An anti-US Shiite cleric has renewed a call to his followers to renounce violence. Muqtada Al Sadr has ordered most of his Mahdi Army militiamen to lay down their arms to form a new social welfare network although he retained a small fighting force.He's "ordered" this before, if I recall correctly.
He praised the new organization in a statement issued Wednesday by his office in the holy city of Najaf.
That's where his office is. He's in Qom.
He says "we hope they will continue to denounce violence and raise science and culture as a weapon."
They're Tater's followers because they're into violence.
Al Sadr is believed to be in Iran.
... communing with other holy men with bad teeth...
The statement comes as he tries to position himself as a political force ahead of national elections expected later this year. He also faces a challenge from breakaway Shiite militia groups that continue to stage attacks on US and Iraqi forces.
He also faces the realization that he's an idea whose time has gone.