Think They Will Get The Clue Now?
Moqtada al-Sadr is a problem for us and the Iraqis, and we have been trying to tell the government there this blatant fact. However al-Maliki has been doing his best to shield the militant cleric. Today, the WaPo reports that we are done playing games with the man who refuses to disarm his militia:
A top deputy of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was killed Wednesday during a raid by U.S. and Iraqi troops in the southern holy city of Najaf, sparking protests from Sadr's followers and complicating an already tense relationship with the powerful anti-American leader.
Hurling rocks and shouting expletives, thousands of angry Sadr loyalists marched through the streets of Najaf after Sahib al-Amiri was shot and killed by a U.S. soldier during an early morning raid. "Agents and stooges!" protesters shouted at Iraqi soldiers and local authorities.
U.S. military officials declined to confirm that Amiri was a Sadr aide, saying only that he had provided explosives for use against Iraqi and U.S. forces. Sadr officials said Amiri was an aide and a lawyer who ran an educational organization that helped orphans and impoverished children. They said he had no connections to illegal activity.
In a statement, the U.S. military said Iraqi and U.S. forces were trying to detain Amiri and shot him only when he pointed an assault rifle at an Iraqi soldier.
The incident comes at a delicate time for the Iraqi political process. Sadr, who runs one of the country's most feared militias, is also a potent political force: His allies control 30 seats in parliament and four key ministries. Last month, influential politicians linked with Sadr suspended their participation in the government to protest a meeting between Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Bush in Jordan. Unable to pass legislation without Sadr's support, and fearing Iraq's government could collapse, other Shiite leaders have been appealing for an end to the boycott.
We are done playing the games that al-Maliki wants us tpo play. An opportunity presented itself, and we wasted no time in taking it. And in doing so, a clear, concise message was sent to not only al-Sadr, but to al-Maliki: If you will not deal with him, we will. Now the US commanders have stated that their goal in dealing with Amiri was detainment and questioning. They were not looking to kill him, however they were not going to let him shoot at them. The commanders, when asked, stated that Amiri had an assault rifle that he raised int he direction of our troops. Sorry, al-Maliki, but our boys are not going to wait to be fired at. The guy was connected to al-Sadr, and we were not taking any chances.
For the longest time, we have trusted al-Maliki to rein in al-Sadr, and keep him under wraps. Unfortunately he has failed time and again in that respect. So, the bigger message sent to al-Maliki is we are done with him trying to protect al-Sadr. He is already facing severe opposition by the Iraqi parliament, which tried to remove him not too long ago. That bid failed, but I doubt the Parliament will fail if a second attempt is made. Al-Maliki is showing, on a consistent basis, that his heart does not lie with a unified Iraq, but rather with a Shi'ite-dominated one. That should give our commanders on the ground a moment of pause based solely on the sort of shi'a fundamentalism that al-Maliki is supporting in al-Sadr--the same sort that resides in Iran.
Hopefully this sends a clear message to al-Sadr that his days are numbered in Iraq. This was a joint operation conducted by US and Iraqi forces. So it is clear that some people do see him for the threat that he is. And if he is not careful, we may be coming for him soon, and not even al-Maliki will be able to protect him.
Marcie
Moqtada al-Sadr is a problem for us and the Iraqis, and we have been trying to tell the government there this blatant fact. However al-Maliki has been doing his best to shield the militant cleric. Today, the WaPo reports that we are done playing games with the man who refuses to disarm his militia:
A top deputy of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was killed Wednesday during a raid by U.S. and Iraqi troops in the southern holy city of Najaf, sparking protests from Sadr's followers and complicating an already tense relationship with the powerful anti-American leader.
Hurling rocks and shouting expletives, thousands of angry Sadr loyalists marched through the streets of Najaf after Sahib al-Amiri was shot and killed by a U.S. soldier during an early morning raid. "Agents and stooges!" protesters shouted at Iraqi soldiers and local authorities.
U.S. military officials declined to confirm that Amiri was a Sadr aide, saying only that he had provided explosives for use against Iraqi and U.S. forces. Sadr officials said Amiri was an aide and a lawyer who ran an educational organization that helped orphans and impoverished children. They said he had no connections to illegal activity.
In a statement, the U.S. military said Iraqi and U.S. forces were trying to detain Amiri and shot him only when he pointed an assault rifle at an Iraqi soldier.
The incident comes at a delicate time for the Iraqi political process. Sadr, who runs one of the country's most feared militias, is also a potent political force: His allies control 30 seats in parliament and four key ministries. Last month, influential politicians linked with Sadr suspended their participation in the government to protest a meeting between Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Bush in Jordan. Unable to pass legislation without Sadr's support, and fearing Iraq's government could collapse, other Shiite leaders have been appealing for an end to the boycott.
We are done playing the games that al-Maliki wants us tpo play. An opportunity presented itself, and we wasted no time in taking it. And in doing so, a clear, concise message was sent to not only al-Sadr, but to al-Maliki: If you will not deal with him, we will. Now the US commanders have stated that their goal in dealing with Amiri was detainment and questioning. They were not looking to kill him, however they were not going to let him shoot at them. The commanders, when asked, stated that Amiri had an assault rifle that he raised int he direction of our troops. Sorry, al-Maliki, but our boys are not going to wait to be fired at. The guy was connected to al-Sadr, and we were not taking any chances.
For the longest time, we have trusted al-Maliki to rein in al-Sadr, and keep him under wraps. Unfortunately he has failed time and again in that respect. So, the bigger message sent to al-Maliki is we are done with him trying to protect al-Sadr. He is already facing severe opposition by the Iraqi parliament, which tried to remove him not too long ago. That bid failed, but I doubt the Parliament will fail if a second attempt is made. Al-Maliki is showing, on a consistent basis, that his heart does not lie with a unified Iraq, but rather with a Shi'ite-dominated one. That should give our commanders on the ground a moment of pause based solely on the sort of shi'a fundamentalism that al-Maliki is supporting in al-Sadr--the same sort that resides in Iran.
Hopefully this sends a clear message to al-Sadr that his days are numbered in Iraq. This was a joint operation conducted by US and Iraqi forces. So it is clear that some people do see him for the threat that he is. And if he is not careful, we may be coming for him soon, and not even al-Maliki will be able to protect him.
Marcie
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 8:47 AM
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