By Andrew L. Jaffee, August 18, 2004
Posted on 08/18/2004 9:30:29 AM PDT by stevejackson
| BREAKING NEWS: al-Sadr to Disband Militia, Leave Imam Ali Mosque By Andrew L. Jaffee, August 18, 2004 |
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Threatened with an imminent raid of the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf by Iraqi forces, radical Islamist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed to disband his militia, vacate the mosque, and "enter into the mainstream political process."
Pressure has been building against al-Sadr for quite some time now. The power-hungry cleric has been stirring up trouble in Najaf, Karbala, and Baghdad since early April. On May 21, over 2,000 Iraqis held a demonstration in the city of Karbala insisting that al-Sadr and his militiamen -- thugs -- get out of town. On May 11, about 1,000 moderate Shiite Muslims protested against al-Sadr in Najaf. Over the last two weeks, 1,800 Iraqi troops alongside 2,000 U.S. marines have been attempting to clean up the mess that Sadr and his militia have made of Najaf. The joint U.S./Iraqi forces have killed about 300 of Sadr’s 1,000 militiamen. Today, Iraqis showed an iron will in bringing stability to their own country.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has lost all patience with Sadr. He made the decision to have Iraqi forces storm the Imam Ali mosque, the most holy site for Shiite Muslims and the place where Sadr was cynically holed up, and take out the trash. According to Allawi,
Iraq will not stand with arms folded. The government's position is clear and specific to ending armed manifestations, stopping acts of sabotage and making the armed men leave Najaf and the mosque.
Iraq’s interim Defense Minister Hazem Sha'alan said the Iraqi government was committed to free "Najaf city from the gang of mercenaries."
Najaf has been a major sore spot in the rebuilding of Iraq. Hopefully the removal of Sadr and his thugs will enhance the nation’s security.
I wonder if you could think of any in our government that could be labeled as enemy combatants. Does every congressman and woman have the USA in thier best intrests?
John Kerry is deeply sadned, Iraq government working (kinda) on it's own.
"He really doesn't have a choice except to blow up the mosque..."
We should have bombed the mosque days ago. This PC stuff is going to be the death of our country.
"Al-Sadr Demands Ceasefire in Najaf Before Disarming"
Don't ya just know his supporter's are leaving from Iran about now with more help for Fatboy?
if we've killed enough to get some deal to get that mosque freed - let's take that now.
I suspect he will be assasinated if he truly disbands his band of terrorist protectors. Carbombs can be a two edged sword.
And if the terrorists have succeeded in assasinating some of the Iraqi government... you can bet the Iraqi government is capable of doing the same, especially if he forced into disbanding his security apparatus... the band of thugs.
I think he is a dead man walking... and at a time of our choosing, "toast" will become the operative word for ole mookie. Maybe a simple heart attack.
...until tomorrow, or Friday at the latest.
Isn't it amazing that when these radical "fight until the last blood is shed" leaders are faced with imminent death of their own that "peace" seems to be a refreshing alternative! May we not back up an inch and continue to take the fight to the terrorists!
Voting for Iraqi Council Off to Chaotic Start=The group leader told his colleagues they had not actually met with radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr,,,,,,,SAME OLD CRAP ----> http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=453FB260-2022-4596-B61EC75EC9175AE6
Nice time for him and his islamofascist troops to disperse and re-arm. I don't buy this, he and his ilk should be taken-out by the Iraqis while he's cornered.
A little insight on Butterball ---> http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040407-124311-9361r.htm
As long as that involves an electric chair, I'm all for it.
He has proven himself to be someone that cannot be trusted and is only looking to cause problems - Dealing with him now is what is needed -
We'll just lap it up and pretend things will be okay, meanwhile they can disperse and regroup elsewhere, and plot new ways to kill Americans and Iraqis.
If we actually followed up on what we've said about going after terrorists, Al-Sadr would be dead. The only difference between him and Bin Laden are numbers of dead Americans their followers are responsible for. Given the opportunity, I have no doubt that Al-Sadr would gladly order the deaths of thousands of Americans.
"He has proven himself to be someone that cannot be trusted and is only looking to cause problems - Dealing with him now is what is needed -"
Well stated - only trick is to get tribal,faction,cleric, muhlah,inaham and who knows what else leaders to agree.
Steadfast in Defiance, Cleric Gains Stature With Iraq Masses ( Sadr report from the LA Times )
Guess we will see what happens.
Maybe he could form a support group with Ted Kennedy.
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