Muqtada Al-Sadr Extends Iraqi Cease-Fire

DuH2 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

AP) Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced Friday that he has extended a cease-fire order to his Shiite Mahdi Army by another six months, giving Iraq a chance to continue its fragile recovery from brutal sectarian violence.

His message was delivered by Shiite clerics during prayer services in mosques dominated by followers of the black-turbaned cleric.

"According to an order by Sayyid Muqtada, activities of the Mahdi Army will be suspended ... for another six month period," al-Sadr's aide Hazim al-Aaraji said, using an honorific for al-Sadr during his sermon at the Kazimiyah mosque in Baghdad.

Al-Sadr's decision to halt the activities of his powerful militia for up to six months last August was one of three critical steps widely credited with bringing the Iraqi death toll down more than 60 percent in recent months.

The other pieces of the puzzle are the so-called surge of U.S. troops and the move by U.S.-backed Sunni fighters to switch allegiances and start working against al-Qaida in Iraq.

The U.S. military welcomed initial word of the decision, but pledged to continue cracking down on what it calls breakaway factions that persist in violence.

"This extension of his August 2007 pledge of honor to halt attacks is an important commitment that can broadly contribute to further improvements in security for all Iraqi citizens," the military said in a statement. "It will also foster a better opportunity for national reconciliation and allow the coalition and Iraqi security forces to focus more intensively on al-Qaida terrorists."

"Those who continue to honor al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr's pledge will be treated with respect and restraint," it said. "Coalition and Iraqi security forces will continue to work closely with the Iraqi people to protect them from these criminals who violate the law and dishonor the commitment made by al-Sayyid Muqtada."

The military also said it was open to dialogue with the Sadrists and "all groups who seek to bring about reconciliation in building the new Iraq."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n3862205.shtml

"Stay the Course"

Daybreaker · #2 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 09:59 PM

I'll thank you to stop saying I relish violence. It's rude.

More importantly, however -- good for Sadr. And good for whatever diplomacy, martial or otherwise (I'm thinking otherwise tends to get better results), got him to do it. What are we paying to get him to extend the truce?

DuH2 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 10:18 PM

When you show your not simply doing what Reid/Pelosi/Obama and all the rest of the defeatist Democrats are doing..(which is sitting with their fingers crowssed praying to hell for mass terrorist violence in Iraq).. then I will...and only then.

Until then YOU decided to take that course and you can live with what it is being said clearly.

Sad day for the Far Left,Anti-War types, and the loser defeatist branch of the Democrats.

ObsidianSol · #4 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 10:19 PM

We probably aren't paying them anything. We're probably promising them some sort of political leeway in future policy making.

ObsidianSol · #5 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 10:22 PM

And you forget, republicans are the ones that pray. And look how far that prayer got us in the last 6 years!

DuH2 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 10:23 PM

There are upcoming elections in Iraq in October. He has a strong poltical base amongst Shiites.
If he starts up again he will probably never be allowed back and likely be killed.

He has more to gain playing the political game then playing the war game.

NJV · #7 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 02:38 AM

a surge thats working, do we see way.

WileE · #8 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 05:43 AM

Could be that he's awaiting the outcome of the U.S. general elections.

FlakBait · #9 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 06:56 AM

Great news! Let’s allow him to continue to build, strengthen, and organize his militia while we pretend the ceasefire actually means something. Operation setback put off for another six months.

Daybreaker · #10 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuH2

When you show your not simply doing what Reid/Pelosi/Obama and all the rest of the defeatist Democrats are doing..(which is sitting with their fingers crowssed praying to hell for mass terrorist violence in Iraq).. then I will...and only then.

Until then YOU decided to take that course and you can live with what it is being said clearly.

Sad day for the Far Left,Anti-War types, and the loser defeatist branch of the Democrats.

I think you've made it clear that you just don't understand what us anti-war types are about, so you have to attribute to us evil motivations.

I think war is a bad thing. I think it's the worst thing human beings do to each other, with the possible exception of slavery. I think it should be avoided whenever possible and won decisively when it can't be avoided -- the current conflict isn't living up to that ethos. How does that make me such a bad person, in your eyes?

Yes, peace is sometimes risky. But the risk is usually worth it. The worst thing that happens if peace fails is generally about the same as the best thing that happens in war.

So I'm pro-peace. Good for Sadr. Good for whatever process made this extension happen. I'll even say Good for Bush, if it turns out that he had anything to do with it. Though I still blame him for creating the situation in the first place (don't worry I blame a lot of other people too -- including myself as a person who takes part in this economy).

But you've got to stop thinking that people who don't like war are evil, even when you disagree with them. 'Cause you're a smart guy and you'd be even smarter without that particular blinder. I think a whole new world would open up to you.

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