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Sadr takes break from politics, cites failures
Chicago Tribune ^ | 3-08-08 | Liz Sly

Posted on 03/08/2008 10:50:00 PM PST by atomic conspiracy

BAGHDAD - Iraq's elusive Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has decided to drop out of politics for the time being because his disillusionment with the political scene in Iraq has left him sick and anxious, he said in an unusually personal letter to his followers released Friday. In a written response to a query from a group of followers asking why he hadn't been seen in public for so long, Sadr said he had decided to devote himself to a period of study, reflection and prayer after failing in his core mission to rid Iraq of the U.S. occupation or to turn it into an Islamic society. He also cited the betrayal of some followers, whom he accused of falling prey to "materialistic" politics. "So far I did not succeed either to liberate Iraq or make it an Islamic society -- whether because of my own inability or the inability of society, only God knows," Sadr wrote. "The continued presence of the occupiers, on the one hand, and the disobedience of many on the other, pushed me to isolate myself in protest. I gave society a big proportion of my life. Even my body became weaker, I got more sicknesses." Speculation has been intensifying as to the whereabouts of the maverick cleric, whose Mahdi Army militia twice fought U.S. troops in 2004 and then was accused of many of the sectarian killings of Sunnis that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war. His last public statement came two weeks ago, when he renewed the six-month cease-fire that has been credited with helping bring down the levels of violence in Iraq. But he has not been seen in public since May.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alsadr; goodriddance; iraq; moqtadasadr; retired; sadr; tater
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Good riddance. I am beginning to think we have won the war. If so, it would be the greatest defeat for activist media since Goebbels poisoned himself.
1 posted on 03/08/2008 10:50:01 PM PST by atomic conspiracy
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To: atomic conspiracy

In other words he got beat and he knows it.


2 posted on 03/08/2008 10:53:43 PM PST by rdl6989
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To: atomic conspiracy

I bet those “letters” from Sadr to his goons, are the same as reports on Castros “excellent” health. I hope Sadr is rotting in an Iranian hospital.


3 posted on 03/08/2008 10:54:03 PM PST by SolidWood (All conservative effort into retaking Congress!)
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To: atomic conspiracy

Maybe he has seen the lightTurned a new page

... hell, screw that. Lets IED hisazz first chance we get. On principal.


4 posted on 03/08/2008 10:55:48 PM PST by ARE SOLE (Agents Ramos and Campean are in prison at this very moment.. (A "Concerned Citizen".)
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To: rdl6989

I can reduce the story into a eight short words.

We lost, I do not want to die.


5 posted on 03/08/2008 10:59:59 PM PST by cpdiii (roughneck, oilfield trash and proud of it, geologist, pilot, pharmacist, iconoclast.)
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To: atomic conspiracy

When you use relentless blunt force as General Petraeus has done, You win over the hearts and minds in the correct way...


6 posted on 03/08/2008 11:05:40 PM PST by avacado
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To: atomic conspiracy

any proof he’s alive? anyone can write letters in his name


7 posted on 03/08/2008 11:08:51 PM PST by ari-freedom (McCain must pick a conservative VP if he wants conservative support)
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To: atomic conspiracy
Iraq's elusive Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has decided to drop out of politics for the time being because his disillusionment with the political scene in Iraq has left him sick and anxious, he has been unable to impose his 14th century Wahabbi / Sharia crap on the more secular Iraqi society and failed in his attempt to start a civil war he said in an unusually personal letter to his followers released Friday. In a written response to a query from a group of followers asking why he hadn't been seen in public for so long...
8 posted on 03/08/2008 11:13:02 PM PST by Allegra (Posting without being logged on since 2001)
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To: atomic conspiracy
I am beginning to think we have won the war. If so, it would be the greatest defeat for activist media since Goebbels poisoned himself.

He's said "Allah willing" so many times maybe he's finally come to the realization that He isn't.

9 posted on 03/08/2008 11:16:26 PM PST by Poison Pill
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To: atomic conspiracy

The leftards with their rant-o-chant about how the surge has failed, etc etc... kind of reminds me of good ol’ Baghdad Bob.


10 posted on 03/08/2008 11:24:16 PM PST by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: ari-freedom

Real or not, it’s very demoralizing to the Shi’ah for this to be out there. That’s a good thing.


11 posted on 03/08/2008 11:28:44 PM PST by forkinsocket
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To: Grimmy
The leftards with their rant-o-chant about how the surge has failed, etc etc... kind of reminds me of good ol’ Baghdad Bob.

Good analogy. LOL

When I think back to how things were here a year ago and look at how they are now, it is truly amazing. The coalition and the Iraqis have made giant strides in having the Iraqis properly trained to take over their own security. Al Qaeda and the militias have lost control of this and the Iraqi citizens have finally realized that they are empowered to do their share in achieving peace. They are beginning to recognize what true freedom is and I personally think that five years is a very short time for them to have come this far.

12 posted on 03/08/2008 11:33:00 PM PST by Allegra (Posting without being logged on since 2001)
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To: forkinsocket

yeah it actually doesn’t sound like the positive spin someone would write to prop up a dead Bernie. So maybe he is alive...but defeated.


13 posted on 03/08/2008 11:33:47 PM PST by ari-freedom (McCain must pick a conservative VP if he wants conservative support)
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To: atomic conspiracy

An article yesterday on FR claimed he had been poisoned and was in a coma. It was from a ME site.

Or am I imagining this?


14 posted on 03/08/2008 11:37:23 PM PST by BunnySlippers (Buy a Mac ...)
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To: Grimmy; Allegra

15 posted on 03/08/2008 11:37:38 PM PST by Stonewall Jackson (Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. - George Patton)
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To: atomic conspiracy

Here it is ... Sadr comatose in hospital:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981171/posts


16 posted on 03/08/2008 11:39:55 PM PST by BunnySlippers (Buy a Mac ...)
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To: atomic conspiracy

“”So far I did not succeed either to liberate Iraq or make it an Islamic society — whether because of my own inability or the inability of society, only God knows,” Sadr wrote.”

It is Allah’s Will that you fail!


17 posted on 03/08/2008 11:48:41 PM PST by james500
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To: ari-freedom

I had read an article a few days ago that Mookie was in an Iranian hospital in a coma from some sort of poisioning.


18 posted on 03/08/2008 11:58:45 PM PST by skimask (Support Terrorism......Vote Democratic)
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To: BunnySlippers
An article yesterday on FR claimed he had been poisoned and was in a coma. It was from a ME site.

Or am I imagining this?

No, you're not imagining it. That rumor has been floated out. What's interesting is that the Iraqis don't seem to be buying into it. I live in a Shi'ite part of town, but most of the Iraqis I know think Sadr is a pain-in-the-butt troublemaker. They say his followers are all a bunch of easily-led idiots. However, they don't seem to believe the coma story...at least not yet.

19 posted on 03/08/2008 11:59:01 PM PST by Allegra (Posting without being logged on since 2001)
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To: red flanker

If more news of peace in Iraq gets known...we are royally screwed!

20 posted on 03/09/2008 12:01:43 AM PST by red flanker
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