Posted on 03/30/2008 8:56:51 AM PDT by HD1200
Six days after the Iraqi government launched Operation Knights’ Charge in Basrah against the Mahdi Army and other Iranian-backed Shia terror groups, Muqtada al Sadr, the Leader of the Mahdi Army, has called for his fighters to lay down their weapons and cooperate with Iraqi security forces. Sadr’s call for an end to the fighting comes as his Mahdi Army has taken serious losses since the operation began. "Sadr has sent a message to his loyalists urging them to end all armed activities," the Al Iraqiya television channel reported. Sadr "disowned anyone attacking the state institutions or parties' offices and headquarters."
(Excerpt) Read more at longwarjournal.org ...
Six days after the Iraqi government launched Operation Knights’ Charge in Basrah against the Mahdi Army and other Iranian-backed Shia terror groups, Muqtada al Sadr, the Leader of the Mahdi Army, has called for his fighters to lay down their weapons and cooperate with Iraqi security forces. Sadr’s call for an end to the fighting comes as his Mahdi Army has taken serious losses since the operation began.
"Sadr has sent a message to his loyalists urging them to end all armed activities," the Al Iraqiya television channel reported. Sadr "disowned anyone attacking the state institutions or parties' offices and headquarters."
"Based on responsibility towards Iraq and to stem Iraqi bloodshed and to preserve the country's unity and integrity as a prelude to its independence, I call on the people to be up to their responsibility and awareness in order to maintain Iraq's stability," according to a statement issued by Sadr and sent to Voices of Iraq. Sadr has called for the government to free members of the Mahdi Army and the Sadrist Movement captured during recent operations.
The Iraqi government has welcomed Sadr’s call for his followers to cease fighting. "The order to pull off gunmen off Basra along with all Iraqi provinces and to disavow those who has taken up arms against government offices and security forces is responsive and patriotic", Ali Al-Dabagh, the spokesman for the Iraqi government, told Voices of Iraq. The Iraqi government has not called for a halt in military operations.
Sadr’s call for an end to fighting by his followers comes as his Mahdi Army has taken high casualties over the past six days. Since the fighting began on Tuesday 358 Mahdi Army fighters were killed, 531 were wounded, 343 were captured, and 30 surrendered. The US and Iraqi security forces have killed 125 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad alone, while Iraqi security forces have killed 140 Mahdi fighters in Basra.
From March 25-29 the Mahdi Army had an average of 71 of its fighters killed per day. Sixty-nine fighters have been captured per day, and another 160 have been reported wounded per day during the fighting. The US and Iraqi military never came close to inflicting casualties during the height of major combat operations against al Qaeda in Iraq during the summer and fall of 2007.
US and Iraqi forces are maintaining the high pace of operations against the Mahdi Army and the Special Groups. While the daily reporting from Iraq is far from over, initial reports indicate at least 18 Mahdi Army fighters have been killed and another 30 captured.
US soldiers killed 14 Mahdi fighters in Baghdad during a series of separate engagements. Iraqi security forces killed four Mahdi Army fighters and captured another 30 in Babil province, where a major offensive led by the police has been underway.
Chicken-shi(a)t.
YEAH!!!!!
Is 'success' of U.S. surge in Iraq about to unravel?
The enemedia will stop at nothing to make sure the perception is that the war has been lost.
Sadr-the-treasonous-punk ping.
Temporarily out of bullets ?
Judging by the body count, I think he is running out of live fighters...
Does this guy have multiple personalities? One day he’s leading the militia, the next he’s telling them to lay down their arms. This on-again, off-again horse-$hit has to stop. Frankly I don’t understand why he’s allowed to call the shots on when this fighting stops and starts. Every so often he decides to fire up the militia, then call a cease-fire and hide out for a while. How many times has this happened now? He and his ilk need to be wiped out permanently. Each day he’s allowed to live, only gives him the opportunity to do this all over again.
“In order to stop the bloodshed of Iraqis and protect the safety and stability and independency of Iraq, we have decided the following:
1- To forbid all armed appearances in Basrah province and all of the rest of the provinces.
2- To stop all random armed raids and the random illegal arrests.
3- We ask the government of Iraq to implement the general amnesty law and release the innocent detainees, particularly, the Sadrists detainees. Yeah, dream on, Mookie.
4- We will disown anyone who is armed and is targeting the security agencies, the government agencies, public service agencies, or political headquarters. You'd better back off the International Zone and central Baghdad in general, as well, you fat little piece of filth.
5- To cooperate with the government agencies in order to achieve security and prosecute those who commit crimes according to the law.
6- We confirm that the Sadr Trend does not possess any heavy arms. Oh, well then who's launching those rockets, a$$hole???
7- To work on returning the displaced families to their homes, those who fled for security reasons.
8- We ask the Government of Iraq to apply the human rights law in all different security issues.
9- To work on the rebuilding projects and public services projects throughout all the provinces."
Signed,
Muqtada al-Sadr
22, Rabe’e al-Awal, 1429
why is that man still breathing?
It would be better to finish this thing once and for all right now.
Fear of complete defeat, I believe. Also, he may see that the Iraqi are fed up with this mindless chaos.
That's because the militia was getting its ASS KICKED.
I guess the media keeps forgetting to mention that part...
Good. The ceasefire was in danger.
Senator Urges Sadr to ‘Not Give Up Hope’
March 22, 2008
Moqtada al-Sadr — the lunatic Islamic fanatic that Newsweek called “The Most Dangerous Man in Iraq” in 2006 — has unilaterally extended the ceasefire he decreed for his Mahdi Army in the summer of 2007. “To be frank, we were getting our heads handed to us by the infidel occupiers,” Sadr lamented. “I see no alternative if we are to avoid being wiped out.”
Sadr’s attempt to intimidate Iraqis into accepting his vision for an Islamic theocratic state under his leadership was not faring well. Even his fellow Shi’a Muslims rejected his message. When the U.S “surge” provided an alternate source of protection from al-Qaeda and Sunni insurgents, the Shi’ites no longer needed the Mahdis for protection.
This turn of events has caused consternation for U.S. Democrats. In a bid to rescue the situation, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wrote to Sadr urging him to “not give up hope.” “We are doing our best to end the Bush Administration’s reign of terror in your country,” Reid’s letter said. “We have high hopes of replacing him with a person having greater sympathy for your plight. If you can only hang on until 2009, things should be looking up.”
read more...
http://www.azconservative.org/Column_Archives.htm
He should be taken out, too.
Yep, and expect that tactic to work once again. We will see a repeat of these events later this year and some will wonder why it is happening. Bush has been neutered, so McCain's our only hope? Scary indeed.
Fat Boy Sadr must have had his “Come to Jesus” moment...
Once again, seeing his armed thugs are no match for warriors - must have been an eyeopening and anus constricting event!
Sorry - but there should be no ceasefire — any Sadr supporter or “Madhi Thug” $%$#^%^%$ showing himself armed, masked or even pretending to be a threat should be fired upon..
Jihad is war.... Jihad is not a “only when Islamists want to fight” game... Jihad is to the death, remember? In Jihad, it is glorious to die, remember?
Well - in the interest of respecting other’s cultures, I’m sure there are folks present on the scene that will gladly accommodate their desire for eternal glory...
I beg to disagree. Sadr is runinng out of live fighters:
Sadr’s call for an end to fighting by his followers comes as his Mahdi Army has taken high casualties over the past six days. Since the fighting began on Tuesday 358 Mahdi Army fighters were killed, 531 were wounded, 343 were captured, and 30 surrendered. The US and Iraqi security forces have killed 125 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad alone, while Iraqi security forces have killed 140 Mahdi fighters in Basra.
From March 25-29 the Mahdi Army had an average of 71 of its fighters killed per day. Sixty-nine fighters have been captured per day, and another 160 have been reported wounded per day during the fighting. The US and Iraqi military never came close to inflicting casualties during the height of major combat operations against al Qaeda in Iraq during the summer and fall of 2007.
US and Iraqi forces are maintaining the high pace of operations against the Mahdi Army and the Special Groups. While the daily reporting from Iraq is far from over, initial reports indicate at least 18 Mahdi Army fighters have been killed and another 30 captured.
US soldiers killed 14 Mahdi fighters in Baghdad during a series of separate engagements. Iraqi security forces killed four Mahdi Army fighters and captured another 30 in Babil province, where a major offensive led by the police has been underway.
Iraq, go in and finnish the job! As he’s done many times before, he only surrenders when his life is on the line.
The mainstream media is going to be crying in their beer tonight. They don’t get a new Tet offensive and quagmire to rub in America’s face Monday morning.
They know if the Rats get elected we will quit fighting and that will be a victory for radical Islam.
Best way to get the Rats elected is to unravel progress, kill some more soldiers, and get the public behind troop pull outs; IE the DemoRat platform.
Not from estimates. He is supposed to have somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 fighters under arms.
LWJ ping.
We got word this morning that my Wifes nephew’s truck was hit by an IED and all inside were injured and evac’d to Germany. No other details.
I pray to God it wasn’t a Mookie Mahdi militia who planted the IED. That A- hole should have been taken out 4 years ago when he hid in his mosque after murdering pro democracy Iraqis.
Call from stepson this morning was cut off short. he says things are really getting bad in his sector. Had to go quickly. click.
Is the DNC sending money to the insurgents to influence public opinion that will elect Rats?? We know who Bin Laden (if not dead) supports.
I know this story is in jest, but it detracts nothing from the truth that Harold Reid, should be tried and hung for Treason, and Aiding and Abetting the enemies of the United States of America...along with many others.
No stopping until all the thugs surrender, till all of the Iranian murderers, spies, politicians, clerics and Iranian oil blackmarket theivesn have been eradicated from the Iraqi Oil Fields, production sites and offices. Till all the oil being stolen from Iraq and being shipped into Iran has been forever stopped.
When your Islamofascist serial killers are being killed at a rate of 1-2% in a few days. You had better call a halt or in a month, there might not be too many mad dog followers.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993975/posts
US: 16 killed in Basra airstrikes (AC 130 RAINS DEATH ON MOOKIE’S MEN)
ap ^ | 3/2/30/2008 | KIM GAMEL
Posted on 03/30/2008 6:54:06 AM PDT by milwguy
BAGHDAD - A U.S. warplane strafed snipers in the southern city of Basra, killing at least 16 suspected militants after Iraqi troops came under heavy fire, the American military said
Iraqi police earlier claimed eight civilians, including two women and a child, had been killed in a predawn airstrike in the Hananiyah neighborhood, a known Shiite militia stronghold. But Maj. Brad Leighton, a U.S. military spokesman, said U.S. and Iraqi special operations forces had identified snipers on several roofs before the strike was ordered.
An AC-130 gunship then opened fire on enemy positions on three roofs.
“Initial reports indicate 16 criminal fighters were killed,” he said in an e-mail response to a query by The Associated Press.
Excellent news and this should be in the breaking news section.
However, although denied that talking point, we need to be realistic enough to know that this is not a victory for us.
This tactic is standard operating procedure for al Sadr: Attack. Get beat. Kiss and make up. Regroup. Attack. Get beat. Kiss and make up. Regroup. Attack. Get beat. Kiss and make up. Regroup. Attack.
The cycle must be broken and his forces must be destroyed once and for all.
> Frankly I don’t understand why he’s allowed to call
> the shots on when this fighting stops and starts.
Blame the Irai gov and the politicians controlling
the Coalition, who have failed to learn lesson 13B
of fighting Cutthroat Cultists:
* When the thugs ask for a cease-fire, step up the offensive.
This is just a preview of what will happen when we pull out of Iraq.
In 5 months, 5 years or 50 years it will be the same.
“Iraqification” will work about as well as did “Vietnamization”.
We have had 3 or 4 opportunities to take al Sadr out but political correctness won each time.
We are letting our people die because we don’t have the guts to persue a winning strategy.
Agreed and the government should say too bad, we’re going to go ahead and wipe you out permanently...this is nothing more than a stall until they can recruit stupid teens to go get blow to bits for no apparent reason...total extermination is the only way to deal with loonies such as this guy...
See link at #36.
Sadr is playing the game again.....
The media continues to report negative news stories that have nothing to do with the truth and everything to do with their hate for America. It’s too bad the facts on the ground are exposing the media as liars and frauds. If they keep reporting their anti American lies they will have no audience to report to.
Time to surge all over Sadr’s ass until he and his trash is dead!
It sure won’t happen after November.
Ping
Maliki needs to take care of business....
Trickle down annihilation works!
Why is Sadr still alive? Why is Nasrallah in Lebanon still alive?
Saddam is dead. His sons are dead. Iraq is making progress. Zarqawi is dead, etc., etc.
Trickle down annihilation works!
Sistani must be backing the government. Al Sadr has shown how duplicitious he is.
Thanks Tennessean4Bush and Ernest at the Beach.
BREAKING NEWS:
Al-Sadr calls for an end to Shiite revolt in south Iraq. More soon..
(Sadr, you lose!)
MSNBC | 3/30/2008 | MSNBC
Posted on 03/30/2008 5:36:56 AM PDT by tobyhill
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993948/posts
Government to lift Baghdad curfew
BBC | Monday, 31 March 2008 02:30 UK | BBC Staff
Posted on 03/31/2008 2:01:52 AM EDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994272/posts
In Pictures: Iranian munitions seized in Iraq-(3.28.08)
longwarjournal | March 30, 2008 | By Bill Roggio
Posted on 03/30/2008 8:24:02 PM PDT by Flavius
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994231/posts
British troops called into Basra as Shia battles rage on
Times (UK) | March 31, 2008 | James Hider in Baghdad and Michael Evans, Defence Editor
Posted on 03/30/2008 4:47:08 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994172/posts
Aide to Iraq’s Sadr: “No handover of arms”
Reuters | 30 Mar 2008 13:38:32 GMT | Source: Reuters
Posted on 03/30/2008 12:46:53 PM EDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994038/posts
Mahdi Army taking significant casualties in Baghdad, South
The Long War Journal | 29 March 2008 | Bill Roggio
Posted on 03/30/2008 12:03:51 AM EDT by DJ Elliott
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993874/posts
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