Sunday, March 30, 2008

Al-Sadr Calls it Off

Good.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN)—Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr told his followers to stop fighting and to cooperate with Iraqi security forces Sunday, as U.S. and Iraqi forces targeted his Mehdi Army in Basra and Baghdad.

In exchange for brokering the cease-fire, al-Sadr demanded that the government give his supporters amnesty and release any of his followers that are being held.

The nine-point statement was issued by his headquarters in Najaf and came a day after al-Sadr told his fighters not to surrender their weapons.

“We announce our disavowal from anyone who carries weapons and targets government institutions, charities and political party offices,” said the Sunday statement that was distributed across the country and posted on Web sites linked to al-Sadr’s movement.

(5) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1204 hrs
Foreign Affairs + Military

  1. But Owen, this is a “mounting crisis” for al-Maliki. Basrah is in shambles, and Sadr is ordering his troops to “defy the government” by refusing to lay down their arms.

    The surge has “become a stalemate”. Don’t you read the news???

    Pro-Iraq war people are quickly becoming akin to flat-earthers…

    Posted by k2aggie07 on March 30, 2008 at 1256 hrs


  2. I hope so. We’ll see if it lasts.

    I’m afraid, though, that I can’t see the administration going along with Sadr’s demands, like amnesty and release, and frankly I’m not even sure they should, absent some kind of legal process.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 30, 2008 at 1652 hrs


  3. Sounds like the chief cleric had a talk with al.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 30, 2008 at 1657 hrs


  4. Hasen’t this clown already done this several times, only to reverse course when he regroups and reinforces?
    Why would his word be trusted this time?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 31, 2008 at 0253 hrs


  5. Because wishing can make it so, Hawkman.  If only we wish hard enough and believe strongly and clap loudly enough then we can save Tinkerbelle and retake Basra.

    “I do believe in victory in Iraq. I do. I do.”  Just repeat over and over and over and soon you’ll have the insurgents in their last throes, too.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 31, 2008 at 0509 hrs


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