Al-Sadr militia prep for U.S., Iraqi fighting

The Washington Times ^ | 05 Apr 2008 | Sharon Behn

[BGHater]

Militiamen loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are positioning explosives to defend the major routes into Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood in anticipation of a major battle with U.S. and Iraqi government forces, residents said yesterday.

Iraqis also said families in Sadr City and other Shi'ite areas of Baghdad are stocking up on food, fearing new fighting that will leave them unable to get to the markets.

While food prices in most of Baghdad are stable, they have increased in Sadr City and surrounding neighborhoods as people brace for a resumption of fighting that rocked the neighborhood late last month, said Sajad, an Iraqi translator who spoke with several residents in the Shi'ite stronghold on behalf of The Washington Times.

Tomatoes that were 30 cents to 40 cents a kilogram (2.2 pounds) are now $2.50 a kilo, and the price of eggs and cheese have gone up three to five times their normal price, said Sajad.

In a southwest neighborhood of Baghdad, where Shi'ite militiamen have recently been pushed out, neighbors warned Ahmed, the father of three young children in the area, that there could be another rebel Shi'ite uprising as soon as tomorrow — two days before Gen. David H. Petreaus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker are to report to Congress on progress in the U.S. troop surge.

The warning, Ahmed said, appeared to come from Sadr City, so it would only affect Baghdad. Orders to Shi'ite militia across the country normally are issued from Najaf, a holy city in southern Iraq where Sheik al-Sadr's Mahdi Army is headquartered.

In Washington, U.S. intelligence officials said they had no way of confirming Mahdi Army preparations for the Sadr City battle, but added that it is "entirely possible."

[maine-iac7]

Here’s a video of the Iraqi Army “rocking the neighborhood’ in Sadr City - The Iraqi Army is conducting this operation with our troops as backup...We done trained ‘em good!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3tMDhVu-f2Q

[mickey finn]

No more cease fires! Pound them until they are done.

The press is spinning this into a loss for the our side because the job was not finished when Mooki called a cease fire.

[fight_truth_decay]

Wondered about this sudden turn of events with the cease fire recognized by al Sadr, plus his recent claim to being going back to his "education", under guidance from his father; plus his earlier statements on the success of the coalition troops over his gang (militia)in their separation suggestion of inevitable defeat. Plus, his recent loss of followers(with families) once they grew tired of the fighting and recognized life changes for the better in Iraq(lost in the mainstream media, however). So found this which might help explain:

Retired Major William "Mac" McCallister spent more than four years in Iraq, much of it as an advisor to the Marines on Iraq's tribes and culture. Here's how Mac sees the recent Maliki-Sadr clash:

1. Fighting is a form of negotiation to gain an advantage and not necessarily to gain control of a given situation. Maliki government perceives an opportunity to gain advantage due to weakening of Organization of Martyr Sadr (OMS).

2. On the other hand do not discount the likelihood that IA [Iraqi Army] are targeting rogue JAM [Jaysh al-Mahdi, Sadr's militia] units that failed to rally to Sadr in the last 6 months. A number of reports implied that one to the reasons Muqtada al Sadr initiated the cease fire was to verify loyalty of JAM militias to OMS. Those that did not respond may well be the "target audience". If this is the case then I am inclined to believe that Maliki and Muqtada al Sadr are in communication to "manage the violence".

3. The timing for this punitive expedition is about right. The "awakening" meme [tribal resistance to extremist, which began in Iraq's west] has infected Arab tribes in the south. Arab tribes that happen to Shia. Many southern tribal leaders have openly expressed their "disappointment" with OMS and rogue militias for a while now, due to their inability to "fix" economic and security conditions. The tribes are a powerful lobbying group, especially in the south since most are engaged in agriculture. Agriculture translates into "power" since you have to feed the cities.

Conclusion. This is a punitive expedition only. The short-term objective is to assist Sadr in ridding himself of rogue elements so as to make him a more stable long-term political partner and more reliable participant in governance. The Maliki government, although it seeks to consolidate its hold on power knows it can not do so without the help of Sadr. The intermediate objective is to maintain Sadr as a viable and potential political ally for he is needed against the numerous groups also seeking greater influence such as Fadilah, Hakim family, Sunni tribes and the Kurds. The long-term objective will be determined as this thing plays itself out.-- Source

There are those, however; that would want to see a failure in what could be considered a very powerful truce and another success in Iraq.

[fight_truth_decay]

The press is spinning this into a loss for the our side because the job was not finished when Mooki called a cease fire.

Then send them THIS... but they can't be that stoopid, for they are nationally recognized journalists, reporters and other political media pundits with crUdentials and Middle East EXPERIENCE.

[purpleraine]

We always give in to the cease fire rather than finishing the job. The first time they had this guy surrounded we gave him millions to surrender and rebuild the mosque and surrounding buildings. How many times will we be fooled?

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Lay waste to whole friggin’ area around and near the Sadr City neighborhood!!!!

[river rat]

"How many times will we be fooled?"

Until we in the 21st century realize we're fighting a 7th century mentality --- and fight THEM as they mean to fight us.

TO THE DEATH.....Without quarter, without sanctuary, without PAUSE, without restraint and without mercy until one side acknowledges they have been DEFEATED...

That is precisely THEIR plan.... on several levels.. By immigration, "education", copulation, population and war.

We have yet to come to terms with the scope of the threat, nor have we fought the threat on the scale of destruction required...

In a futile attempt to "win hearts and minds" of the lunatic militant Islamists we will lose the Muslim allies we have and sacrifice our own in the struggle.

[fight_truth_decay]

How man times will we be fooled?

Fooled? You are so quick to believe the twisted report from the Washington Times? The reason for FR is to research past the headlines put out by the OLD Media, not just bow our heads and nod in agreement. This is what the Libs (Obama and Clinton) want you to believe, we are fools, we are not winning, there is no truce, we are doomed for failure?

The Libs and twisted Old Media want to: Prove bin Laden right when he said Americans are:

..."soft".."cowards for withdrawing from Lebanon in 1983 and from Somalia in 1993, after suffering casualties... remember dragging our American soldier through the streets? Clinton gave the enemy even more reason to believe we were now most ripe for defeat. Economics would fail and America would fall to her knees and sing praises to Allah!

"The Russian soldier, bin Laden said, is more courageous and patient than the American soldier," commented bin Laden, a veteran of Afghanistan’s war with the Soviets. "Our battle with the United States is easy compared with the battles in which we engaged in Afghanistan."

Bin Laden was wrong when he thought our military would be weak. They are strong, patient, patriotic while the Libs are the "weak" that he recognized with their powers that be in Washington, that elections would dwell on the weak of mind and spirit. That with the help of the Left, bin Laden hoped to prove his belief to be true. But bin Laden was unaware how strong Americans can be, hence he hides in a cave (or is dead no way to prove and has become irrelevent) and the enemy sends the lowest of their lot to blow up schools, mosques, cafes, buses..while they sit hiding in all their living splendor.

Sorry, saying we are always fooled because the MSM says so, gets me going!

Now, relax (and I will too) and read Post 4, and break the chain of misinformation; then have a relaxing weekend.

;) ;)

[tanuki]

Wow! Now that was good television!

[tanuki]

I find your analysis correct. I think that for now, the most disruptive elements of Sadr’s movement will be eliminated and the rest either purged later or mainstreamed somehow. The really important thing is that he and Iran look like losers and it will be a long haul for them to regain their momentum.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Some in the Press do GET IT ....FR Thread:

Iran loses ground in Iraq

But that was Round I....This upcoming week may begin Round II....

[swarthyguy]

>> “win hearts and minds”

Caving in to outrageous demands here in the name of tolerance creating a zone of exclusive privilege for adherents who demand preferential treatment alienates the modernistic fringe element who do not enjoy seeing the wholesale cravenness of Western societies in accomodating requests that in essence create a privileged enclave for Muslims.

Examples? Just scan jihadwatch and dhimmiwatch once a week!

In essence, we will end up with a society where Sharia and Domestic interests will merge to create an America accurately defined as ShariaLite.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Round II perhaps?

[purpleraine]

Well you accused me of being under the spell of something I haven't read.

We've made three or four runs at this guy's militia. When they're getting their a#% kicked, they back off and so do we. Then a few months later we play the same game.

Do you think this guy is helping us stabilize the country. I don't. I believe it's obvious he's an Iranian sock puppet.

As long as these militias exist, there will be ongoing battles. Why do we have to participate?

[fight_truth_decay]

The really important thing is that he and Iran look like losers

..Al-sadr pretty much said publicly that they have lost their war..they underestimated our troops. But the media likes to promote our Loss, which I find unpatriotic no matter what guidelines one thinks he or she writes under in regard to journalistic integrity. There is fact and there is fiction, and neglect to uncover the facts are equally as criminal as well.

Now is a cleansing out of the old "mavericks", as the brighter bulbs have gone back to their families and the cafes(latter, no joke). Al-Sadr has copped out by saying he will "return to his studies"...great pull out line!

[tanuki]

May Sadr’s studies continue as long as those of some university types I know. As for his “brighter bulbs”, may they spend lots of time slurping down that tea!

[maine-iac7]

Wow! Now that was good television!

Yep.

Puts a smile on my face every time I watch it.

The ANA, (Afghan National Army), is also having great successes in Afghanistan, particularly on the Paki/'ghan border of north eastern Afghanistan, the main cross-border points of the Tallies.

This has been a hellacious area for our troops up there - particularly in the Kunar Province, and the Korengal Valley - for the Sky Soldiers of BATTLE Company, 2nd/503rd, 173rd AIRBORNE. (Do a GOOGLE on

Here's a couple good links

(see my next post fro direct links)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/magazine/24afghanistan-t.html?

Scroll down to watch the videos

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/11/ambush-video-sh.html

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/01/afghanistan200801

http://soldiersangelsgermany.blogspot.com/2007/12/sky-soldiers-of-korengal.html

[maine-iac7]

Here’s a couple good links

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/magazine/24afghanistan-t.html?

Scroll down to watch the videos

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/11/ambush-video-sh.html

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/01/afghanistan200801

http://soldiersangelsgermany.blogspot.com/2007/12/sky-soldiers-of-korengal.html

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Note the Timing.....

***************************

Congressional hearings April 8-9 at which war commander Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are scheduled to testify.