Posted on 05/05/2009 3:52:07 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Baghdad, 5 May (AKI) - Radical Iraqi Shia cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, is reported to have assumed the title of Grand Ayatollah after concluding his studies in the holy city of Qom in Iran. Sources close to the cleric's faction released the news to the Arab daily, al-Sharq al-Awsat.
Around 70 supporters of al-Sadr on Sunday concluded a conference in the Turkish city of Istanbul where they elected new leaders and mapped out their future.
Al-Sadr, who leads the Mahdi Army militia, also met both Recep Tayyip Erodgan, the Turkish prime minister, and president Abdullah Gul in Ankara on Friday during his visit to Turkey.
Al-Sadr joined his supporters after completing two years of study in Iran and was expected to return to Iraq this week to resume his religious leadership.
During the Shia conference entitled 'The Al-Sadr faction and future challenges', Al-Sadr's supporters renewed their commitment to fight the occupation of their country and demand the removal of all foreign troops, while seeking greater collaboration with other Iraqi political parties.
In 2004, al-Sadr's militia launched an uprising against American troops in Baghdad and British forces in the Shia heartland of southern Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at adnkronos.com ...
We should have popped Sadr when we had the chancec.
We should have offed that thug when we had the chance..
Mookie
In hindsight, we should have taken him into custody in 03. Bush admin and the CPA got weak in the knees and let this guy spin the country into civil war.
“al-Sadr, is reported to have assumed the title of Grand Ayatollah”
That’s ridiculous. But it was predicted that this is what the Iranian regime was up to.
Exactly.
QOM trivia:
2008:
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1760963186
“Iran: AIDS rate doubles in the holy city of Qom”
Tehran, 11 Jan.
2007:
http://kamangir.net/2007/09/26/what-you-see-and-what-you-dont-see-in-the-holy-city/
“What you see and what you don’t see, in the Holy City”
Kamangir | September 26, 2007
“Wormer is a dead man! -Marmalard: dead! Mookie?— -Dead.
Previously...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2243226/posts
“Al-Sadr resurfaces in Turkey, meets with Turkish President and Prime Minister”
(AFP, May 2, 2009) via JIHAD WATCH.org ^ | Posted by Robert at May 3, 2009 4:08 AM | n/a
Posted on May 3, 2009 9:01:20 AM PDT by Cindy
Could he MORE of a tool for the Iranian "Students" who once kidnapped our embassy and now rule Persia with a whip.
I think the report may be incorrect. I think he’s just been made an Ayatollah, not Grand Ayatollah.
But he’s going to make trouble for Sistani, either way.
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