End of Mahdi Army Cease-Fire May Expose Minimal Role Of Troop Surge

[politicallore]

Source: Political Lore.com

"Today a website representing Muqtada al-Sadr released a statement indicating that unless the young Muslim cleric makes a statement before Saturday morning extending the ceasefire, the Mahdi Army is allowed to resume attacks in Iraq.

The fear is that if the cease-fire is lifted the country will soon return to the extremely high levels of violence within a short amount of time. Any progress claimed to have been made by the United States forces could be lost virtually overnight."

Read more: http://www.politicallore.com/shaun-booth/end-of-mahdi-army-cease-fire-may-expose-minimal-role-of-troop-surge/165

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Wow.

[calimary]

1. Welcome to DU! Stunning report, if true.

Thanks for posting.

...but, but, but, the surge is working...

[Blue State Bandit]

2. Informative post, Thanks and welcome.

I read another post from your site earlier. Keep up the good work.
Fav'n you site.

[politicallore]

3. Thanks guys!

Comments like this, really help us keep going!
Please Favorite!

[happygoluckytoyou]

4. IM PRESIDENT BUSH AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE

The surge is working, and i think that what is happening in iraq, the war and all that, is good for the american economy. We have things to build, like bombs, and that means jobs... not to mention that with a certain number of people dying, their jobs are open as well.

[AlertLurker]

5. Perhaps the bribed Sunni Militias are sick of $10 / day, too!

[ohio2007]

7. $10/ day beats the promise of 72 virgins in the afterlife any day

never should have dismissed the Iraqi army imo.

[merh]

8. Actually, from what I have read, it is the Sunni militia's

failure to comply with the "cease fire" and their continuation of the neighborhood cleansings that have caused the other factions to call for an end to the "cease fire". The idea was the "cease fire" would help the US's mission and once there was a drop in violence, the US would begin to pull out and the Iraqis would get their nation back. Obviously, that isn't about to happen without that all important "benchmark" that GWB et al has established. The passage of the hydrocarbon law. A majority of the parliament is against it and have been since day one because it gives away too much of the Iraqi peoples' profits.

As long as this admin is in power and demanding the passage of the hydrocarbon law before substantial troop withdrawal will occur, there will always be hostilities. I am afraid that what we have seen thus far, the "surge is working" is just the calm before the storm.

All hell is about to break loose - god help our troops.

[ohio2007]

6. the "drama queen" will be making his announcement after friday prayers

Reports are that the civil war cease fire will remain in place;

Sadr movement backtracks on truce remarks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agence France-Presse - 20 February, 2008


Radical Iraqi cleric Muqtada Al Sadr’s movement yesterday backtracked from an announcment that it was ending a truce with its main Shia rival aimed at reducing tension between the two groups.


snip

http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?id=382217&news_type=Top&lang=en&

[merh]

9. Go to the article for the 21st and you will see that your post is

not the most current as found at your source.

Sadr ceasefire in Iraq may not be renewed: clerics
Agence France-Presse - 21 February, 2008

The six-month ceasefire order given by Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to his Mahdi Army militia may not be renewed, his aides warned on Wednesday three days before the "freeze" expires.

"All possibilities are open concerning the prolongation or not of the halt of activities of the Mahdi Army. The matter is in the hands of Moqtada al-Sadr," spokesman Salah al-Obeidi told AFP.

"The deadline is next Saturday," Obeidi said from Sadr's office in the central shrine city of Najaf, adding that an announcement could be made during the weekly Friday prayers.

http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?id=382524&news_type=Top&lang=en&PHPSESSID=e778b7e9fd2b2f13fcfbfd1a8d948a54

[ohio2007]

11. Mr irrelevant want to be relevant

He threatens a civil war against fellow Shia tribe in the majority. I wonder if some loyal Sunni tribes will dispatch soldiers and go after him,shoulder to shoulder with the Shia majority that also opposes him

( guess thats an op ed MSM take that will be discussed a few more months down the road ;) )

[LynnTheDem]

10. " May Expose Minimal Role Of Troop Surge". WILL expose

the absolute correctness of those of us who have repeatedly said George bUsh's ES-CAH-LAY-SHUN will not work. Not now. Not ever.

The LEFT is right.

Again.

The right is so very deeply wrong.

As always.

[politicallore]

12. I am honestly scared for our troops

[politicallore]

13. what will the u.s. do?

[politicallore]

14. upp!!

[Hissyspit]

15. kick and recommend n/tf