U.S. Soldier's Update for today (on Fallujah and cleric Sadr)

[Cedar]

Update from Iraq

U.S./Coalition Forces including the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) are making great strides this week in Iraq. Due to all the coverage in the news we (TF 185th) felt it necessary to give a mid-week update and explain what’s really going on over here. We will cover two issues: The Fallujah situation and Shiite Muslim cleric Sadr situation. These situations are fully under control and will ultimately have a pro U.S./Coalition outcome.

Conflict in Fallujah. For some time, the city has been used as a safe haven for former Saddam loyalists, foreign terrorists, criminals, and anyone else seeking to cause harm to coalition forces. The citizens of Fallujah are Sunni Muslims. The initial tactics used in the city was to treat the citizens with respect and foster good will by not imposing curfews and allowing people to come and go as they wished. The problem has been that former Saddam supporters and foreign terrorists from Palestine, and Syria have used Fallujah as a base for their actions against the coalition forces and the Iraqi Governing Council.

The brutal murder of four American civilians in Fallujah last week by these terrorist organizations left the U.S./Coalition Forces no choice but to tighten security in Fallujah and impose curfews. There is large population in this town and most of its’ people would like to live in peace, many of them are afraid of the terrorists and probably don’t know who to trust.

U.S./Coalition Forces and the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) will take firm control of the situation in Fallujah. Those responsible for the recent murders will be caught, and Fallujah will soon be rid of terrorists. As the local people start to feel more secure, they will find it easier to trust the new Iraqi government and the Coalition.

Muqtada al Sadr is a young (30 years old) Shiite Muslim cleric with a thirst for power in the emerging new nation of Iraq. He is known for giving emotionally charged speeches at Shiite Mosques. He wants a fundamentalist Muslim government dominated by Shiites, who make up 60% of the Iraqi population. The Iraqi Governing Council, which is made up of representatives from each political and religious group in the country, is writing a new constitution to form a democratic government that will protect the freedom of all Iraqis. Sadr has referred to the proposed new constitution as “filthy,” apparently because it would establish a western-style democracy. Such a democracy would prevent the establishment of a national religion, and keep the Shiites, or any other group, from dominating Iraq in the future.

Sadr has a loyal following of Shiites from the poor areas of Baghdad and other cities such as Karbala and An Najaf. These followers are known as the Mahdi Army, and are un-educated, illiterate, and naïve. In the Muslim religion, the “Imam” is regarded as a very holy person. The people take what the Imam says literally, as if were Allah himself speaking, with no questions asked. With weapons easy to obtain, they armed themselves and created a militia called “Sadrs’ Army”. Sadr claims that his “army” numbers about 10,000 but this is an exaggeration. Sadr uses his position as Imam to blast weekly sermons from loudspeakers in these poor Shiite areas calling on a “Jihad” or holy war against the infidels. The infidels in this case are any coalition forces. The clashes with coalition troops were most likely a political tactic designed to make Sadr seem more powerful than he actually is. He is hoping to gain influence over the content of the new Iraqi constitution in order to steer it away from a true democracy.

There is currently a warrant out for Sadrs’ arrest for the murder of a rival Shiite cleric.

An Iraqi judge issued the warrant based on reliable evidence. The Iraqi Governing Council and Coalition Forces see Sadr and his followers as threats to the future democratic government of Iraq.

Catfish 6 Bradly MacNealy TF 185th Aviation

[rogueleader]

REMEMBER FALLUJAH!

[AHerald]

Awesome post. Big time thanks to you, Cedar.

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[Filibuster_60]

This guy obviously hasn't been to Fallujah where it's clear much of the populace hates our guts. Let's pray he's right about those Muslims being so peace-loving - after what we've seen the past few days it takes a lot of guts to remain this optimistic.

[AZBear]

Thank you for the update. Keep up the fight. I pray for a swift victory.

[microgood]

Excellent Post. Thanks for the real story.

[RebelTex]

Thanks for the update.

We pray that the Lord keeps you and all US and coalition personel safe, both military and civilian.

It must fill you with pride to be a part of 'birthing' a new, free and democratic nation.

"Stay the course" and be safe.

RebelTex

[Frank_2001]

Sadr is basically a Saddam who's "found religion". Thanks for the post.

LET'S ROLL!!!

[Rokke]

I take it you've been to Fallujah and can offer an accurate assessment of what much of its populace thinks?

[Spruce]

USMC Falujah, Iraq - Apr. 7, 2004.

[Ready4Freddy]

Who issued this warrant? My understanding that the murder of the cleric was even before we invaded Iraq.

"There is currently a warrant out for Sadrs’ arrest for the murder of a rival Shiite cleric."

[Cedar]

I'm sorry, Rebel. I should have made a note that this was sent to me from my uncle (who is a personal friend of Bradly) and keeps us updated on his group.

I know your goodwill towards the brave troops over there is appreciated.

[RedlegCPT]

And you have in the last few days? Look at the name on the post not Cedar but Catfish 6 TF 185 Aviation. Last I checked he is in the sh!t as we in the military like to say.

[cibco]

BOHICA!

[Cedar]

You are right, Redleg. As I stated above, I (Cedar) did not write this report. It was written by Bradly MacNealy, Commander of the 185th Aviation stationed in Iraq.

Sorry, everyone! I should have put him as the author so it would appear on the main page that way and not be confusing. I'll know better next time!

[fatima]

Thank you so much for this update Cedar.

[MNJohnnie]

This guy obviously hasn't been to Fallujah where it's clear much of the populace hates our guts.

OK, They GUY ON THE GROUND doesn't know as much as you from a few pictures seen on the DNC directed "news media"? Ever bother to look into the reports? "The mob" was made up of about 150 people. Out of a city of 500,000?

Let's pray he's right about those Muslims being so peace-loving - after what we've seen the past few days it takes a lot of guts to remain this optimistic.

Actually what it takes is the brains to turn OFF the hysteric Talk Radio ranters like Savage and the DNC directed "News Media" and do a little research on the web to read what people ACTUALLY there are saying. Gee a country of 25 MILLION has a few thousand bad guys. Big Surprise.

There are places in our own big cities where gang bangers run wild.

[LdSentinal]

The problem has been that former Saddam supporters and foreign terrorists from Palestine, and Syria have used Fallujah as a base for their actions against the coalition forces and the Iraqi Governing Council.

The coalition knew that Fallujah was being used as a main base against the coalition and they waited until now to do something?