http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/alsadr/ en-us Sat, 9 Aug 2008 01:12:50 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058876/posts Shi'ite militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr stepped back into Iraq's political fray Friday with an offer that (if genuine) Washington would be hard-pressed to refuse: Set a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, and the Mahdi Army will begin to disband. "The main reason for the armed resistance is the American military presence," said Sadr emissary Salah al-Ubaidi, who spoke to reporters in Najaf Friday. "If the American military begins to withdrawal, there will be no need for these armed groups." Sadr in the past has vowed to expand the humanitarian work of his movement but promised to maintain... time http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058876/posts#comment Sat, 9 Aug 2008 01:12:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2057358/posts Report: Sadr to disarm Mahdi Army Stars and Stripes Mideast edition, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr intends to disarm his once-dominant Mahdi Army militia and remake it as a social-services organization, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The transformation would represent a significant turnaround for a group that has been one of the most destabilizing anti-American forces in Iraq. A new brochure, obtained by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by al-Sadr’s chief spokesman, Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, states that the Mahdi Army will now be guided by Shiite spirituality instead of anti-American militancy. The group will focus... Stars & Stries http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2057358/posts#comment Wed, 6 Aug 2008 13:24:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2056572/posts BAGHDAD -- Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr -- long a thorn in the side of the U.S. military and Iraqi government -- intends to disarm his once-feared Mahdi Army militia and remake it as a social-services organization. The transformation would represent a significant turnabout for a group that, as recently as earlier this year, was seen as one of the most destabilizing anti-American forces in Iraq. For much of the past several years, the Mahdi Army, headed by Mr. Sadr, a Shiite cleric, controlled sizable chunks of Baghdad and other major cities. Its brand of pro-Shiite activism had the side effect... wsj http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2056572/posts#comment Tue, 5 Aug 2008 01:31:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037292/posts Seems like Moqtada al-Sadr, the anti-American Iraqi Shiite cleric hiding in Iran, has decided to become Iraq’s version of Benedict Arnold: The Mehdi Army of Moqtada Sadr is evolving into a clandestine movement following Iraqi military operations targeting the group, intelligence suggests.The military wing of the Sadrist Movement, the political party loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, is “turning itself into a secret armed organization,” an Iraqi intelligence official told the Gulf News on condition of anonymity.Iraqi intelligence reports suggest the group’s numbers have dwindled from around 50,000 to as few as 150 in the past few years.Intelligence officials credit... Strata Sphere http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037292/posts#comment Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:40:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2031503/posts Muqtada al Sadr. Muqtada al Sadr has ordered the Sadrist political movement to boycott the upcoming provincial elections. Sadr's order comes one day after his order to disband the Mahdi Army as a fighting force and the creations of a small, armed wing to attack Coalition forces exclusively. Sadrist aides claim Sadr rejects the election process and fears being associated with the occupation. "Sayyid Muqtada does not believe in elections or in the coming provincial governments as long as the occupation forces are here," Salah al Obaidi, a senior aide to Sadr, told The Washington Post. "We don't want... The Long War Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2031503/posts#comment Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:10:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030622/posts Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called for restraint in an apparent bid to exert control over his Mahdi Army militia fighters. A statement read after Friday prayers in the holy city of Kufa says the Shiite militia will continue to resist U.S.-led forces in Iraq but fighting should be limited to a select group. He says "weapons will be in the hands of this group exclusively and will only be directed at the occupier," using standard rhetoric for the American forces in Iraq. He warns those who disobey will be "disowned by me." AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030622/posts#comment Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:49:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026225/posts LONDON, June 4 -- For much of the world, Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the Democratic primaries was a moment to admire the United States, at a time when the nation's image abroad has been seriously damaged. From hundreds of supporters crowded around televisions in rural Kenya, Obama's ancestral homeland, to jubilant Britons writing "WE DID IT!" on the "Brits for Barack" site on Facebook, people celebrated what they called an important racial and generational milestone for the United States. "This is close to a miracle. I was certain that some things will not happen in my lifetime," said Sunila... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026225/posts#comment Thu, 5 Jun 2008 01:41:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026114/posts I sat down for my weekly visit with Bill Roggio from Long War Jounral.Org. This episode features all the latest on the fight with the Mahdi Army in New Baghdad and Moqtada Al Sadr’s inability to rally the Arab Street to his side. We also discuss the increasing action between the Iraqi army and the Iranians who keep trying to bring the fight into Iraq. We also discuss the current situation Vis a Vis the Iranian nuclear program and whether diplomacy is an option. Finally we look at the fruits of bad diplomacy in the form of the Taliban and... Covert Radio Show and Long War Journal.Org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026114/posts#comment Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:11:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020742/posts BAGHDAD - Lawmakers loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr accused the Iraqi government of trying to crush the movement and warned Saturday of "black clouds" on the horizon for truces that have eased fighting between al-Sadr's militia and security forces. The Sadrist Movement has heightened its rhetoric against the government in recent days, raising concerns over the cease-fires in the southern city of Basra and Baghdad's Sadr City district, the stronghold of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia. Still, the lawmakers and other al-Sadr officials said they are adhering to the truces. The cease-fires are crucial to Iraqi security forces' sweeps in... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020742/posts#comment Sat, 24 May 2008 16:28:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2018532/posts Excerpt - BAGHDAD, May 20 (Reuters) - Iraq's army moved on Tuesday to take control of Baghdad's Sadr City, power base of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, in another step to stamp government authority over areas previously outside its control. A spokesman for Iraqi security forces in Baghdad, Major-General Qassim Moussawi, said soldiers had launched "Operation Peace" in the sprawling eastern Baghdad slum early on Tuesday. Iraqi soldiers, who previously controlled only the outer perimeter of Sadr City, advanced deep into the poor suburb, home to 2 million people, without meeting any opposition, he said. "We are taking control of three-quarters... Reuters (excerpt) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2018532/posts#comment Tue, 20 May 2008 09:23:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017562/posts London, Asharq Al-Awsat - In response to the claim that the Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr is present in the Iranian city of Qom, Asmaa al Mousawi, leading member of the Al Sadr political bloc in Iraq, told Asharq Al-Awsat, “We can neither confirm nor deny this information and we cannot discuss the whereabouts of Sayyed Muqtada al Sadr for security reasons.” A reliable Iraqi source based in Qom told Asharq Al-Awsat Friday, “Al Sadr is held in a house affiliated to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. He is isolated from others; nobody is allowed to see him and he... Asharq Alawsat http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017562/posts#comment Sun, 18 May 2008 04:10:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2015436/posts It is the latest issue of Covert Radio and the LongWar Journal.Org. Today Brett speaks with Bill Roggio and Bill Ardolino. Bill Roggio breaks down the latest from the front lines in the war on terror, including Al Qaeda terrorists who have moved from Iraq to Afghanistan. Then Bill and Brett are joined by Bill Ardolino who was embedded in Iraq until a few days ago. Bill Ardolino, brings us the latest stuff from the ground, including the growing anger among Iraqis at Iranian meddling, and the degree to which the US Military is taking out the Mahdi Fighters. Finally... Covert Radio Show and Long War Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2015436/posts#comment Tue, 13 May 2008 20:27:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2012132/posts Brand News episode of Covert Radio is now available; Brett Winterble interviews Bill Roggio to talk about Iraq, Iran and the growing Shiite unease with Al Sadr's Mahdi Army. Bill also shares his insight on Khatami's recent comments about exporting revolution. Brett and Bill also talk about the recent over the horizon strikes into Somalia. Covert Radio Via the Long War Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2012132/posts#comment Tue, 6 May 2008 20:55:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010655/posts The newspapers are predictably filled with articles about how 52 U.S. soldiers died in Iraq last month – the highest toll since September. Iraqi civilian casualties are also said to be at the highest level since August. These losses are being used to cast aspersions on claims of progress in Iraq. Even one death is too many and 52 deaths is tragedy multiplied 52-fold. But let's keep some perspective. As the icasualties.org website makes clear, for better or worse, April was still one of the lighter-casualty months during the long war in Iraq. More important, casualties cannot be looked at... wsj.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010655/posts#comment Sat, 3 May 2008 13:06:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010508/posts The gloomy election year refrain is that America is mired in Iraq, took its eye off Afghanistan, empowered Iran and is losing the war on terror. But how accurate is that pessimistic diagnosis? First, the good news. For all the talk of a recent Tet-like offensive in Basra, the Mahdi army of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr suffered an ignominious setback when his gunmen were routed from their enclaves. This rout helped the constitutional — and Shiite-dominated — government of Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki renew its authority and has encouraged Sunnis to re-enter government. Two great threats to Iraqi... IBD http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010508/posts#comment Sat, 3 May 2008 00:53:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2008145/posts BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi police say gunmen have assassinated a local commander of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the southern city of Basra. A police official says Ali Ghalib, a commander of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army in the Hakimiya neighborhood in central Basra, was gunned down by gunmen on a motorcycle as he was driving on Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The assassination comes amid intensified clashes between al-Sadr's followers and the U.S.-backed Iraqi government. PR-inside.com. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2008145/posts#comment Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:08:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007011/posts Brand New Episode of Covert Radio is now up and ready for you to download. This week, Brett talked to Bill Roggio from the Long War Journal. Bill just returned from Iraq a couple of weeks back and he has some great insight into Basra, Al Sadr, and the latest moves by Al Qaeda in Iraq in Mosul. Bill also shares his thoughts on the Northwest Province in Pakistan. You can download it directly from here. brettwinterble.libsyn.com or over at BrettWinterble.com Brett Winterble's Covert Radio http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007011/posts#comment Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:18:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2006924/posts When the Sadr-Maliki story first broke during the initial push into Basra I noted something was distinctly missing from the news about Maliki’s failed efforts and Sadr’s grand victory - there was no dancing in the streets in response to the news stories? There were no cheers for Sadr, no celebrations by the Iraqi people. If this was the Muslim Street rising up to throw off the occupiers from the West - where were the throngs of people taking to the streets? It struck me as very odd that the only spontaneous cheer to rise up from the initial operations... Strata Sphere http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2006924/posts#comment Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:40:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004946/posts An Iraqi soldier with the 1st Iraqi Army examines one of more than 160 mortars found during Operation Charge of the Knights in Basra April 19. Some of the markings on the weapons indicate a manufacturing date in 2007. U.S. Army photo. BASRA — The Iraqi Army discovered a large weapons and munitions cache in a house located in the Al Hyyaniyah area of Basra April 19. Soldiers from the 1st Iraqi Army discovered the cache during the search phase of Operation Charge of the Knights. The cache consisted of a large number of weaponry with Iranian markings. The cache... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004946/posts#comment Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:22:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2004996/posts The Iraq Status report has a translation of al-Qaeda's Zawahiri's call to do or die in Iraq. The full text follows after the Read More. The most comedic moment comes when he tries to revile Moqtada al-Sadr as a poseur and a loser; saying in effect that the Boy Wonder is all hat and no cattle. What old whiskers fails to realize is that he might very well be talking about himself. "Iraq today is now the most important arena in which our Muslim nation is waging the battle against the forces of the Crusader-Zionist campaign. Therefore, backing the mujahidin... Belmont Club http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2004996/posts#comment Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:44:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004603/posts New York Times VideoIn Sadr City, Hashem Hadi Obaid translates sermons by preachers loyal to Moktada al-Sadr, the anti-American cleric, into sign language.Iraq's most anti-western demagogue is determined to bring the message to those who can't hear it. In Sadr City, Hashem Hadi Obaid translates sermons by preachers loyal to Moktada al-Sadr, the anti-American cleric, into sign language. New York Times Video http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004603/posts#comment Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:19:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004101/posts via translation - Sadr threat of an "open war" if the attacks against him are continuing NAJAF (Iraq) - The head radical anti-American Moqtada Sadr threatened Saturday to launch "an open war" if the operations of American and Iraqi forces against his movement continued, in a statement signed by him and published in Najaf (south of Baghdad). "I give a final warning, and I gave my word to the Iraqi government to choose the path of peace and stop the violence against its own people, if it is a government of destruction," the young religious leader. "If it does not... AFP via translation http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004101/posts#comment Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:40:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2003361/posts Excerpt - BASAR, Iraq, April 18 (Reuters) - Iraqi troops cordoned off the Basra office of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's followers on Friday and prevented them holding prayers in a move that seems sure to inflame tensions. The government and Sadr followers confirmed the operation, which comes nearly a month after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched a crackdown on Sadr's Mehdi Army militia in Basra, sparking violent clashes across the south and in Baghdad. "We have orders from the prime minister to take back all the governmental buildings that are occupied by parties and political movements in Basra within 48... Reuters (excerpt) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2003361/posts#comment Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:51:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002669/posts Murder's Mess for Muqtada April 16, 2008 New York Post Amir Taheri Riad al-Noori liked to boast that a "host of angels" protected him, along with his 250 heavily armed bodyguards. Yet, he has just been gunned down in his home in Najaf, Iraq's principal "holy" city, by a three-man hit team that managed to get away without any of the angels or bodyguards making a move. Noori was a bad man but an important player in the dirtiest corner of Iraqi Shiite politics. He headed the special bureau of Muqtada al-Sadr, the maverick mullah sponsored by Tehran. Himself a... New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002669/posts#comment Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:42:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2001345/posts [...] Now the Shia-led Iraqi government focuses on its chief Shia nemesis. How the Iraqi government handles Sadr matters. In August 2004, Sadr's thugs grabbed the Grand Mosque in Najaf. Sadr was counting on Americans to bomb the mosque. The United States opted to follow the political lead of Shia Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Sistani's aides told coalition officers: "Let us deal with Sadr. We know how to handle him and will do so. However, the coalition must not make him a martyr." The Iraqi way often appears to be indecisive, until you learn to look at its counter-insurgency methods... RealClearPolitics.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2001345/posts#comment Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:44:55 GMT