Update: “The Mahdi Army Will No Longer Launch Attacks Against U.S. Forces”
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered a six-month suspension of activities by his Mahdi Army militia in order to reorganize the force, and it will no longer attack U.S. and coalition troops, aides said Wednesday.
The aide, Sheik Hazim al-Araji, said on Iraqi state television that the goal was to “rehabilitate” the organization, which has reportedly broken into factions, some of which the U.S. maintains are trained and supplied by Iran.
“We declare the freezing of the Mahdi Army without exception in order to rehabilitate it in a way that will safeguard its ideological image within a maximum period of six months starting from the day this statement is issued,” al-Araji said, reading from a statement by al- Sadr.
In Najaf, al-Sadr’s spokesman said the order also means the Mahdi Army will no longer launch attacks against U.S. and other coalition forces.
“It also includes suspending the taking up of arms against occupiers as well as others,” Ahmed al-Shaibani told reporters.
Asked if Mahdi militiamen would defend themselves against provocations, he replied: “We will deal with it when it happens.”
Update:
More of the statement provided by Voices Of Iraq:
“We call on all Sadrists to observe self-restraint, to help security forces control the situation and arrest the perpetrators and sedition mongers, and urge them to end all forms of armament in the sacred city,”
“We call on Sadrists not to target the offices of political parties all over Iraq and the SIIC’s offices in Sadr city in particular,” the statement indicated.
The statement comes after five SIIC’s offices in Baghdad and Babel were attacked and burnt in the past two days. The SIIC is the principle supporter of the Prime Minister.
Update:
“There are a lot of elements that claim to be [the Mahdi Army] that hide under the umbrella, but are not responding to” any central control from the group’s base in Najaf, said Lt. Col. Steven Miska, a deputy brigade commander based in Kadhimiyah, a Shiite stronghold in Baghdad that has a large militia presence. Miska said Sadr may be feeling the pinch from the capture of several mid-level Mahdi Army commanders in recent weeks, or is losing control of his militia and can no longer influence the gunmen working in his name.
“It could also be a political ruse even to say that [the militia has shut down] publicly but to continue on,” Miska said. “I just don’t understand the overall strategy from the Sadrists.”
Brig. Gen. Falah Hassan, an Iraqi Army brigade commander in western Baghdad, expected the announcement might decrease Mahdi Army violence, but only slightly.
“The coming days will reveal whether the militia are following the orders of Moqtada Sadr or they are acting on their own,” he said.
-Washington Post
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Is mookie picking his nose? LOL
August 29th, 2007 at 7:40 amI hope this doesn’t stop our guys from doing what they need to do to finish the job… Muah David….
August 29th, 2007 at 7:54 amDespite Maliki’s help, Mookie’s Army is obviously getting it’s sorry ass kicked in the surge in addition to splintering into factions. They did this before and we let them get away with it. That mentality is why we had to do Falluja twice. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Verify now, trust later. We should test this immediately by moving in with a strong force to arrest and disarm them or to kill them if they even flinch toward resisting. We should occupy Sadr City and stay there. And we should put a hit on Mookie now, while he’s not “all that” in Iraq.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:00 amWow. IF its true - this can be a HUGE turning point. Further proof Mookie is getting his ass kicked. OR he realizes were not leaving until its OVER.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:12 amThe time to annihilate Mookie is NOW. He is a defeated foe who is buying time to rebuild.
Fuck him, take him out.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:15 amThe mook-tard is an astute liar. Anything that he says is a bold-faced lie. He’s just buying to time to rearm his militia with more Iranian supplied arms.
Fuck him. Kill his ass.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:21 amjust to be sure, mookie should have an ‘accident’
August 29th, 2007 at 8:47 amAfter Mookies Najaf and Karbala stunt in 04 his popularity soared in Iraq, Iraqis seem to fear/admire a tough violent guy or organization. I wonder how Mookie would poll now that hes run to Iran (of course the MSM would never puplish anything showing he is now unpopular).
August 29th, 2007 at 8:52 amRIGHT ON. MOOKIE is down. We should not buy into this sorry ass story about rehabilitation. KEEP KICKING HIM DOWN TILL THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR HIM TO GET BACK UP. HE IS DEFINITLY WAITING FOR REENFORCEMENTS FROM IRAN. FUCK THEM ANYWAY; THEY WOULD NEVER GIVE US A TIME OUT.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:23 amOk, fine that he’s been forced to stop attacks. Shouldn’t stop us from capping him if given the opportunity.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:49 amDan (The Infidel), No Mookie wasn’t picking his nose, he just got done picking his ass and is sniffing his fingers
August 29th, 2007 at 10:51 amI notice he isn’t using his evil, “Svengali” hypno-look anymore!
August 29th, 2007 at 11:06 amBradW (The Infidel):
ROFLMAO
August 29th, 2007 at 11:38 amNow is the time to really put the pressure on this towel headed goat fucker. Kill him.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:51 amWe can not afford to let them MELT into the crowd and become infiltrators imbeded and waiting to strike from within. I agree with Mike, keep pushing ahead and make them show themselves, push so they fight or give up.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:58 amno one wants to kill Islamists more than me. However, we have to be smart about this. clearly, he feels he is losing. losing against us, losing his own control over the JAM, and losing out to the Iranians. Let him stew. We can use this truce to increase pressure on the Iranian IRGC and Qods Forces. You know that mookie is pointing out all his troublesome competition to our forces now! We need to use that info, roll up the “rogue” forces, and solidify our control. Once the shia have security, they aren’t so fond of Mookie!
August 29th, 2007 at 12:10 pmDouble tap that little bitch and get it over with. Little Mookie needs his dirt nap now.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:18 pmLOOKS TO ME LIKE HE JUST TOOK THE LAST BITE OF A SHIT SANDWICH.
DIE MOTHERFUCKER DIE!!!
August 29th, 2007 at 12:37 pmFive bucks says the Mookie kid eats it!
August 29th, 2007 at 3:11 pm@ Brad W(the infidel)
Dan (The Infidel), No Mookie wasn’t picking his nose, he just got done picking his ass and is sniffing his fingers
………………………………………………
@ Dan (The Infidel)
BradW (The Infidel):
ROFLMAO
………………………………………………
Only, I don’t think it was his own ass he’d just finished picking …
August 29th, 2007 at 5:31 pmWhy give him time to regroup and recruit?
WE’VE GOT TO ANNIHILATE! KILL! KILL! KILL!
August 29th, 2007 at 6:11 pmI think this is just more STALLING TACTICS!!!
That’s all this is, stalling. Think about this, al-Sadr calls “time out!” and lets things settle for a while, knowing that team America will see this as a victory, and go home when things appear more manageable, THEN Iran really ups the anty with Mahdi Army once again…
Get where I am going with this? It’s not unlike the part-time fighting with Hezbollah, and Israel leaving Lebanon. On again, off again tactics. Now they will focus on “the people” to rebuild support, and wear down American political will. Then it’s “GAME ON!” Once again.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:40 pmD.C.
I notice he isn’t using his evil, “Svengali” hypno-look anymore!
I wonder what his next picture will look like
August 29th, 2007 at 10:37 pm