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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Sadr’s Military To Withdraw... If US Withdraws First |
| 2004-05-22 |
| This isn’t even close to passing the laugh test... The militia of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will end their armed presence in Najaf and Kerbala as soon as it is clear that U.S. troops have withdrawn from the holy Iraqi cities, a top aide to Sadr said on Saturday. "We are prepared to end our armed presence the moment the occupation forces leave the holy cities and give guarantees of that," Qais al-Khazali told reporters. "There are no guarantees up to now that the occupying forces will not go back to the holy shrines." ...and I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale. Any takers? On Friday, U.S. troops pulled back from the center of Kerbala after days of heavy fighting with militiamen. U.S. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said on Saturday the troops were repositioning and not withdrawing. Moving in, perhaps? Dan Senor, spokesman for the U.S.-led administration, said there had been no contact with Sadr, who the authorities want in connection with the murder of another Shi’ite cleric. "There is not any...truce to my knowledge," he said. "If he is prepared to submit himself to justice and if he is prepared to disband and disarm his illegal militia, we are prepared to reach a peaceful resolution to this." Earlier in the week Iraq’s most revered Shi’ite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called on both U.S. forces and Sadr’s Mehdi Army to withdraw from the holy cities. The U.S. military has repeatedly said it will not negotiate with Sadr, who is wanted in connection with the murder of a rival cleric in Najaf last year. Guess that means ’no’, Sadr. |
| Posted by:Raj |
| #6 Fox News reports that the Mahdists have disappeared from Karbala but US troops have not withdrawn and everything is "quiet as a mouse. Iraqi police and Civil Defense Corps are apparently in control again, which is what we wanted in the first place. I have a source on the scene who confirms that this is true. I think the truce story is disinformation designed to cover up an ignominious defeat and withdrawal for the tater-heads. Of course, their media allies have swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2004-05-22 10:59:58 PM |
| #5 If a strong example is not forthcoming concerning this thug terrorist ringleader, Sadr, i.e. taking this little creep out, Coalition troops will begin to lose credibility as a viable counter force against terrorists in Iraq. |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-05-22 7:27:08 PM |
| #4 "Okay, here's the deal: you marines |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-22 7:22:06 PM |
| #3 Fox reports: "KARBALA, Iraq  — Officials with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani (search) and anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (search) said Saturday that militiamen and U.S. forces had agreed to stop fighting in Karbala, a holy city where the two adversaries have engaged in intense battles in recent days. The clerics’ representatives of al-Sadr and al-Sistani declined to give their names, and there was no immediate comment from the U.S. military. But witnesses said there were no combatants on the streets of Karbala on Saturday. Smells like Bremer haqs forced brussel sprouts down the Marine's throats again. |
| Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-05-22 7:01:12 PM |
| #2 This is the Arab shame and honor dynamic at work again. |
| Posted by: The Doctor 2004-05-22 6:51:42 PM |
| #1 FoxNews has been reporting that Tater has abandoned Karbala and that Marines / Iraqi Police have moved in. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-05-22 5:41:45 PM |