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| Iraq |
| More Red on Red |
| 2007-05-16 |
| U.S. soldiers find tips flowing from rifts within powerful Shiite militia run by young cleric BAGHDAD: An Iraqi man wearing a crisp white robe steps from the shadows of a Baghdad mosque. American soldiers whisper greetings. Fumbling nervously with his cigarette, the informant rattles off names of clandestine Shiite militiamen. The 3 a.m. encounter, witnessed by The Associated Press this month in a Shiite neighborhood of northwest Baghdad, was part of a U.S. attempt to weaken the grip of extremists in the Mahdi Army militia — one of the most powerful forces in Iraq's array of insurgents, militants and gunmen outside government control. An apparent split emerging in the Mahdi Army — led by anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr — is where the U.S. military hopes to make its gains. They are aided by Mahdi members seeking to purge rivals they describe as "criminal elements." Those willing to cooperate with the Americans are part of a larger group that calls itself the "noble Mahdi Army" and accuses others in the Mahdi Army of going too far by killing innocent Sunni civilians and embezzling militia funds. The informants also target fighters they claim were trained and armed by Iranians, but offer no further proof or details. "The true Mahdi Army believes in loyalty to Iraq, but there are thieves and gangsters among them now," said a 54-year-old Shiite in Hurriyah, a northwest Baghdad neighborhood where militiamen drove out thousands of Sunnis last year. He refused to give his name out of fear for his life. Rooting out the most violent cells from the Mahdi Army would be an important step for U.S.-led forces and the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Shiite death squads are blamed for many of the gangland-style executions of Sunnis — which have gradually returned since falling off sharply after a Baghdad security operation was launched in February. But serious divisions within the Mahdi Army could unleash a bloody power struggle among its tens of thousands of followers. Its leader, al-Sadr, has not been seen publicly for months and has issued statements through intermediaries. U.S. officials claim he has taken refuge in neighboring Iran, raising questions about his hold over the militia — named for a messiah-like figure of Shiite Islam. The Pentagon already knows how the Mahdi Army can muster its firepower. In 2004, Mahdi fighters waged a fierce struggle against U.S.-led forces in places such as the Shiite holy city of Najaf in southern Iraq. To protect the "noble" members, American soldiers go through elaborate ruses to hide their role as informants. If they want to question an informant, American troops will seal off an entire neighborhood, search every house and question all residents. When the soldiers get to the informant's house, they will bang on the door and demand entry. Inside, officers embrace the informant and sip tea with his family. Informants have handed over lists of key Mahdi Army figures, along with sworn statements against them. That's the legal ammunition American commanders need to conduct raids against a militia that has ties to powerful Shiite politicians. In Hurriyah, tips from Mahdi Army moderates and other community members have allowed the U.S. to capture several top militiamen since January, U.S. officials said. "The guys we talk to call themselves 'noble JAM,'" said Maj. Michael Shaw, using an acronym for the Mahdi Army's Arabic name. He added: "They're more business-minded and realistic about the future." Similar cracks have been exploited by U.S. forces among Sunnis in other parts of Iraq. In the western Anbar province, tribal leaders and others have assisted U.S.-led troops against extremist factions including al-Qaida. The local Anbar tribes fear the insurgents could challenge their power and control of lucrative trade and smuggling routes. The Mahdi rifts began earlier this year. The prime minister, a Shiite, persuaded al-Sadr to withdraw his armed militiamen from Baghdad streets to avoid a showdown with the Americans during the security crackdown. But Mahdi Army members have told The Associated Press that some factions in the militia want to step up the fight against U.S. forces. Several thousand members have received training and weapons from Iran, the members said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Such claims appear to back up Washington's assertions that Iran — the world's most populous Shiite nation — is funneling arms and aid to Shiite factions in Iraq. Al-Sadr still wields considerable influence in Iraq — not only through his militia but by a formidable political movement that holds 30 of the 275 seats in parliament. Last month, the six Cabinet members loyal to al-Sadr resigned their posts after al-Maliki refused to demand a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign forces. U.S. and Iraqi officials are unsure of the degree of control al-Sadr still exerts over his militia, which he founded in 2003 after the collapse of Saddam Hussein's rule. The bipartisan Iraq Study Group estimated the Mahdi strength at up to 60,000 nationwide, but figures vary greatly depending on whether it includes hard-core loyalists or extended to include sympathizers. Last year, al-Sadr himself had complained publicly about "deviant" groups that were using the Mahdi Army as a cover for murder, extortion and smuggling. "If Muqtada al-Sadr goes on TV now and asks JAM to lay down their weapons, do you think that all the fighters would obey? Of course not. Maybe 70 percent would," said Col. Abed al-Raadhi, the National Police commander in Hurriyah. "For some of these people, it's become a purely criminal enterprise," al-Raadhi said. About a month ago, an elite Mahdi Army unit was dispatched from Najaf — purportedly under orders from al-Sadr himself — to weed out criminal elements, U.S. and Iraq officials said. Nicknamed the "Golden Mahdi Army," the Najaf unit is trying to hunt down and eliminate rogue militiamen before the Americans can capture and interrogate them, the officials said on condition of anonymity because the information is considered highly sensitive. In the shadows, the informant in the white robe says he hoped that — with American help — more moderate factions can gain the upper hand in the Mahdi Army, which many Shiites consider their best protection against Sunni extremists. The informant, who would not give his name out of fear for his safety, said he was worried about Mahdi Army leaders who had received training in Iran. U.S. military officers are careful not to characterize militia informants as partners or allies and insist none of them has been promised amnesty for any alleged offenses. "I know these men well — we went through our religious training together — but they are no longer honest. They pretend to be following al-Sadr's orders, but they are really following Iran," the man said. |
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #9 BRUSSELSJOURNAL/EU > Many Euro commentators believe that one of the major reasons for internal, inter-Islamist factionalism = ideo civil war is the power struggle between those whom genuinely want to reform Islam, versus those whom do not. IOW, as so-called "GOD-BASED MARXISTS-BOLSHEVIKS-COMMIES-STALINISTS:, we are seeing LENIN vz TROTSKY, TROTSKY vz STALIN REDUX, etc. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-05-16 20:17 |
| #8 Sorry about the double posting. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-05-16 16:30 |
| #7 Also if the local mafias/street gangs are the only Shiite troublemakers left standing, it will be much better for the average Abdulah on the streets of Baghdad : by definition, mobsters do NOT do suicide bombings - they are following orders of the local boss, not Allah. So no 72 virgins for them if they go BOOM in the local market place. Plus, the whole mentality of a mobster goes against the "Die for Allah!" crowd : mobsters want to run the local "Booze, Broads, and Blow" markets for fun and profit; they do NOT wanted to die in a big explosion. Hard to enjoy the air-conditioned Mercedes sedan when you are splattered across the landscape. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-05-16 16:30 |
| #6 Also if the local mafias/street gangs are the only Shiite troublemakers left standing, it will be much better for the average Abdulah on the streets of Baghdad : by definition, mobsters do NOT do suicide bombings - they are following orders of the local boss, not Allah. So no 72 virgins for them if they go BOOM in the local market place. Plus, the whole mentality of a mobster goes against the "Die for Allah!" crowd : mobsters want to run the local "Booze, Broads, and Blow" markets for fun and profit; they do NOT wanted to die in a big explosion. Hard to enjoy the air-conditioned Mercedes sedan when you are splattered across the landscape. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-05-16 16:25 |
| #5 So what if some of the informers are using us to killing enemies/competitors? They rat out each other to us and we kill them : where is the downside? This is just like when two street gangs snitch on each other to the cops : a win-win for us, since no matter which one we kill, the bad guys are dead. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-05-16 16:15 |
| #4 They need to be aware that some of their informers will be simply trying to get us to take out their competition. |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-05-16 14:49 |
| #3 A very good sign. If you can cleanly split the Iraqi nationalists from the Shiites working for Iran, it will put a serious crimp in illegal activities. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-05-16 14:41 |
| #2 Let's see tater whipped, mashed and then fried... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2007-05-16 13:56 |
| #1 But serious divisions within the Mahdi Army could unleash a bloody power struggle among its tens of thousands of followers. Our goal accomplished, of teasing out the relative moderates from the criminals and Iran's pawns. Plus the possibility of red on red. Well done! for our side. :-D |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-05-16 13:28 |