08-05-2008, 02:00 AM
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Banned
Guru
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,152
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Sadr's fallling star.
Quote:
Radical Iraq Cleric in Retreat
Sadr, Power Waning,
Plans Moderate Course;
Retaining Militia
By GINA CHON
August 5, 2008; Page A1
BAGHDAD --Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr -- long a thorn in the side of the U.S. military and Iraqi government -- intends to disarm his once-dominant Mahdi Army militia and remake it as a social-services organization.
The transformation would represent a significant turnabout for a group that, as recently as earlier this year, was seen as one of the most destabilizing anti-American forces in Iraq. For much of the past several years, the Mahdi Army, headed by Mr. Sadr, a Shiite cleric, controlled sizable chunks of Baghdad and other cities. Its brand of pro-Shiite activism had the side effect of pitting Iraqis against each other, helping to stir worries of civil war.
Recently, however, the group has been hit by a largely successful Iraqi military crackdown against militia members operating as criminal gangs. At the same time, Mr. Sadr's popular support is dwindling: Residents who once viewed the Mahdi Army as champions of the poor became alienated by what they saw as its thuggish behavior.
A new brochure, obtained by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by Mr. Sadr's chief spokesman, Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, states that the Mahdi Army will now be guided by Shiite spirituality instead of anti-American militancy. The group will focus on education, religion and social justice, according to the brochure, which is aimed at Mr. Sadr's followers. The brochure also states that it "is not allowed to use arms at all."
Posters have been put up in some areas of Baghdad saying a new direction for the Mahdi Army will be announced at this Friday's prayers.
The Mahdi Army has long stated that its principal goal is withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Since talks of setting a goal for a timetable for withdrawal have emerged -- as part of the long-term security deal between the U.S. and Iraq currently nearing completion -- the movement now intends to try to help Iraqi society via peaceful means, according to Mr. Obeidi.
Disarmament is far from certain. The group is ridden with internal strife, and Mr. Sadr now is believed to spend significant time outside the country, in Iran.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1217..._us_whats_news
He's been crippled by the crackdowns.
Last edited by DuH2; 08-05-2008 at 02:02 AM.
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