Friday, April 25, 2008

From undisclosed location in Iran, al-Sadr announces a surrender... tells followers not to fight the Iraqi army

Muqtada al-Sadr, the most over-rated man in the middle east, released a message on Friday, saying his threat of an "open war" applied not to the al-Maliki government but only to U.S.-led foreign forces. But since al-Maliki's Iraqi ground troops are now taking the lead in fighting, al-Sadr's threat is essentially a surrender. AP:

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for an end to clashes between his militia fighters and Iraqi troops, saying Friday that his threat of an "open war" applied only to U.S.-led foreign forces.

In a sermon read by an aide during Friday prayers in Baghdad's militia stronghold of Sadr City, the cleric also urged Iraqi soldiers and policemen "not to support the occupiers in combating your brothers."

Al-Sadr issued a "final warning" to the government Saturday to halt its crackdown against the Mahdi Army or face an "open war until liberation."

The statement on al-Sadr's Web site singled out the Iraqi government led by fellow Shiite Nouri al-Maliki, accusing him of selling out to the Americans. Friday's sermon appeared to be an attempt to ease tensions.

Al-Sadr—who is believed to be in Iran—called on worshippers to remain patient and united.

"If we have threatened with an open war until liberation, we have meant by it a war against the occupier," said the sermon, which was read by the mosque's imam Sheik Hassan al-Edhari.

"I call upon my brothers in police, army and Mahdi army to stop the bloodshed," the sermon said. "We should be one hand in achieving justice, security and in supporting the resistance in all of its forms."

"There will be no war between our Iraqi brothers, whatever their sect or ethnicity," it said.


Since the Iraqi army has kicked Sadr's militia all over Iraq, it's nice that al-Sadr "clarifies" that he doesn't really want to fight the Iraqi army. But the Iraqi army ground troops already do the fighting, with US forces largely providing air support. So al-Sadr's announcement is a surrender to al-Maliki.
.
Sadr's defeat in the Basra conflict exposed al-Sadr's weakness, and strengthened al-Maliki. Just a few days ago, Iraq's largest Sunni bloc announced it was rejoining al-Maliki's government.
.
The defeatist Western media still breathlessly report on al-Sadr's every move as if he is a significant force even though it is obvious his influence has collapsed.
.
Previous related:





on