr's parliamentary bloc. Al-Sadr said earlier this month that if he called off the freeze, he would issue a separate statement, al-Ageili said.
Al-Sadr praised members of his Mehdi Army for obeying the freeze in his letter Friday.
"The enemy is waiting for the chance to attack you," al-Sadr said. "Damn the occupier and his work, which raised the hand of violence and death against your children, women, elders and your scholars."
He continued, "And you -- still patient -- you showed the clear, white face of al-Sadr and his family, and you have been the people of peace, the people of Islam."
"People of peace" just happens to be catchier than "people of a freeze in hostilities which I can call off at any moment."
Al-Sadr said he would not accept the long-term agreement which the U.S. and Iraqi governments are crafting to replace the current U.N. mandate for multi-national forces in Iraq. The U.N. mandate expires in December.
"There should be no long-term security agreement between the government and occupier, no matter how hard they fight us and no matter how much of our blood is spilled," he said. "We will not accept to divide Iraq and to steal its wealth."
let's get this guy while we have the muscle.
Why is this guy (al-Sadr) still breathing?
'He encouraged not only his Mehdi Army militia to fight U.S. troops, but also every Iraqi, including the nation's security forces which are in league with U.S. troops.'
'In league with'. Really.
Interesting quote. Apparently not from Al-Sadr himself, but (given the lack of quotation marks) the CNN stringer, whoever that benighted soul is.
""We will not accept to divide Iraq and to steal its wealth."
...will not steal its wealth ...but will decimate the country of various kinds of wealth...by killing the teachers, the doctors, the lawyers, the looting and burning of libraries and the wealth of historical books that once were availiable for viewing by the public, the utter decimation of those peoples (killed because they were non Muslim) who contributed to the Islamic economy, those farmers, bankers, businessmen, those importers and exporters, those researchers, those clothiers, shoe makers, those teachers, those florists, those movie makers, those auto mechanics, ambulance drivers, those medical researchers, those carpenters and brick masons, those barbers....and many more all gone...a wealth that helped humanity...Islam has stolen the most precious thing in the land, the lives of the people who had much to offer and only wanted to live.
"Why is this guy (al-Sadr) still breathing?" Posted by: Eastview
E-Mail the White House.
""We will not accept to divide Iraq and to steal its wealth."
Because Al-Sadr wants to steal it all.
I've read some canny dudes who portray Sadr's stance as a wait-and-see. He's got a lot of support from the poorest Shiites in Iraq, and stands to gain a lot in the next election (or so they say). If talks tough against the Americans while keeping his fighters from actually going out to die in the streets, he'll do a lot of good for his branding in the eyes of the voting public.
al-Sadr might even become the Iraqi government without ever having to come to the negotiating table. He's not beholden to foreign influence any more than al-Maliki seems to be (both happily consume aid from Tehran, but don't seem tied to the Pakistan base of AQ.)
There's a lot I don't get about the region and its politics. Even so, I hope I'll be able to make a favorable impact after I enlist.
Why is this guy (al-Sadr) still breathing?
You pulled the words right out of my mouth.
Killing Zarqawi didn't knock down AQI. What got AQI was their rejection by the populace of the region where they ruled.
Sadr's not an interloper and his JAM is made up of the very people we're trying to shepherd into a functioning society. I think the big brains see legitimizing him as more useful than killing him.
Al-Sadr is a punk, pure and simple. Western media blow him up to be this enormous figure of power and influence in Iraq but I for one don't buy it.
This enemy clown should have been an immediate target. You could have placed the blame on any of the thousand or so murderers of Allah running around Iraq.
Is it just me, or does this al-Sadr clown remind anyone else of Al Sharpton?
"Is it just me, or does this al-Sadr clown remind anyone else of Al Sharpton?
Posted by: lafn "
well, now that you bring it up...(eyebrows raising).
""Why is this guy (al-Sadr) still breathing?" Posted by: Eastview "
during the battle of Fallajuh (or maybe it was Najah, I cannot recall at the moment), the US Marines had AL-Sadr cornered, the Marines were only one door away from either capturing him or sending him to his eternal dirtnap..The final assault was called off after the Iraqi leaders begged the US not to kill him. The US made the wrong decision that time..the assault was called off and Al-Sadr walked out with a smiling AL-Sistani waiting for him..together the dynamic duo headed to Iran..
THe Marines had the right idea, at the right time, in the right place, and were prepared to do the right thing (kill the enemy), but polical malfeasance and/or the insane policy of trying to please the Iraqi government cost them a golden opportunity to rid the place of some vile vermin.
Too bad the Marines couldn't say at the time. OOPS I am sorry, we didn't get the message on time to stop the assault...well, we can hope there is a next time, one with better results.
Marines are supposed to kill the enemy, let them do it.
"Killing Zarqawi didn't knock down AQI. What got AQI was their rejection by the populace of the region where they ruled."
Al-Qaeda was happy to have Zarqawi killed..they had been pleading with him to slow down on the killing rate on the Muslim people...there were rumors that Al-Qaeda leaders actually notified the US military where he was hiding..In Islam a dead martyr is just as good as a live one..and a dead one does not disobey orders.
Man, I remember this guy when he was all by his lonesome a few years ago and nobody was following him. The American forces said leave him alone , he's not a problem. I remember our soldiers standing over him in some place by himself as he prostrated in prayer. We laughed at Sad'r then. But it's too damn late now isn't it. He's become a huge pain in the a##. I knew he was going to be a huge problem even back then.