Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr asks Iraqi and US forces to halt offensives

**40sondacurb** · 04-19-2008, 09:36 PM

Sadr has threatened to wage "open war" on the Baghdad government if it does not halt operations against his supporters.
Moqtada Sadr said he was giving the government a "last warning", and urged it to take "the path of peace".

His statement came as Iraqi troops, with US and UK support, clashed with his forces in Baghdad and the south.
Moqtada Sadr issued the warning after soldiers launched fresh operations against positions being held by his Mehdi Army.

The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Baghdad says the government is slowly beginning to establish a presence in areas where the Mehdi Army had been all-powerful.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7356875.stm

It is nice to hear that this guy now has to plead with the government, not too long ago it was the other way around.

mimo2005 · 04-19-2008, 10:12 PM

Looks like ,he is on the ropes ,not too much options left.

**Chode** · 04-20-2008, 09:41 PM

I think we can take this as a sign that Iran has chosen to support the Shiite dominated Al-Maliki government over Sadr. If you think about it, this explains what would otherwise have been a pretty ill-conceived offensive in Basra and Southern Iraq.

The Iraqi's launch attacks which are necessarily backed by American and British forces, then as the attacks falter, Allied forces press home the offensiave. In this scenario, no one wins except Al-Maliki and Iran. Increasingly, they look about the same.

So, Sadr declares war. Guess who picks up most of the load during the rebellion. When the dust settles, the Mahdi Army is broken, the Iranian-backed Al-Maliki government is more strongly entrenched, and the lives of British and American soldiers have paid the bill.

**Chode** · 04-30-2008, 09:24 PM

When it hurts to be right.

**40sondacurb** · 05-01-2008, 04:06 PM

Update: Iraqi Prime Minister Al Maliki delivers ultimatum to militias;

"To refuse these conditions means the continuation of the government's efforts to disarm them by force"

"There is no alternative to these conditions. The alternative is the continuation of force and clashes until we reach the end, to get rid of the weapons and the gangs who are carrying weapons."

04-19-2008, 09:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr asks Iraqi and US forces to halt offensives Sadr has threatened to wage "open war" on the Baghdad government if it does not halt operations against his supporters. Moqtada Sadr said he was giving the government a "last warning", and urged it to take "the path of peace". His statement came as Iraqi troops, with US and UK support, clashed with his forces in Baghdad and the south. Moqtada Sadr issued the warning after soldiers launched fresh operations against positions being held by his Mehdi Army. The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Baghdad says the government is slowly beginning to establish a presence in areas where the Mehdi Army had been all-powerful. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7356875.stm It is nice to hear that this guy now has to plead with the government, not too long ago it was the other way around. __________________ Donate to keep the forum running

04-19-2008, 10:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
mimo2005 Manager, Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11,142 OS: xp	Re: Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr asks Iraqi and US forces to halt offensives Looks like ,he is on the ropes ,not too much options left. __________________ TSF has outgrown its server, again. Please help "Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo"

04-20-2008, 09:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chode TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,280 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr asks Iraqi and US forces to halt offensives I think we can take this as a sign that Iran has chosen to support the Shiite dominated Al-Maliki government over Sadr. If you think about it, this explains what would otherwise have been a pretty ill-conceived offensive in Basra and Southern Iraq. The Iraqi's launch attacks which are necessarily backed by American and British forces, then as the attacks falter, Allied forces press home the offensiave. In this scenario, no one wins except Al-Maliki and Iran. Increasingly, they look about the same. So, Sadr declares war. Guess who picks up most of the load during the rebellion. When the dust settles, the Mahdi Army is broken, the Iranian-backed Al-Maliki government is more strongly entrenched, and the lives of British and American soldiers have paid the bill. __________________ Sweet!

04-30-2008, 09:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chode TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,280 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr asks Iraqi and US forces to halt offensives When it hurts to be right. __________________ Sweet!

05-01-2008, 04:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	Re: Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr asks Iraqi and US forces to halt offensives Update: Iraqi Prime Minister Al Maliki delivers ultimatum to militias; "To refuse these conditions means the continuation of the government's efforts to disarm them by force" "There is no alternative to these conditions. The alternative is the continuation of force and clashes until we reach the end, to get rid of the weapons and the gangs who are carrying weapons." __________________ Donate to keep the forum running