Richard WarnickAl-Sadr: End U.S. Occupation of Iraq Or Else
Moqtada al-Sadr has renewed threats to resume attacks on U.S. forces if they don’t leave Iraq. A statement by the Iran-based cleric that was read to supporters gathered for Friday prayers in Baghdad’s Sadr City district and the city of Kufa, south of Baghdad.
“I repeat my call on the occupier to get out from the land of our beloved Iraq, without retaining bases or signing agreements,” al-Sadr said. “If they do stay, I urge the honorable resistance fighters … to direct their weapons exclusively against the occupier.”
Al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia fought U.S. forces in 2004 and again this past spring. In July, al-Sadr said he was disbanding most of the militia, but would keep a small combat unit of seasoned and loyal fighters in case they are called upon to fight the Americans again. In Friday’s statement, al-Sadr for the first time gave that unit a name: “The Promised Day Brigade.”
Nouri al-Mailiki’s cabinet is expected to vote on a proposed treaty with the United States in the next couple of days. The latest draft, now referred to as a “withdrawal agreement,” stipulates that American forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 2009 and from the country by the end of 2011. The U.S. military has already begun redeploying units out of urban areas and back to outlying bases. The British have negotiated a separate agreement to withdraw completely from Iraq by the end of next year.
Last month, thousands of Sadrists marched in Baghdad to protest the proposed treaty and demand an immediate end to the occupation, burning effigies of President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Remember, these people are the same Shiites who were so oppressed by Saddam Hussein, the ones the invasion of Iraq was supposed to help.
Most Shiites in Iraq reject the treaty draft, including the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council which is a key Maliki political ally. More ominously, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has vowed to intervene if there are any concessions of Iraqi national sovereignty.
In other news, the year-long effort to re-take control of Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, from Sunni insurgents has made little progress, according to Danger Room’s David Axe. An Iraqi soldier shot and killed two U.S. soldiers and wounded at least six others in Mosul on Wednesday.
CIA Director Michael V. Hayden has finally admitted that Iraq, contrary to years of Bush administration propaganda, is not the “central front in the war on terror.” We knew that, but it’s nice to hear the CIA say it for attribution.
In January, when President-elect Obama takes office, there will still be more American troops in Iraq than there were in April 2003 when Baghdad fell. This is the legacy of President Bush’s so-called “surge.” Our new commander-in-chief has a powerful mandate to make a bold decision to call off a pointless occupation, while U.S. right-wingers moan about how “victory” was “in sight” and Iraqi Sadrists try to claim credit for forcing us to withdraw.
In the Army, we used to refer to leadership in tough situations as “an opportunity to excel.” President Obama will have an opportunity to excel.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Is Al-Sadr mentally impaired or on crack? Does he think that the United States actually enjoys being mired down in his god-forsaken wasteland of blood, guts, giant spiders and goats? Doesn’t he know that there was just a big election in this country which was a referendum on our troops being there, who are trying to keep him and his countrymen from slitting each other’s throats? The problem in Iraq is that these people have nothing else to do but be pissed off all the time and take potshots at passing U.S. vehicles which are usually on the way to deliver food & clothing to their neighbors. Should we be there? Of course, not. But Al-Sadr would have to be an idiot to think an abrupt departure wouldn’t lead to even worse chaos in that country. Oh wait. He is an idiot.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:44 am
He’s impatient, so? You should be looking to D.C. for idiocy. There’s a premium on it among villagers.
November 15th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Americans have underestimated Moqtada al-Sadr and his movement for years. They were the real opposition to Saddam Hussein, not the exiles like Nouri al-Maliki, Hakim, Chalabi etc. The Sadrists have more legitimacy than Maliki, and they provide social services to more people than the so-called Iraqi government.
It’s a myth that the U.S. military succeeded in preventing a civil war in Iraq. Sectarian cleansing in Baghdad took place right under the noses of our troops, who were powerless to stop it even during the height of the so-called “surge.”
Last spring, our forces and especially our artillery and air power did save Maliki from losing to the Mahdi Army– that’s why al-Sadr wants us gone.
November 15th, 2008 at 11:30 am
You said a lot with the last statement of your post, Richard. Obama’s task in extricating us from Iraq will be difficult indeed.