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.