Mahdi Army refuses to disband

So, while they’re being killed in droves, the Mahdi Army makes a verbal stand and al Sadr, is more than willing to let them die (AP/Yahoo link);

In a sign of that resolve, Iraqi soldiers took control Sunday of the last stronghold of al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia in the southern city of Basra, where an Iraqi offensive last month triggered the current wave of Shiite fighting.

Al-Maliki, a Shiite, has demanded that al-Sadr disband his Mahdi Army, the country’s biggest Shiite militia, or his followers will not be allowed to run in provincial elections this fall.

Al-Sadr’s followers, who control 30 of the 275 parliament seats, rejected that demand Sunday and instead called for an end to U.S.-Iraqi military operations in Sadr City, the Baghdad stronghold of the Mahdi Army, and Shula, another Shiite district of the capital.

al Sadr has, in the past been able to call an end to the hostilities and save face, but it seems Maliki isn’t backing down this time – as well he shouldn’t.

“All must know that disbanding the Mahdi Army means the end of al-Maliki’s government,” Sadrist lawmaker Fawzi Akram told reporters.

He called the government campaign against the Mahdi Army a “filthy military and media campaign” planned and supported by the Americans. He urged the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and human rights groups to intervene.

“Random airstrikes, killings and bloodletting will not help but rather will increase hatred and enmity,” he said, adding that if operations continue “all options are open for us.”

Actually, the only options you have are to lay down your weapons or die. Akram is calling for NGOs and the UN to help because he knows his ass is grass. al Sadr sits out the violence in Iran and protests while his army is disassembled. He calls his people to fight without even knowing the condition of his army or without understanding the strength of his enemy. Good leader ya’all picked there.

In another AP story, al Sadr denounces the concrete wall the government is building through their neighborhood;

Followers of anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr denounced the American military’s construction of a concrete wall through their Sadr City stronghold in Baghdad, the scene of renewed clashes between his militiamen and U.S. and Iraqi troops.

The Sadrist movement stepped up its rhetoric Friday, denouncing Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government as “just like Saddam Hussein’s,” and the Mahdi Army called on Iraqi troops to put down their weapons and stop fighting.

So, if they’re complaining and threatening, something’s working.

Iraqi soldiers stand guard in Basra.

Category: Terror War