al-Sadr calls for attacks on U.S. troops

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

al-Sadr calls for attacks on U.S. troops

By SAAD ABDUL KADIR, Associated Press Writer
27 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - The renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged Iraqi forces to
stop cooperating with the United States and told his guerrilla fighters
to concentrate their attacks on American troops rather than Iraqis,
according to a statement issued Sunday.

The statement, stamped with al-Sadr's official seal, was distributed
in the Shiite holy city of Najaf on Sunday — a day before a large
demonstration there, called for by al-Sadr, to mark the fourth
anniversary of the fall of Baghdad.

"You, the Iraqi army and police forces, don't walk alongside the
occupiers, because they are your archenemy," the statement said.
Its authenticity could not be verified.

In the statement, al-Sadr — who commands an enormous following
among`Iraq's majority Shiites and has close allies in the Shiite-
dominated`government — also encouraged his followers to attack
only American`forces, not fellow Iraqis.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070408/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[Xose]

1. al Sadr's attack order

Have our "leaders" fallen for the Trojan horse trick again?

[John Q. Citizen]

4. "Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts?"

I think our leaders have fallen for the "Let's be an empire" trap. We sprang it on ourselves.

[ohio2007]

29. Is he still out or Iraq ?

Not a Trojan horse but maybe a Tehran Horse dispatching orders from afar. And now that the Brits have suspended boarding parties in the waters along the Iranian border,seems this could be a good time to move supplies for a Tet offensive against the Brits in the Shia south.

Just saying;
Its always best to "Strike while the Iran is hot"

lol

[caledesi]

54. Love your wit! NT

[Benhurst]

2. Wow! "The statement, stamped with al-Sadr's official seal... ."

It must be the real thing then!

Whether it is or isn't, over 60% of the people of Iraq think it is OK to kill the foreign occupiers of their nation and don't need any encouragement to do so.

[Eugene]

3. If the Shi'ites in Najaf accept the statement as real, that's what matters.

Sadr has called for a big anti-U.S. demonstration in Najaf tomorrow.
Thousands have already arrived.

Iraqis flock to Najaf for anti-U.S. protest - Reuters

Also, the Mehdi Army is already fighting U.S. forces in Diwaniya.
The statement just adds more fuel to the fire.

[ohio2007]

37. "a call to the Mahdi Army and the security apparatuses to stop fighting [in Diwaniya]."

Is what Juan Cole said in his
4/9 blog entry;


Sawt al-Iraq reports in Arabic that Muqtada launched in his communique, "a call to the Mahdi Army and the security apparatuses to stop fighting ." He said, "That is enough struggling and fighting, for it merely ensures the success of the plans of our enemy and your enemy.
<snip>
Of the demonstration planned for Najaf, a Sadr spokesman said that participants would fly only the Iraqi flag to underline that it was a purely Iraqi rally. Demonstrators are demanding a US departure from Iraq.

Al-Hayat says that a Sadr spokesman in Diwaniya was announcing that al-Sadr's announcement had convinced some units of the Mahdi Army to stand down and let Iraqi government troops into their neighborhoods.

http://juancole.com/

Fly only Iraqi flags?????
what...like...maybe some would also fly Israeli flags ;)

[Sparkly]

9. Yes, and I keep wondering about the Iraqi army...

Hastily cobbled together and trained, with pressure in DC to come up with numbers the GOP can cite in speeches, how clear is it WHO we're training there? How carefully vetted are they? How easy to infiltrate?

The fact that some attacks have been carried out by people wearing uniforms, on its face, suggests an attempt to build resentment against the Iraqi army. What incentives are we offering for recruits there? What incentives are being offered to them from militia leaders?

Al-Sadr should not be this difficult to deal with if BushCo had any clue what they're doing.

[INDIA]

10. Which is why we should get the hell out...

Clinton had it right in Somalia. "We're trying to feed you people and you're shooting us? See ya later! Have a nice life!"

Some people just aren't worth the cost in American lives and $$$. Americans are dying for people who hate them. It's absurd.

[daleo]

13. Well, the U.S. did invade Iraq

That tends to make enemies. Imagine how much Americans would hate foreign troops that invaded the U.S., no matter how good their stated cause.

[INDIA]

14. You mean like the French during the revolutionary war?

I remember quite a few of them helping defeat the hated British at Yorktown, and they weren't attacked by colonists. Although I must admit, I'm not clear on the history of how long they stayed in the US etc.

But what is the diff here between our (mostly) peaceful and successful invasions/occupations of S. Korea, Japan and Germany? I really don't know the answer. I think it might be because those three countries have relatively homogeneous populations.

If Iraq was made up of solely an Shiite or Kurd population, who knows what the situation today would be? The Sunnis would hate us no matter what.

On edit: though of another example. The North basically occupied the South after the Civil War. The Southerners certainly weren't happy about it, but there wasn't exactly a death toll topping 3,000 every month! Maybe it was becuase we had real Presidents back then, in Lincoln, Truman, and Macarthur to lead the way to peace and stability, instead of * fucking everything up with Cowboy diplomacy.

It's a tough question to ask, but are some people just not worth trying to help? I feel bad for the "good" Iraqis trying to put together a government, keep it secular etc., but if 60% think it's okay to kill Americans? I almost want to say they aren't worth it, let em kill each other with Americans out of harms way.

Bring em home!

[daleo]

21. The French did not garrison the U.S. after the War of Independence

Nor did any foreign country interfere militarily during the U.S. Civil War, or occupy the south.

As for Japan, Germany and Korea the invasions could hardly be said to be peaceful, although the occupations were for the most part. That's probably because the countries in question were tired of war and afraid of the U.S.S.R. more than they were of the U.S.. I guess Iraq isn't as afraid of the Iran as it is of the U.S..

We may come to the conclusions from separate directions, but I agree that Iraq won't have peace as long as U.S. troops are there.

[ohio2007]

45. I believe the French revolution was getting underway about the time

General Cornwalis signed a peace treaty.

[coalition_unwilling]

46. "The Southerners certainly weren't happy about it" -- aw, those

poor abused Southerners (white Southerners, it should be noted!). They (Southern whites) probably knew that if they started an insurrection, the blacks who continued to live in the South would help forces of the North to exterminate them once and for all, as they deserved as payback for their treason. Remember, Sherman and Sheridan and Grant were still around and available for duty.

[bdamomma]

52. yea, we would be labeled insurgents also.

I hope the bush crime family will swallow the crap they have put on everyone comes up as regurgitation.

[youngdem]

15. Yeah, how dare the Iraqis have the nerve to reject foreign occupiers

We're just trying to steal their oil and set up forward operating bases for future wars to insure American hegemony in the region.

:sarcasm:


I sincerely hope you don't believe that drivel. Americans are dying because people are tired of us stealing their shit and having the nerve to preach to them about how they should live more like us as we stomp on their corpses.



Americans are dying FOR our own greedy reasons. Americans are dying BY freedom fighters defending their country as you would yours.

[brentspeak]

16. What was that you called the people killing both our troops and the Iraqi people?

Funny, the only "Democrats" who I see calling the suicide bombers and death squads of Iraq freedom fighters are people who label themselves "Democrats" online. No Democrat I've ever met in person has had anything good to say about that swine.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[brentspeak]

18. No, like most people here, I'm an anti-war Democrat

who also understands that the "insurgents" are a bunch of murdering slimeballs, killing not just our troops but Iraqi civilians. Nice of you to deliberately misrepresent my words to say that I called "the Iraqi people" swine, too.

[youngdem]

20. The 'insurgents' ARE the Iraqi people

And like it or not, shooting at the occupying army is what freedom fighters do.

The Al Qaeda types blowing up civilians in order to foment civil war are criminals, thugs, swine if you must. But when an Iraqi shoots at an American soldier, to them, they are defending their country.

And I would shoot at a Soviet tank column rolling down my street. And you would too. And it wouldn't make you swine, or a criminal. It would just confirm you are an American.

[INDIA]

31. Are the Taliban freedom fighters too? n/t

[youngdem]

35. Are you equivocating the Iraq War with the Afghanistan War?

I didn't think you would be so silly.

The Iraqi people were illegally invaded and are rightly fighting back. The foreign fighters are in a less righteous position, but could be considered allies of some type.

The killing of civilians by execution, sniper, and bombing are atrocious war crimes.

But the Iraqis shooting at their occupiers are defending their country. Sorry they are shooting at American kids, but they SHOULDN'T FUCKING BE THERE.

The Taliban (and resident militia Al Qaeda) ACTUALLY ATTACKED US. IRAQ NEVER HAS.

Afghanistan is different. And if you don't know that, then I there isn't much I can say.

[INDIA]

39. Quote of the day:

"The foreign fighters are in a less righteous position, but could be considered allies of some type."

Wow. You're amazing.

But anyway, back to your argument that those shooting at Americans are Freedom Fighters.

What percentage of the insurgency ONLY attacks US troops? And refrains from...
Killing Shiites
Killing Sunnis
Killing Kurds
Killing Translators
Killing Police Officers
Killing Iraqi Politicians
Killing Iraqi Government Workers
Killing Iraqi Soldiers
Killing Foreign Truck Drivers
Killing Foreign Constuction/Oil workers
Killing Children
Imposing Islamic Law (No alcohol, cover up women)


I'd say your freedom fighters are in the VAST minority, maybe less than 10%? 5%?

so only THOSE guys are okay in your book or are all the above a-ok as well?

[INDIA]

44. *Crickets Chirping* n/t

[JetCityLiberal]

47. Are You equivocating the Iraq War with the Afghanistan War?

Answer that one once and for all.

[INDIA]

48. No. But the insurgency in Iraq is every bit as reprehensible as the Taliban. n/t

[cal04]

5. Iraqis flock to Najaf for anti-U.S. protest

Thousands of Iraqis flocked to the holy city of Najaf on Sunday for a big demonstration called by radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr against the U.S. presence in Iraq.

Sadr has urged Iraqis to protest in Najaf on Monday, the fourth anniversary of the day on which U.S. forces swept into central Baghdad in 2003. It is remembered around the world as the day a large statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in the Iraqi capital.

The Baghdad-Najaf road was packed on Sunday with hundreds of vehicles crammed with passengers waving Iraqi flags and chanting religious and anti-U.S. slogans.

"No, no, no to America ... Moqtada, yes, yes, yes," they chanted as they converged towards Najaf.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070408/wl_nm/iraq_najaf_dc

[MidwestTransplant]

7. Impossible. I didn't see anything about this on CNN or MSNBC

[ohio2007]

33. CNN or MSNBC do not venture out into the Iraqi countryside

they pay $tringer$ for bringing them what they need bring balanced new$ to the west

[cliss]

50. I bet they are sweating

bullets in Washington.

This thing could spiral out of control, very easily.

The Swedish online newspapers are saying that there were "several hundred thousand Iraqis" protesting the U.S. presence.

[Broadslidin]

6. The CIA "National Endowment for Corporate Democracy" printing press..

an example of another predatory imperial empire,
Providing a cover for the pillaging Christian Crusader Invaders,
setting the stage for the violent termination of the
"Iraq Freedom Fighter Leader".

[otherlander]

8. Can we go home now?

Please?

[Kagemusha]

11. While it sounds like a shaky translation at this point

I doubt that a better translation is going to leave much room for positive vibes here. If it's not directly calling for attacks on US forces, as the AP reporter certainly believes, it's probably so close as to leave a distinction without a difference (I just can't tell from this *how* the statement was written, hence my hesitation).

McCain was just bragging how Sadr was cowering in fear of Petraus' awesomeness, right?

[Kagemusha]

25. Seems my skepticism was justified

Juan Cole (at http://juancole.com/ ) says the communique doesn't actually tell his men to fight US troops per se.

[ohio2007]

27. An article from Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007 ?

China is bidding on the lucrative oil contracts today

http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/05/news/international/iraq_oil/index.htm

And imo, they will cakewalk right in and need their own privat army to protect their "vital interests" when the oil tap opens up to flow east.

[Kagemusha]

28. I've tried not to directly attack this line of thinking before but um...

How the hell would China think it can supply a military force in the Middle East so far from home? It's not exactly sporting the US' airlift capacity, for one thing. Naval traffic passes there only with the say-so of the US Navy. And the locals are nationalistic - just because they've been resisting Whites for a century doesn't mean they wouldn't resist Asians if an Asian military showed up. So I don't agree it's that simple (i.e. "cakewalk").

[ohio2007]

32. um...... how's the unemployment rate these days in Iraq

Asian military showing up ?
No.
There is a large labor force to be tapped into. Black water security forces could see competition from ex Republican guard / regular army lay offs.
China needs boots on the ground to protect the investments they are making. The 70% unemployment labor force is already there willing to work protecting what is in thier best interests once we shrink our footprint.
The Chinese will offer the same deals they made to the African oil producers.
As you know, China does oil buisness different then the west.

[Kagemusha]

34. I think local labor, better known as militias and insurgents, might have a say

I mean seriously, is Blackwater a huge employer of actual Iraqis? I thought they recruited foreign mercenaries all over the world to go work in Iraq. As for the locals, the Chinese would have to deal with sheiks and imams and whoever, just like anyone else. It's not going to be less of a mess just because China's involved. The African oil producers, well... as bad as Africa can be, there's more unity in your average African oil producer (or at least government power and stability) than in Iraq.

Maybe they can do it, but cakewalk? I disagree, politely.

[ohio2007]

42. the Chinese would have to deal with sheiks and imams

That is exactly the way to do business in the corrupt business world of the middle east.Black water does not hire locals to key positions of power. The people most familiar with local customs are the most favored employees. You know the Chinese see that as good for business.
When the US downsizes, the purse strings for Black water also tighten.
I say any model should be given a chance over the current status quo. China will need that oil and is already talking to Iraqi ( tribal leaders ) on offering to improve their lives.
The Iraqi business trade show scheduled in a couple weeks will expand more opportunities in networking into the business culture of Iraq.

Don't expect the MSM to give much exposure to that story which is going to be held in Jordan I believe.

[ohio2007]

30. Here is some translated banners from the rally

"Down with Bush, Down with America"

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21527228-601,00.html

Waiting on 'the great satan' banners to get translated.

but then again
Maybe the banners will actually be in English...easier to get the message ,through the media, to the target audience actually

[IndianaGreen]

12. So now the AP labels cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a "renegade"

just as it always refers to Cuba as "the communist island" and Chavez as "the strongman."

al-Sadr is not a "renegade," he is a legitimate Shia leader whose support for the Maliki government is the only thing that keeps it in power.

Outside the Green Zone, the US has succeeded in alienating all segments of Iraqi society. Other than the minority Kurds, there is no one else that wants foreign Crudaders on their land.

It is long overdue for US troops for leave Iraq immediately, completely, and without conditions!

[Theduckno2]

22. I believe that Muqtada al-Sadr stands opposed to the draft oil law before...

...the Iraqi Parliment.

I am sure that if you stood against Big Oil making a fortune in PSA contracts, at the expense of the Iraqi people, Bushco would label you a "renegade" too.

Gee, You have a big head start as you are already a member of the underground!

I am looking for a link about the draft oil law.

[Theduckno2]

24. It took me a while to find a good link.

Although it is easy to find references to Muqtada al-Sadr's anti-Americanism it took longer to find a reference to his opposition to the draft oil law.

"Troubles for the Iraqi Oil Deal"

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1594388,00.html

[Massachusetts]

19. FUBAR

[radfringe]

23. the urge to surge is growing

"The solution to Iraq -- an Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself -- is more than a military mission. Precisely the reason why I sent more troops into Baghdad." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 3, 2007

If it's MORE than a military mission - the solution is to send in MORE TROOPS?????

[ohio2007]

26. al Sistani chime in on this call made by al Sadr ?

I think the old man is getting irritated and his patience wears thin.
besides,being so old he may not be around to control the majority of Shia believers imo.

[Kagemusha]

36. Last thing I heard him decree on was opposing ex-Baathists in the govt

because such were the people who persecuted the likes of al-Sistani and indeed all Shiites.

But in this case I've heard nothing to suggest it's anything but al-Sadr's ball game.

[ohio2007]

40. I saw that the Iraqi govt. was going to give pensions to ex Republican guard

officers.
Maybe a pardon to mid management Baathist bureaucrats also.
Those that actually signed off the paperwork that turned the wheels of everyday functions.

I think we in the west give al Sadr more media exposure and weight then the Iraqi majority shia give and think of him. al Sadr is trying to fill his fathers shoes you know.

[Kagemusha]

41. Yeah, that's the measures al-Sistani opposes.

as for giving him more exposure and weight than the Iraqis do: maybe once upon a time but, it is no exaggeration now. The US has humiliated Sistani repeatedly and has pretty much made Sadr into what he is today (as opposed to what he was 3 years ago). That is not to say Sadr is the same thing as his father was. No. His father was a religious leader who died an older man with a greater pedigree. The younger Sadr has vastly more temporal power than his father ever had.

The bottom line is that Sadrists were there for Shiites when Sunnis were pounding their communities and neither the government nor the US was protecting them. In light of that, no, we're not giving Sadr more weight than he deserves. He has grown to fit the once-exaggerated perceptions of his strength. Now his movement's bigger than him and he's got to put in a show like this just to remain in control.

[bemildred]

38. IRR is reporting al Sistani is in the hospital.

Take it for what it is worth. Recent stuff I have read claims that al Sadr and al Sistani are on good terms of late.

[ohio2007]

43. There is an even more conservative old man waiting in the wings to take over

as the top Shia dog in Iraq. That is if Sistani is unable to be the top Imam representing the Shia majority

[bemildred]

51. Al Sistani has been rather cooperative with the occupation.

He is not well thought of with the more rabid restance groups. I would not be surprised to see him nudged out, and that was my interpretation of the intent of the story that he was ill. But we will have to wait and see ...

[anotherdrew]

49. thank god he doesn't know our withdrawal-timeslines! just think what a difference that would make!

hell, if he knew that, he might have decided not to call for attacks on our troops!

repug talking-points make so much sense...
:sarcasm: :rant:

[bemildred]

53. Demonstrators take to streets in Shiite holy cities in Iraq

---

One banner read, “Brothers Sunni and Shiite, this country would not be sold.” Another, “Death to America.”

---

“We're hoping that by next year's anniversary, we will be an independent and liberated Iraq with full sovereignty,” he said.

Iraqi soldiers in uniform joined the crowd, which was led by at least a dozen turbaned clerics -- including one Sunni. Many marchers danced as they moved through the streets.

Thirty members of the Iraqi Islamic Party, a Sunni group, traveled several hundred kilometers northward from Basra to attend the rally alongside Sadrists from their hometown.

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=107930&bolum=104