Richard WarnickMahdi Army Cease Fire Expires Saturday
Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army may be about to go to war against Iraq’s Maliki government and the US forces occupying Baghdad. From the Associated Press:
Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, a spokesman for al-Sadr in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, said that if the cleric failed to issue a statement by Saturday saying the cease-fire was extended, “then that means the freeze is over.” Al-Sadr’s followers would be free to resume attacks.
On an Internet site representing al-Sadr, al-Obeidi said that al-Sadr “either will announce the extension or will stay silent and not announce anything. If stays silent, that means that the freeze is over.”
Al-Obeidi said that message “has been conveyed to all Mahdi Army members nationwide.”
Despite the unilateral cease-fire, the US military has continued raids against Mahdi Army militiamen, many of whom are said to be angry and ready to strike back. Recently, some elements of the Mahdi Army have been mounting renewed rocket attacks on the Baghdad airport and the Green Zone. Yesterday, 15 policemen were killed while trying to secure a Mahdi Army rocket launcher.
UPDATE: Salt Lake Tribune reporter Matt LaPlante observes on his blog that the US has long seemed clueless regarding al-Sadr’s movement, and still doesn’t get it:
Last week, U.S. State Department Iraq coordinator David Satterfied told foreign policy gurus at the Middle East Institute that Sadr was little more than a “deeply troubled young man” who is now “beyond his ability to influence” matters in Iraq.
In the Time Magazine article reporting the remarks, Vali Nasr, author of The Shi’a Revival, sharply disagreed with Satterfield’s assessment. “Moqtada al-Sadr still commands the largest social and political movement in southern Iraq,” Nasr said. “The game in Iraq is not over. . . He has been beefing up his strength.”
With Iraq teetering precariously on the edge of war and peace, now is not a time to be underestimating a man who could push it into oblivion.
Previous One Utah posts:
Iraq’s Hezbollah (December 13, 2007)
Shocker: Iraq ‘Surge’ Not Really Working (February 1, 2008)
