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Iraq
Sadr orders militia heads out of Iraq - president
2007-02-16
BAGHDAD (Rooters) - Radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has ordered heads of his Mehdi Army militia to hightail it out leave Iraq and asked the government to arrest "outlaws" under a U.S.- backed crackdown, Iraq's president said on Thursday.
"Head for the hills of Iran! Those crazy Americans are shooting back this time!"
President Jalal Talabani made the remarks after Iraq closed its borders with Iran and Syria and as U.S. and Iraqi troops tightened their grip on Baghdad, patrolling neighbourhoods and setting up checkpoints that searched even official convoys.

Talabani said he was unaware of Sadr's whereabouts. The U.S. military has said the anti-American cleric is in Iran, but his aides insist he is in Iraq's holy Shi'ite city Najaf. An Iraqi government official said he was in Tehran, but only for a short visit. "I think many of his top Mehdi Army officials have been ordered to leave Iraq to make the mission of the security forces easier," the president was quoted as saying in a statement from his office.
That's why they're called the Brave Lions of Islam™, you know.
Washington calls the Mehdi militia the greatest threat to Iraq's security. U.S. and Iraqi forces have arrested hundreds of Mehdi Army members in recent months.

The statement from Talabani's office added that Sadr supported the crackdown and had given the government the go- ahead to arrest any "outlaws". Talabani told a news conference that Sadr had asked Mehdi members to scram flee run away leave the country.

His comments and the melting away of many ordinary Mehdi fighters from Sadr City's streets are the clearest signs yet that the militia will not stand and fight like it did in 2004, when it twice rose up against American forces.
Because they remember what happened both times.
Some Shi'ite officials outside Sadr's movement say the militia wants to avoid a battle to protect the young cleric's political gains. Sadr's movement holds a quarter of the parliamentary seats in the ruling Shi'ite Alliance of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
Posted by:anonymous5089

#12  Whe they keep drugs out of prisones, I'll be lieve borders can be sealed.

However, these guys should be portrayed as yellow cowards in the Iraqi media and the people should be encouraged, by the government and the tribal leaders, to rat them out when they return. Failure to do so should result in the destruction of the house they are discovered in, etc. The civilian populace needs to decide which side they are on and we have to make it safe to choose our side and dangerous to choose the losers.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-02-16 17:37  

#11  Captain Lewis, on one hand I totally agree. On the other, its better not to fight steet to street if we don't have to.

Announce, get them to flee. Seal the borders so they can't return. Pacify and make the areas inhospitable to their return. Mock. Then hope the whole affair adversly affects the Iranian regime who had clearly been trying to undermine Iraq.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2007-02-16 16:51  

#10  I just wish we didn't telegraph all this first. Seal the border, flush the city, hammer and anvil. Isn't Clear and Kill much easier than Clear and Hold? (suppose secrecy isn't possible though -- just a wish)
Posted by: Captain Lewis   2007-02-16 16:20  

#9  They have the Clear part down. Now to see if they can manage the Hold.
Posted by: Slailing Anginert2908   2007-02-16 15:51  

#8  This seems to be making the "We oppose the surge cuz it ain't gonna work" argument they are debating today moot.
Posted by: eLarson   2007-02-16 15:38  

#7   "Continue the jihad against the Great Satan, my brothers! While you bravely stop the oppressor's bullets, I will lead you from this secret location in the home country of our mortal ethnic enemies the Persians, where I am safe from the glorious martyrdom which you are achieving."
Posted by: Mike   2007-02-16 15:13  

#6  The leaders always run and/or surrender leaving the soldiers to die. You think the guys joining these things would have learned by now, after several thousand years of pussy leadership.
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-02-16 15:08  

#5  Sir Robin Moqtada.
Posted by: mrp   2007-02-16 15:05  

#4  Radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has ordered heads of his Mehdi Army militia to leave Iraq and asked the government to arrest "outlaws" under a U.S.- backed crackdown, Iraq's president said on Thursday.

Following the grand tradition of Brave Jihadi Pussies everywhere...
Do what you want to my lunatic desciples, just...leave me alone.
Posted by: tu3031   2007-02-16 15:05  

#3  The character of this op has a very different complexion. Note how serious it is being taken by the bad guys, who are bugging out in all directions, and its national character, to include sealing the borders.

There is a lot more going on than meets the eye.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-02-16 15:00  

#2  RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!
Posted by: mojo   2007-02-16 14:49  

#1  Radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has ordered heads of his Mehdi Army militia to leave Iraq

Sounds good. What should they do with the bodies?
Posted by: Shineger Unatle5424   2007-02-16 14:47  

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