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Iraq
Iraq's Sadr suspends militia operations
2008-08-29
Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Thursday ordered a halt to armed operations by his 60,000-strong Mahdi Army militia, blamed by Washington for some of the worst sectarian killings of Sunni Arabs in the war-torn country.

"The Mahdi Army suspension will be valid indefinitely and anyone who does not follow this order will not be considered a member of this group," Sadr said in a statement issued by his office in the Shiite shrine city of Najaf.
"Please don't kill me!"
The militia, created after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to fight invading American troops, became the most active and feared armed Shiite group in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, accused of operating death squads blamed for the killings of thousands.

The U.S. military cautiously welcomed Sadr's decision. "We welcome this announcement that appears to be an effort to support the Iraqi people," military spokesman Major John Hall told AFP. "The proof is always in the actions and not just in words."
"Okay, okay, keep yer trap shut and we won't kill you."
Sadr said the militia would now focus more on cultural programs. "We have set a cultural programs for the Mahdi Army and we have named it Al-Mumahidun (Supporters of the Mahdi), and everybody should abide by it and whoever does not agree with it will be expelled from the army."

He did not immediately give reasons for his decision which came after he promised earlier this month to dismantle the militia if a planned security pact between Baghdad and Washington provides for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Posted by:Fred

#5  We've had him basically on the run or worse for years - he was never a potential spoiler other than he might be able to make our inevitable success messier or more difficult. Yet for years many nitwits have been claiming that only Tater's indulgence "allowed" us to make the progress we have. This adolescent cheerleading for our adversaries, so as to always denigrate our successes, is one of the most amazing and outrageous things about the many amazing and outrageous things that seem to have become common since 9/11.

Our patient dismantling of his most dangerous elements (and those most involved with the Persian enemy) while all the time claiming we were only going after "rogue" elements was a masterpiece.

Well done, MNF-I.
Posted by: Verlaine   2008-08-29 11:52  

#4  The Mahdi Army suspension will be valid indefinitely and anyone who does not follow this order will not be considered a member of this group

well, at least his statement was a bit more forceful than Hillary's was.
Posted by: Betty Grating2215   2008-08-29 09:31  

#3  Didn't he do this last spring or early summer? Are these all reminders, or are there resumptions which I'm not noticing?
Posted by: Mitch H.   2008-08-29 09:26  

#2  Why is this overstuffed porker still breathing?
Posted by: Mark Espinola   2008-08-29 04:26  

#1  We must be gaining the upper hand in Sadr City!
Posted by: Sholusing and Tenille5868   2008-08-29 01:31  

00:00