New Update On Old News: Mookies Suspension Becomes Official Today
Those who don’t comply will be banned
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.
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.”
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.
The two sides are still negotiating the pact that would govern U.S. troop levels and allow them to operate after a UN mandate expires at the end of the year.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said this week that they had agreed there would be no foreign forces in Iraq after 2011, setting a timeline for a US withdrawal.
The White House has repeatedly said no deal has been finalized.
(AFP)
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Can we please stop calling these people an Army and giving them legitimacy? They are CRIMINALS!! You can’t believe anything out of that murdering animal’s mouth anyway.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:09 pmThe White House has repeatedly said no deal has been finalized.
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There’s a lot of Iraqi Politicians who want foreign troops out of there so they can start stealing oil money.
They can’t now (well, not a lot) because the Iraqi Auditors and Accountants are provided security by U.S. troops and they can’t be bribed or extorted to allow big time corruption.
These same Politicians don’t want the Iraqi Army becoming to strong and or Professional because Army Officers will need to be bribed or extorted as well.
Corruption in the Arab world is damn near a genetic instinct.
The only plus might be that the Iranian Mullah’s seemed to have adopted it and brought to Iran.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:35 pm………………………………
I picked this up from strategypage.com last Spring.
“Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Thursday ordered a halt to armed operations by his 60,000-strong Mahdi Army militia.”
It ain’t gonna happen. The U.S. military got too close to him and he’s regrouping. He’s trying to save his ass.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:22 pmKill the bitch while he’s in Iran. Plausible deniability.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm“He did not immediately give reasons for his decision ”
The media is freekin retarded and can’t think past tomorrow. Sadr is telling his men to stop the fight because he wants the election ban lifted on his party. Maliki had banned Sadr’s crew from the election (October possibly November) that is going to elect the LOCAL political leadership.
If Sadr’s boys cannot get in he will have to come a beggin to the other clicks for “protection”.
The question is what will Maliki do? If he waives to pressure and lets Sadr’s crew run they will win enough seats to get themselves a safe haven to rebuild in. Maliki’s best move would be to just say since this is Sadr’s 10th freekin cease fire BS ACTIONS not words will be the only thing recognized. He should add and NO areas were we have brought peace by killing all your people will not count.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:56 pm