Sadr halts attacks on Spanish troops

[hedgetrimmer]

~SNIP~
April 20, 2004

Shiite imam Moqtada al-Sadr.

The Shiite imam Moqtada al-Sadr has called on his followers to stop attacks on Spanish troops after Madrid announced it would withdraw its contingent from Iraq as soon as possible, a Sadr spokesman said.

"We call to ensure the security of Spanish troops until their departure as long as these forces do not perpetrate aggressions against the Iraqi people," the spokesman said.

"Other countries which assign troops to the coalition in Iraq are urged to follow the example of Spain and to withdraw their forces to save the lives of their soldiers."

The Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, announced on Sunday that his country's 1300 soldiers would leave Iraq "in the shortest possible time", because there was still no sign of the United Nations becoming involved.

... more ...

link: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/19/1082357118777.html

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. I'm really surprised this guy is still alive.

..

[gate of the sun]

2. why do you say that?

especially in regards to this news?

[Aidoneus]

3. fitting, in a way..

Spanish forces at their "Andalus" (itself a slap in the face) occupation base basically provoked the Sadrist intifada with the massacre they carried out. Now they're the first to earn a truce. May this good example be fulfilled and repeated. While these forces are really inconsequential in the scheme of things except on the invaders' propaganda front, the occupation is all the same weakened by isolation and thus may be defeated with less bloodshed (or, tragically--with more, if the high officials of the aggressors become ever more stupid and desperate in their futility).

[leftyandproud]

4. PROOF that pacifism works.

yes, I'm serious...look at the results. They pull out...violence ends. We should do the same.

[aquart]

6. That's so ...........naive. Touching, really.

Violence ends if we pull out. Okay. Willing to bet, say, fifty thousand lives on it? None of them will be yours.

I mean, it's no problem for me. Iraqis want to kill each other, I say, Go to!

But it's so CUTE that you think pacifism has anything to do with this.

[SKKY]

13. So cute...

...and so very, very optimistic. Quite silly actually to think pacifism would be the road to take. We, ladies and gentlemen are looking at the next Saddam.

[BeHereNow]

14. You mean the guy

the US armed to the teeth?
The same one we were wheeling and dealing with
until he did not play by our rules?
Welcome to DU-
Please stick around and learn some facts.
We invite you to learn the truth.

BHN

[Ripley]

16. Which Iraqis are killing

each other? I thought the Iraqis were killing Coalition troops. :shrug:

[Bandit]

18. If they told us point blank that if we left they would never attack an

American would that not be worthy? We are the proved LIARS not them. I say get Americans out of all countries until specifically asked to be there. I think it would result in fewer American deaths and a much nicer world to live in. The Spanish people will find peace much more enjoyable than what happens to them when they follow the will of the USA. Those people do not want us there. Why do we insist on forcing our will upon them. If we truly want peace then we must make compromises, no matter how naive you may think that concept to be.

[BeHereNow]

10. AMEN!

Sadr has just enforced the will of the Spanish voters-
It's a "win-win" for everyone.
"Get your damned troops out of the Empire quest for
domination of our people and we'll leave ya alone...peace."
No soldiers=no war.
How long before the 'murikkkans comprehend this concept?
I would REALLY RATHER NOT have more attacks on our soil.
BHN

[Zhade]

5. You gotta admit, this is a BRILLIANT move on Sadr's part.

And it's just - if the Spanish troops are leaving ASAP, they will soon no longer be part of the occupiers.

He's playing the b*sh administration for the fools they are. And I can't say I blame him one little bit.

[aquart]

8. Yes. Very clever. Stunningly arrogant. But we admire that.

[BeHereNow]

11. Fact is...

it saved lives.
Spanish lives- civilians and soldiers.
I would love to see the same be true of our soldiers.
We have NO right to be there.
They have EVERY right to kick us out.
Nothing clever about the truth.
It it, what it is.
The longer we remain in Iraq, the more our
chances of attacks here at home, increase.
BHN

[Vladimir]

21. Quite

of course some people will use this to prove that the Spanish are 'appeasing' terrorists. But the fact is, Zapatero is fulfilling his democratic mandate, and Al-Sadr is clever enough to offer peace as an incentive for other countries to follow suit. The politicians won't listen yet, but the electorate may just take note of it for the next election in countries where troop withdrawal is on the agenda.

V

[VolcanoJen]

7. Spain's move makes sense, and the wingers will likely call it...

appeasement.

The thing is, Spain is not a world power, not really, and it certainly isn't the dominant military force on the planet, because that would be us... the U.S. Spain doesn't have this enormous, almost mythical reputation to uphold and propel.

Spain had nothing to gain from joining the war effort, and has nothing to lose from abandoning it. They took a gamble on the WMD, and they got screwed. Pulling out the troops is the best possible outcome now for the Spanish people. It's the right thing to do, and it's also the pragmatic thing to do, politically. It's a rare, and perfect, moment in political history - how often does "the right thing" and "the politically correct thing" meet, and fall in love? We should be applauding this kind of movement, and we should strive to accomplish it ourselves.

The United States truly did march to this war alone, and we do not have the luxury of a choice between abandoning the cause and fighting until the bitter end. Our reputation as a terrifying war machine rests upon the outcome of this war. The other, rather inconsequential, coalition countries have little or nothing to do with the matter of the United States vs. Iraq. It's the loneliest war this superpower could have imagined.

In the coming days, remind your conservative friends that their critique of the intricacies of Spanish politics does little to advance their futile, blood-filled cause. And we're not going to start calling it "Freedom Rice," either. Not this time.

[0rganism]

12. How can a major platform plank from before the uprising be appeasement?

Yes, yes, I know it's irrational. Still, the density bothers me.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. Lets see now - in the last week, al-Sadr has supported

.
.
.

the intervention of peacekeepers under the United Nations

and arranged the release of a Canadian hostage.

That's 2 for 2 in my books.

Hardly fits in with the American claim of a "common thug".

I don't disagree that some of his views and actions are "radical".

But with the US trampling all over their country and their values, I understand some Iraqis feelings that "radical" actions are warranted.

Seeing your family and friends slaughtered can do that to people.

[bemildred]

15. I think US calling him a thug is pretty funny.

Not that I think he is necessarily a great guy, but really,
who's been doing most of the killing and stealing here?

[Solly Mack]

17. When Spain first got to the city of Diwaniya

they opened fire on anyone who didn't halt the second they shouted halt. They, the Spanish, caused a lot of problems for the American soldiers already in place because of their indiscriminate shooting of people. So much so that the Spanish had to have American guards just to walk/drive around the city.

Diwaniya was considered the safest city in Iraq just a month ago. The Spanish learned not to shoot at everything that moved and the Americans had a better than good relationship with the people in the city. The Americans left Diwaniya in March and Spain was the only coalition member left within the city.

Now, someone will have to take over that city.

[DulceDecorum]

19. Re: Diwaniya

"Now, someone will have to take over that city."

I strongly suggest that the people of Diwaniya take their own city back from all invaders.
The city is in Iraq.
The people who live in it are Iraqi.
The city of Diwaniya belongs to the people of Diwaniya and NOT to Spain or Cheney.

[Solly Mack]

20. I agree but that's not how it will be allowed to happen

Bush will have other ideas and more people will die.


My husband was in Dinwaniya for a year...no problems whatsoever like they are having now. Call me selfish...but I don't want him to go back. Maybe it's just knowing a city my husband spent a year of his life in, that is now turning truly ugly, fills me with conflicting emotions...

[johnlr6]

22. I see.

The Spanish soldiers are the reckless ones, and the Americans are the ones showing restraint & responsibility? You seem to have an inside pipeline to the goings-on in Diwaniya, so why don't you share some concrete evidence with me regarding the Spanish soldiers' "indiscriminate shooting of people"?
'Preciate it.

[Solly Mack]

23. LOL Oh bother

You're new or you'd know my stance on the invasion of Iraq.

My husband was in Al Diwaniya for a year, thank you very much. So yeah, I know more than many about what's going on and what went on in Iraq. Naturally, my husband knows more than me.

And I never said the "The Spanish soldiers are the reckless ones, and the Americans are the ones showing restraint & responsibility?"

I merely pointed out a fact of something that happened over there. Get a grip and refrain from attempting to paint me as an invasion apologist-it won't work. My past posts here at DU would blow such an unsupportable claim out of the water.