al Sadr back to threatening the Iraq government

Muqtada al-Sadr, the “maverick” Shi’ite cleric (I think “maverick” in Iraq means “unable to find a good dentist or a personal trainer”) is rattling his rusty saber once again to put a damper on President Obama’s announcement that US forces have ended combat operations in Iraq.

From his cushy apartment in Tehran where he’s been hiding since the surge began and wiped out the troops al-Sadr abandoned with “fight to the death” orders, Mookie, as he’s affectionately know at TAH, feels safe enough to warn Iraqi forces from working too closely with US troops.

In a statement read at Friday prayers in mosques across Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr extended support to Iraq’s police and soldiers, as long as they don’t fight alongside American forces.

Anyone else think it’s coincidental that al-Sadr makes this threat just hours after Obama’s speech to the nation about Iraq?

Oh, did I also mention that Iraqis claim to be a bit confused by that speech?

Many people here say that they did not expect Obama’s declaration to sound so final or that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates would acknowledge that the war is over, albeit “clouded” by its start in a U.S.-led invasion based on a false premise.

“I’m disappointed by this new administration,” Othman said. “They want to run away from Iraq.”

I suppose Mookie figured that was his cue make himself known again. Naw, a solid timetable withdrawal is an excellent strategy that works every time…oh, wait, that’s not right.

Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Terror War