Anti-U.S. cleric forbids his militia to fight Iraqi troops

Intransigent Atheist · 05-25-07, 01:39 PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, making his first public appearance in four months, on Friday ordered his Mehdi Army militia not to fight with Iraqi police and army forces.

"From time to time, we hear of clashes between our brothers in the Mehdi Army and the brothers in the Iraqi police and army," al-Sadr said in a sermon at a mosque in the holy Shiite city of Kufa, south of Baghdad.

"Pay attention: This is an important point," he said. "As far as I know, the occupation is behind this, creating an excuse for it to stay in our beloved Iraq. So don't give it a reason, please." (Watch al-Sadr deliver a fiery sermon )

Anti-U.S. cleric*forbids his militia to fight Iraqi troops - CNN.com

This man needs to be eliminated. He is too much of an influence in Iraq and has been thwarting any efforts to establish a stable government.

Iriemon · 05-25-07, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intransigent Atheist

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, making his first public appearance in four months, on Friday ordered his Mehdi Army militia not to fight with Iraqi police and army forces.

"From time to time, we hear of clashes between our brothers in the Mehdi Army and the brothers in the Iraqi police and army," al-Sadr said in a sermon at a mosque in the holy Shiite city of Kufa, south of Baghdad.

"Pay attention: This is an important point," he said. "As far as I know, the occupation is behind this, creating an excuse for it to stay in our beloved Iraq. So don't give it a reason, please." (Watch al-Sadr deliver a fiery sermon )

Anti-U.S. cleric*forbids his militia to fight Iraqi troops - CNN.com

This man needs to be eliminated. He is too much of an influence in Iraq and has been thwarting any efforts to establish a stable government.

I don't get your point. It soulds like he is telling his militia not to engage with government troops. Why is that a bad thing?

Kasmos · 05-25-07, 02:52 PM

Yeah, I have to agree with Iriemon.

It seems he's pissed off at American presence (hey! What a surprise? People are pissed off we're on their land!) and wants his faction to stop attacking Iraqi soldiers so we will leave!

Christ, he may be smarter then anyone in our government.

WI Crippler · 05-25-07, 02:57 PM

If he was really looking for peace, he would just disband the militia altogether, instead of telling them not to attack while the occupation is in force. Seems nice on the surface, but if you think about it, he should just disband his militia entirely if he really wants peace.

Kandahar · 05-25-07, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WI Crippler

If he was really looking for peace, he would just disband the militia altogether, instead of telling them not to attack while the occupation is in force. Seems nice on the surface, but if you think about it, he should just disband his militia entirely if he really wants peace.

That's easy to say in the safety of your American home, but the Iraqi military is unreliable. From a Shiite perspective, they want someone who will protect them from the Sunnis instead of trying to "keep the peace." Muqtada al-Sadr's sectarian militia has filled that gap. It's hard to blame the Shiites for wanting that; if I lived there I'd want someone to protect my interests too.

This is just one of many reasons why the country should be divided up into two or three smaller countries.

WI Crippler · 05-25-07, 03:44 PM

Quote:

That's easy to say in the safety of your American home, but the Iraqi military is unreliable. From a Shiite perspective, they want someone who will protect them from the Sunnis instead of trying to "keep the peace." Muqtada al-Sadr's sectarian militia has filled that gap. It's hard to blame the Shiites for wanting that; if I lived there I'd want someone to protect my interests too.

Until both sides of the militias can lay down arms, neither side will, and the violence will continue. The point here, is that I don't believe he wants true peace, he just wants the US out of the way. After that, I would imagine his militias would just pick up where they left off.

Quote:

This is just one of many reasons why the country should be divided up into two or three smaller countries.

Not necessarily a bad proposition. It is unnatural borders created by European imperialism that has stuck these fueding people in the same country. The only question is, would Saudi Arabia and/or Iran take advantage??

Kandahar · 05-25-07, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WI Crippler

Until both sides of the militias can lay down arms, neither side will, and the violence will continue.

Then the violence will continue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WI Crippler

The point here, is that I don't believe he wants true peace, he just wants the US out of the way. After that, I would imagine his militias would just pick up where they left off.

He's an aspiring leader of Iraq (or at least of the Shiite region of Iraq). Every aspiring leader wants peace in his area of dominance; it provides fewer threats to his power.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WI Crippler

Not necessarily a bad proposition. It is unnatural borders created by European imperialism that has stuck these fueding people in the same country. The only question is, would Saudi Arabia and/or Iran take advantage??

I'm sure they would. But that's better than the alternative of Iraq becoming a Somalia-like anarchy.

Panache · 05-25-07, 04:05 PM

Quote:

If he was really looking for peace, he would just disband the militia altogether, instead of telling them not to attack while the occupation is in force. Seems nice on the surface, but if you think about it, he should just disband his militia entirely if he really wants peace.

Should we also get rid of the second amendment if we really want peace?

WI Crippler · 05-25-07, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panache

Should we also get rid of the second amendment if we really want peace?

I am all for the second amendment, but we have seen what our own government thinks about us forming militias. This isn't about us, this is about Iraq. Lets stay on track buddy......

Kasmos · 05-25-07, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WI Crippler

I am all for the second amendment, but we have seen what our own government thinks about us forming militias. This isn't about us, this is about Iraq. Lets stay on track buddy......

You're right, let's stay on track. One of the leading "terrorist" leaders wants his militia to stop attacking Iraqi police so us, the Americans, will leave. How is that not a great thing? And doesn't it just show how much they want us the heck out of there (A.K.A. how much it is ******* THEM OFF that we're there right now A.K.A. making them MORE MAD at us A.K.A. making us MORE VULNERABLE for terrorist attacks)?

Why don't all of you who support our occupance of Iraq (still) get the fact that fighting a foreign nation is NOT MAKING US MORE SAFE? Instead, we are just continuing to piss off the very enemies we're trying to "destroy".