Sadr fighters raise white flag (Great Job Iraqi Troops with minimal US help)

The Times ^ | 3/31/2008 | AFP

[tobyhill]

BAGHDAD - Fighters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have melted away from the streets of the Iraqi capital and Basra where they fought fierce battles with security forces, AFP reporters said today.

Yesterday, Sadr ordered his fighters to withdraw from the streets in a move signaling the end of clashes which erupted in the southern port city of Basra and quickly spread to Shiite areas across Iraq.

AFP correspondents in Baghdad and Basra said that militants were off the streets in the two key cities where they fought Iraqi security forces backed by US-led coalition air power.

The Sadr group in Baghdad confirmed that fighters from the cleric’s feared Mahdi Army militia were no longer deployed in the capital.

"Sadr movement and Jaish al-Mahdi (Mahdi Army) are committed to the order of Sadr," said Hamdallah al-Rikabi, spokesman of the cleric’s movement in western Baghdad. "We are implementing what Sadr has ordered."

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Frankie Pantangele gave the best advice.

[domenad]

"Mike....mike let's hit 'em all. Let's hit 'em all, NOW, while we got da muscle."

CLASSIC.

[pnh102]

Ugh... why do so many people keep falling for this? Is this like what, the 10th time Mookie has “surrendered?” Haven't people learned that any time someone like this claims to have surrendered it is really a codeword for them having run out of ammo and will resume hostilities once he is resupplied, by Iran.

[DGHoodini]

“Relax don’t do it!
When you want to get to it!”?

>Bo)

[Proud_USA_Republican]

I’m sure the Mahdi army will declare this a great victory.

[Argus]

These militias need to be disarmed and disbanded and Mookie needs to be arrested, tried for murder and executed. Anything less just postpones the day of reckoning again.

[EvilOverlord]

A white flag does not mean disarmed and disbanded.

Let’s see a victory here instead of a hudna.

[Moose4]

The light’s turned on, and the cockroaches have melted back into the baseboards, leaving a few squished bodies behind.

Problem is, they’re still back in the baseboards, multiplying. And the queen (Mookie) is still alive.

}:-)4

[tobyhill]

He’ll be back but he got his ass handed to him this time and it’s something that the Iraqi Troops should celebrate.

[tobyhill]

I didn’t write the title.

[EvilOverlord]

I didn’t write the title.

It's not a comment on you, but on the article.

[tobyhill]

They will and the MSM will follow their celebrations in the streets but the reality of this one is Sadr got his ass whooped. He’ll be back but if he tries to use the same weapons he tried this time he’ll get whooped even harder.

[r9etb]

Outstanding!!!! This is exactly what should happen.

I was thinking at the outset that, if the Iraqis can actually make a go of this offensive, that it would be a good thing that they a) did it at all; and b) did it mostly on their own.

Oh, and once again: Stick that up your rancid ass, Harry Reid.

[The Louiswu]

"disarmed and disbanded"

Disarmed I understand..that is until the next shipment comes in from Iran - but disbanded?...How? Tell them to sit in opposite corners of the room and not talk to each other? These terrorists clump together like cancer and do as much damage. They need to be terminated...with EXTREME prejudice, (nuked from orbit if you prefer...that's the only way to be sure)

[DAC21]

“I’m sure the Mahdi army will declare this a great victory”

Well if the Mahdi doesn't, LA Times writers of the likes of Alexandra Zavis will.

Here are a few of her quotes today”

“Sadr loyalist battled Gov. forces to a draw” or “The Gov. campaign instead revealed the strength of the Mahdi Army militia which fought more than 28,000 gov. troops to a stand still in Basra and pounded the Green Zone with days of punishing rocket and mortar fire.

All I know is the dying was done by the Sadr minions. This chick reporter would seem to be delusional.

[tobyhill]

I know, just kidding. My point of posting this is that at least this round the Iraqi Troops have some room to celebrate even though some in the MSM will try to rain on their parade. After all, where would we get our laughs if Mookie suddenly vanished?

[oneolcop]

One of the main purposes of this operation was to “blood” the new Iraqi army. They had to fight, shed some blood and gain confidence that they can actually fight and win. It’s called “BLOODING” a long tradition in military philosophy.

[tobyhill]

I think Zavis has been smoking that rock. Just the other day the MSM claimed the Iraqi Troops only controlled 25% of Basra but now they're calling Basra a draw even though they admit that Iraqi Troops control it all now.

[ping jockey]

Godfather II bump

[Ramius]

I agree. Exceedingly good news. Of course it needs to hold for a while, but this is a major feather in the cap for Maliki. He showed toughness and resolve, and gets some “street cred” out of it.

[50sDad]

[r9etb]

He’ll be back but he got his ass handed to him this time and it’s something that the Iraqi Troops should celebrate.

And if Mookie keeps bouncing back like that, the Iraqi troops can keep smacking him down.... I don't imagine Mookie's folks are all that keen on being the next round of cannon fodder, though.

[rightinthemiddle]

The MSM seems to be giving Sadr and the Iranians all the credit for stopping the fighting.

[r9etb]

One of the main purposes of this operation was to “blood” the new Iraqi army. They had to fight, shed some blood and gain confidence that they can actually fight and win. It’s called “BLOODING” a long tradition in military philosophy.

And what's really good about it is that they did it successfully, and (according to the MSM reports, at least) against the better judgment of the US military.

Of course, in saying the US military were disturbed, the MSM probably relied on their "hand-wringer" pool of doomsaying military sources, so that they could set up the pieces to lament the "failed US policies" again.

Instead, those damned Iraqis had to do a good job ... which makes it that much harder for the Dems and the MSM to predict failure.

[Williams]

For all the press drama this didn’t take very long, Im not sold on the Iraqi army yet but they must feel good taht they led their own operation with just a little US help. Also, it seems major that they cracked down on a “fellow” Shiite group.

[CPT Clay]

THIS is important!!

[nikos1121]

How can this @ hole ask that they stop the fighting f he wasn’t involved in starting the fighting.

Michael Savage was right, we should have leveled Fallujah, and wiped out Sadr from the beginning when we have the support and leverage.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That would be from the McClatchy News:

Iranian general played key role in brokering Iraq cease-fire

[Williams]

Keep in mind how wildly anti-American the press is. The Sunnis were the oppressors in Iraq but when they joined Al Queda against us they became an oppressed minority. The Shia were the oppressed but they became the corrupt oppressors because they formed a government friendly to us. Now a kook like Al Sadr is boosted because he is pro Iranian and is against our "occupation".

The left are a terrible bunch, they are not reporters.

[1Old Pro]

Does the thought “finish the bastard off” ever enter into the thinking?

[jellybean]

In case you haven't seen it...Special Operations Firefight in Iraq ( Special Forces )

[tobyhill]

I’m not sold yet either but this helps make other Middle-Eastern countries think twice about trying to lay claim to a sovereign Iraq.

[tobyhill]

I saw it yesterday and I know the MSM will try to claim it was too much American involvement but the Iraqi Troops performed 95% of the mission in Basra and at least 70% of the Sadr City Mission.

[TexasCajun]

That little bastard is lying his ass off, regrouping and rearming, making a better plan while we stop killing them.

[TexasCajun]

WOW -- Can you say dead insurgents!

Laser scopes & tracer rounds from machine guns and some awesome sounding gattling-gun in the background.

[longtermmemmory]

sadr was doing a “reload through negotiation” ploy.

very transparent.

[bert]

.....that fighters from the cleric’s feared Mahdi Army militia were no longer deployed in the capital.....

Did the Brits leave Bashra because they feared Mookie? Are you giving them cover for leaving Mr Times

[tobyhill]

I think the Brits did leave Basra because they feared Mookie but IMHO I think Sadr is nothing but an Iranian Paper Tiger that has forced Iran to recreate a save facing measure.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

FR thread:

The reason al-Sadr surrendered

YouTube ^ | March 30, 2008 | Thomas W.

[Allegra]

The Sadr group in Baghdad confirmed that fighters from the cleric’s feared Mahdi Army militia were no longer deployed in the capital.

Then who launched rockets at the Green Zone...twice today?

[freeangel]

Wasn’t the deal contingent upon Iraq releasing Mookies fighters? Did that happen?

[SlapHappyPappy]

I have no idea, but every time I point this out I get trashed.

The guy surrendered twice in the last week, yet for some reason we are supposed to believe it matters. Of course he’s willing to give up his arms. All he has to do is hop on over to Iran for replacements. Heck, they even arranged for only token “arrests” of his fighters.

Call me when he’s dead. Not in custody: dead.

[Allegra]

In case you haven't seen it...Special Operations Firefight in Iraq ( Special Forces )

Cool! I wonder when that was done?

I heard some wild stuff coming from Sadr City Wednesday and Thursday nights and plenty of noise the two nights following. Saw flares up as well. But this video was loaded before any of that.

Just goes to show how many times Sadr City has to get its ass kicked.

Well done, Special Forces!

[SlapHappyPappy]

It IS a victory for the Mahdi army.

Once again, instead of being wiped off the map they were allowed to get out and will regroup.

They are fighting a stalling strategy, and it is working. I don’t diminish the victory in this individual battle, but Sadr is not losing as long as he can keep going back to Iran for fresh arms and troops.

[tobyhill]

I'm sure Mookie will claim it's the Sunnis up in Mosul.

[tobyhill]

Maliki made no such deal to release Sadr's fighters, that's just what Iran, Sadr and MSM are claiming was agreed to.

[karnage]

But did Mook really get his moon kicked? The Lamestreamers continue to call it a victory for Sadr. What’s the truth???

[tobyhill]

A 120 to 1 killed, wounded or captured ratio for Iraqi Troops is a loss for Sadr no matter how the MSM wants to dice it.

[karnage]

Thank you!