Article

2004-06-07 Iraq-Jordan

Shiite Leaders Urge Radical Cleric to Join Political Process

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Posted by Zenster 2004-06-07 1:25:41 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 look, we can kill tater, and kill his thugs, but the 3 million or so people of Sadr City, at least two thirds or so support tater to a greater or lesser extent, are NOT going away.thats close to 10% of the population of Iraq. I think you do want them included in the political process. Exactly how much to give them, is a decision for Iraqis to make.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-06-07 10:57:30 AM|| 2004-06-07 10:57:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Every indication points towards Sadr's desire to merely institute his own brand of ~~theocracy~~ "thugocracy."

Much effort should be made to impress upon these maggots that they are not going to institute religious rule, especially at gunpoint. This is why a complete surrender of arms should be instituted before any admission into the political arena occurs.

After such lengthy oppression, one would hope that Iraq's Shias would know better than to attempt installing a tyranny of the majority. However, Sadr has demonstrated the exact opposite of such a notion and needs to have his clock cleaned as an example.

If tyranny is what they have in mind, they should be treated to the spectacle of being passed by as the new Iraqi government assembles itself into some semblance of a pluralistic democratic society.

Posted by Zenster 2004-06-07 1:13:01 PM|| 2004-06-07 1:13:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 ..at least two thirds or so support tater to a greater or lesser extent, are NOT going away.thats close to 10% of the population of Iraq. I think you do want them included in the political process.

The problem with this is that given the typical reluctance of Muslims to criticize/speak out against their own extremists, the idea isn't all that far fetched that a small minority of more rabid Sadr supporters could conceivably hijack any moderate Shiite bloc. The very fact that the "Shiite Muslim establishment" is trying to bring this Sadr asshole into their fold despite the problems he is causing/has caused quite plainly indicates that they are afraid of the guy.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-06-07 1:17:02 PM|| 2004-06-07 1:17:02 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 ..quite plainly indicates that they are afraid of the guy.

I might add, that the above assumes that the so-called "Shiite Muslim establishment" is on the level about its desire to be part of the political process. If they aren't, and there are other more insidious motives at work for wooing Sadr, then there's gonna be trouble down the road.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-06-07 1:30:06 PM|| 2004-06-07 1:30:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I dont know BaR. Interesting to note that the strongest voices for including Tater himself are coming from Dawa, not SCIRI.

Thoughts
1. Dawa is afraid of being outvoted by secularist Shiites on the one hand (Allawi, Iraqi communists, etc) and by SCIRI on the other. By including the Sadrists, they see a way of balancing off against the other Shiites.
2. Their base supporters are closest to the Sadrists, and they see it as necessary to be soft toward Sadr to keep their base.

I dont disagree that the prospect of letting of someone whos commited a political murder is VERY bad for democratic prospects. I just dont see all outreach to Sadrists as necessarily doomsday, and I dont see all Shiites as close to united in a block. In fact bringing Sadr in makes Shiite unity more difficult I think, since it alienates the secularist Shiites. It could also be Dawa (and Sistani) playing their own game of what the US is doing in Fallujah - "See, Im NOT captive to you, i can go with your enemies, so youd better pay attention to me"

You need to look at the composition of the Allawi govt. Its VERY secularist by Iraqi standards - its filled with technocrats, Kurds, and with Allawi and Yawer themselves. The fundies only got a couple of positions, and Dawa only got one, IIUC. The Shiite fundies, though giving grudging support, are clearly going to do what they can to improve their maneuvering position, so they arent this boxed in again.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-06-07 2:24:01 PM|| 2004-06-07 2:24:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 If they aren't, and there are other more insidious motives at work for wooing Sadr, then there's gonna be trouble down the road.

well theyll need to act soon then, with an election at most 7 months away, and with a deal in place for militia disarmament.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-06-07 2:25:20 PM|| 2004-06-07 2:25:20 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 If he continues to appear in public, a Marine sniper should give a him a 12.7 mm third eye. The likelihood of his "Army" being incorporated into the political process was underscored by the explosion of a Mehdi Army ammunition depot in the mosque complex in Kufa.

Posted by RWV 2004-06-07 4:05:49 PM|| 2004-06-07 4:05:49 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Allawi was pretty direct today in stating that the Mehdi Army was illegal and would be dealt with harshly if it didn't disarm. Iraqi forces will be better able politically (if not militarily) to confront the Mehdi Army--no big deal (comparitively) if Iraqi forces (rather than US forces) storm a mosque and kill/capture Tater tot.

Posted by Sludj 2004-06-07 4:38:58 PM|| 2004-06-07 4:38:58 PM|| Front Page Top

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