Sadr's militia regrouping, rearming (Iranian agents training militia)

[Barrett808]

Sadr's militia regrouping, rearming
from the July 15, 2004 edition

Iranian agents are working to train forces loyal to the firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the holy city of Najaf.

By Ann Scott Tyson | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

NAJAF, IRAQ – Hundreds of militiamen loyal to rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr are rearming in their sanctuary in the Shiite holy city of Najaf in possible preparation for a new offensive, say US and Iraqi officials here.
As many as 80 Iranian agents are working with an estimated 500 Sadr militiamen, known as the Mahdi Army, providing training and nine 57-mm Russian antiaircraft guns to add to stocks of mortars, antitank weapons, and other armaments, according to Iraqi and US intelligence reports.

"They are preparing for something, gathering weapons; people are coming in buses from other parts of Iraq," says Michael al-Zurufi, the Iraqi security adviser of Najaf Province. "The most important are the Iran- ians. The Iranian people are trying to reorganize Sadr's militia so they can fight again."

At the same time, heavily armed Sadr militiamen are waging fear tactics, kidnapping local Iraqi police and family members, occupying buildings, and arresting Iraqis deemed critical of Sadr or in violation of Islamic law, residents and officials say.

Signs that the Sadr militia is regrouping after heavy losses in April and May come even as Iraqi leaders are attempting to nudge the firebrand cleric into the political arena. Uncertainty remains over whether the militia activity is unified and sanctioned by Sadr or primarily the work of factions of his lieutenants, the officials say. Both Iraqi and US officials are concerned about signs of significant Iranian influence with Sadr's forces.

"Sadr's the wild card," says Maj. Rick Heyward, operations officer for the 25th Infantry Division's I-14 battalion in Najaf.

(more)

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0715/p01s04-woiq.html

[taxidriver]

1. iranians? ah, damn, now we have to invade them, too.

but that was probably planned all along.

[rocktivity]

2. Of course--why do you think there's no exit strategy?

Indeed, why do you think he invaded before the WMD inspections were finished? He couldn't let anyone find out there were no weapons because then he'd have no grounds on which to invade. FOURTEEN permanent military bases are being built in Iraq RIGHT NOW. Bush isn't planning to exit, he's planning to re-institute the draft and declare war on the rest of Mideast.

:headbang:
rocknation

[leftchick]

3. I don't believe these numbers....

"80 Iranian agents are working with an estimated 500 Sadr militiamen"

The reality is more likey Hundreds of Iranian "agents" and Thousands of Sadr militiamen.

[clarity]

4. having their cake?

7/15/04

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Iraq%20Shiite%20Leadership

"For hundreds of years, the Iranians prevented Arabs from assuming the Shiite marjaiyah (top clerics)," laments Qays al-Khaz'ali, an aide of young cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose militant movement has gained much of its popularity because of his repeated boasts of Arab descent and scathing criticism of Iranian-backed politicians and groups.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Iranians?? Right. More lies from the lying liars.

[OnTheUpandDown]

7. It's possible

Doyou have any more data to back up that Iran has nothing to do with this other than a subject line? A link or anything other than raw opinion?

[happyslug]

6. Nine 57mm AA Guns???

Where did Iran dig up those Antiques??? The Shah never purchased them, and the Former USSR had better equipment to sell by the time of the Iran-Iraq War.

My Guess is these AA guns are left over from Saddam, purchased in the 1970s as the Former Soviet Union replaced them in the Red Army with Missiles and 23mm radar controlled guns. In that case, if the Iranian are helping Shah, all they are doing is providing some guidance on how to use the weapons. Furthermore since Iranians have ALWAYS made pilgrimages to Southern Iraq, these may just be Iranians telling their fellow Shiites how to operate these obsolete (through still effective) weapons. The border has NOT been sealed and you have Iranians going to these Holy Sites ALL THE TIME.

This bring same to the my real problem with this article, while it points out an Iranian-Arab Split, the split is more between two schools of thought than on Nationality. Given than it is two schools of thought the real issue is the split something one side or the other want OR IS IT SOMETHING BOTH SIDES WANT TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE? I lean to the later (Much like the rapprochement between the Irish Church of 600 AD coming to terms with Rome of 600 AD, the Split had been caused by the Fall of the Roman Empire but after the two churches came back into contact BOTH CHURCHES WANTED TO RE-UNITE NOT FIGHT OVER THE DIFFERENCES CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION. Given that both wanted to re-unite the Churches re-united and the same appears to be operating here, the Shiites, both Iranian and Arab, want to unite. The dispute is into want school of thought NOT be it Iranian or Arab).

For more on the ZSU-57 AA Gun:
http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/zsu-57-2.htm