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The announcement does appear to place restrictions on who can use violence, and against whom it can be employed. It appears to codify lessons learned in past months -- namely, that killing Iraqi Muslims, and particularly fellow Shi'ites, is bad for business. In that vein, this reorganization will also allow for a stricter chain of command should violence be called for.
But as long as there is any armed contingent and the possibility of returning to violence, the expansion of al-Sadr's organization to include social causes will make it resemble Hizballah or Hamas more than the Rotary Club.
Muqtada 2.0 Update. "Anti-U.S. Cleric to Lay Down Weapons," by Nick Schifrin for ABC News, August 7:
The anti-American cleric who launched the Shiite insurgency in Iraq four years ago, sparking a cycle of violence that killed scores of U.S. soldiers and led to a sectarian war, will transform his militia into a mostly nonviolent social organization, his office tells ABC News.
Moqtada al-Sadr's decision to focus on education and science instead of violence cements a shift that began almost one year ago, when he asked his followers to freeze their actions against the U.S. military and the Iraqi government.
The freeze was one of the main reasons that violence in Iraq has dropped to the lowest levels in four years for both civilians and troops. But before today, he had never stepped so far back from the armed insurgency that gave him a widespread following.
"This army is cultural, religious, social and in charge of cultural and scientific jihad -- to liberate minds and hearts and souls from the secular Western tide and which forbids using weapons, ever," reads a two-page flier that announces the change and has been posted in Shiite areas around the country. "We give you this flier… to call for what's right and forbid what's wrong in an ethical way -- through tongue and heart, only."
The group will now focus on educational programs and support Iraq's infrastructure, including gas delivery and neighborhood cleanup, according to a spokesman. And the name will change from Mahdi Army to Al-Mumahidoon, which translates roughly to "The Pavers," as in the ones who will pave the way for the reappearance of the Shiite 12th imam.
"This leaflet is the constitution for joining the Al-Mumahidoon," said Abu Sajjad, a resident of Sadr City, standing in front of a flier posted on the wall. "This is one of the best decisions made by the leader Moqtada. Carrying weapons should only be left to the people who are specialized in this."
Sadr, who is referred to as Sayyed Moqtada al-Sadr because he is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammed, apparently will not entirely give up resisting the people he still refers to as "the occupiers."
Salah al-Ubaidi, his spokesman, tells ABC News that "during Friday prayers we'll announce the launching of the project of a general education for the Sadrists where Moqtada al-Sadr divides the Mahdi Army into two parts: where the biggest and most important of them is intellectual and social work. And the smallest portion will be in charge of the resistance project."
But in official and unofficial statements made in the last few months, Sadr has severely restricted who could fight the United States in his name and, perhaps more importantly, where they could fight.
In a statement released last week, he placed a list of new conditions on the Mahdi Army, including that "armed actions should never take place in cities" and "armed actions should never take place in a way to harm people." He told followers "not to target the government even if it was an unjust one, for there is not any religious permission to do so."
Some analysts urge caution before accepting Sadr's declaration to transform. It's not clear, they say, whether Sadr has control over all the fighters who have fought in his name -- the same fighters who have survived battles with the Iraqi military relatively unscathed.
"Most elements of [the Mahdi Army] that were involved in significant fighting managed to disengage from heavy fighting without having to disarm the Mahdi Army," writes Anthony Cordesman, an ABC News consultant, and Jose Ramos in a new paper for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Much depends, therefore, on both the future of the Sadrist movement and the Iraqi government's success in winning sustained popular support from Iraq's Shiites."...
Posted by Marisol at August 8, 2008 12:06 AM
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"Carrying weapons should only be left to the people who are specialized in this." from above.
Isn't that all of them??
A "social club" how nice. lol. Does that come under the same definition as their charities?
Posted by: gymgal![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 8, 2008 12:16 AM
Savsiv and whoever ejoys it: I'm not sure it went throught last time so here goes again.. my suggestion for a certain Hussein's campaign slogan:
Obama-hu AK47bar!
Posted by: Ummah Gummah at August 8, 2008 12:29 AM
Marisol
I was going to type 'Like Hizbullah?', but you took the words right out of my keys.
Posted by: Infidel Pride at August 8, 2008 12:44 AM
Savsiv and whoever enjoys it: I'm not sure it went thought last time so here goes again.. my suggestion for a certain Hussein's campaign slogan:
Obama-hu AK47bar!
Posted by: Ummah Gummah at August 8, 2008 12:48 AM
Let's hope that ABC news is a mostly objective media organization.
More than we can hope for from the rest.
Posted by: Ummah Gummah at August 8, 2008 12:52 AM
"Base, this is call sign "Dealer"...we have aquired target...going hot...cleared to engage? Roger, I copy initials Jw, cleared to engage. Hellfire missile away...direct hit!
Re-engaging "squirters" (survivors running for their lives) with 30mm cannon. Scratch one HVT (High Value Target)named Sadr. Returning to base. Cobra-Three "Dealer" out.
Should have done this a long time ago. We will be sorry.
Posted by: No More Ham, Ed at August 8, 2008 1:42 AM
SA to become SS. Details to follow.
Posted by: David England at August 8, 2008 2:38 AM
David.
Good point. We all know how well that turned out.
at August 8, 2008 2:56 AM
So . . . turning one's militia into an NGO is the new Hudna?
Posted by: Marwan'sDaughter at August 8, 2008 3:50 AM
Sounds like a description of HAMAS circa 1988
Posted by: epaminondas at August 8, 2008 6:47 AM
"This army is cultural, religious, social and in charge of cultural and scientific jihad -- to liberate minds and hearts and souls from the secular Western tide....."
The group will now focus on educational programs and support Iraq's infrastructure, including gas delivery and neighborhood cleanup, according to a spokesman. And the name will change from Mahdi Army to Al-Mumahidoon, which translates roughly to "The Pavers," as in the ones who will pave the way for the reappearance of the Shiite 12th imam.
Scientific jihad? Yep, paving the way for the 12th imam is very scientific, for sure. Morons.
Posted by: ImNoDhimmi at August 8, 2008 6:50 AM
Probably Al Sadr is just biding his time until Obama gets in and we leave. Then he'll pounce.
Posted by: jewdog at August 8, 2008 7:43 AM
Headline on yahoo . . .
• Sadr to dissolve Mehdi Army if U.S. withdraws on timetable
Posted by: miira at August 8, 2008 7:57 AM
So now Mookie will be a 'community organizer',
just like the Obamanator used to be.
Chicago politics in Iraq ?
Good luck.
Posted by: dgene at August 8, 2008 8:36 AM
'Paving the Way for Mahdi', could be the title of someones book.
For an in depth look at Mahdi and Mahdism, take a look at this site...
I wonder how many fighters will stick with Al-Sadr?
For most of them fighting is their job, their income. They know nothing of social work, and are intellectually lacking.
Not fighting means losing the only fast track and guarantee to Paradise, and the fab 72.
So what is a frustrated jihadist to do? Out of work, no job prospects, and no virgins.
That would frustrate me too.
The only thing they can do is join another militia, army, or terror group. One that pays them, and keeps the gates to Paradise open...
at August 8, 2008 9:08 AM
Al-Sadr is a puppet of the US-Arab empire. Easiest way to tell: note that he is always described as a 'radical anti-American' cleric, who only wants those evil infidels to leave his land.
How utterly noble and *cool*.
Enemies of the empire, which would include Serbs that defend Serbia and Jews that defend Israel are described as 'hardline, rightwing ultranationalists'. That's not so cool at all, not to mention that the dumb goose-stepping kids on some of these college campuses don't want to be 'hardline rightwing ultranationalists'.
Looks like US's pro-Islamist policy continues...
Posted by: jimbob22 at August 8, 2008 9:34 AM
al-sadr might be thinking of creating a Hezbollah-style organization. Hezbollah got an army and it gets the other worker to help the people
the group will now focus on educational programs and support Iraq's infrastructure, including gas delivery and neighborhood cleanup
it worked for Hezbollah, why not him.
at August 8, 2008 9:49 AM
"The Pavers"- for the 12th Imam. This way to the IED Expressway. No posted speed limit. Travel as fast as the Craters allow.
The Human cost in its construction will set records unmatchable through out History.
Posted by: flowerknife_us at August 8, 2008 10:45 AM
it worked for Hezbollah, why not him.
And the funding source is the same - Iran.
Posted by: walterc at August 8, 2008 10:57 AM
Hezbollah, and later Hamas, also took over governments. That gave them (Hezbollah, anyway) real armies and the apparatus of the state to work with.
How long before the Mahdi army, with its many "charities" and "outreach organizations", controls the Shia section of Iraq? Taking over the government can't be far behind, given that the Shia are over half the population. The Shia population can only grow, giving al-Sadr greater and greater control as the years pass.
at August 8, 2008 12:07 PM
"Social organization," eh? Never knew a social organization where you would be required to check your AK47's, RPG's, and explosive vests at the door.
A word of warning to the local young men. Be wary of any "midnight basketball" programs, I understand that the term "foul shots" will be taken literally.
Posted by: Kevin at August 8, 2008 12:18 PM
Are they going to have a Social Club on Mulberry Street?
Posted by: Ummah Gummah at August 8, 2008 2:36 PM
What is so disturbing to me is that all the individual "soldiers" of Islam know exactly what to say to fool our officials. On second thought, it is disturbing but it about is par for the course for any two bit Islamic leader to fool our officials.
Posted by: Spot on at August 8, 2008 4:13 PM
Why does this script from "madbugger" sound so familiar? Because he pulled exactly the same shit back in 2004, when his "army" were being slowly massacred by the British Army in Al Amarah and in the rest of the country by the US Army.
But yes the article is correct to point out that this is most likely the Hezbollah and Hamas path being emphasised.
Jihad can be slow or fast but the aim remains the same. An Islamic state and the conquest of the infidels.
at August 8, 2008 6:07 PM
As others have pointed out already, this is classic Islamic two-facedness.
They are masters of goodcop/ badcop.
It also reminds me of the techniques of a stage magician - only in this case, while you (the unwary Infidel observer/ neighbour, or even the slack cultural muslim) are distracted by the equivalent of the pretty girl, the magician is preparing to cut your throat or at best, lock the chains around your wrists.
Posted by: dumbledoresarmy at August 8, 2008 6:33 PM
taqiyya, anyone?
Posted by: Clemente at August 10, 2008 2:03 AM
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