Comments on: AP: Mahdi Army fractures, defectors now loyal to Iran

By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » Bombshell: SCIRI splits with Iran, swears loyalty to Sistani

Sat, 12 May 2007 22:45:52 +0000

[...] Another possibility is that Sadr himself might be starting to earn a reputation among Iraqis as an Iranian tool and SCIRI’s trying to capitalize by outflanking him and remaking itself as the “real” Iraqis. David Satterfield said yesterday that the U.S. knows Sadr’s been in Iran since January; if he knows, some Iraqis must know too and word’s probably long since gotten around. There have been reports, too, of the Mahdi Army (or at least certain parts) reorienting itself towards the mullahs as well as rumors of a military training camp attended mostly by JAM militiamen outside Tehran. Maybe that’s why Sadr’s suddenly decided to talk to the Sunnis: he’s trying to scrub the Persian fingerprints off of himself. If so, it leaves SCIRI with an opening to shed its image as Iranian stooges and present itself as the true Iraqi patriots, leveraging Sistani’s religious authority among Shiites in the process. That could come in mighty handy later, not only in the elections but if and when SCIRI and the Sadrists finally square off and each side starts looking for recruits. [...]

By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » Report: Thousands of Iraqi Shiites training for war in Iranian camp

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:50:21 +0000

[...] Not the first time we’ve heard this, needless to say. “This is a new plan now for the Mahdi Army, it is part of a new strategy,” he said. “We know we are against a strong enemy and we must learn proper methods and techniques.”… [...]

By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » LA Times: Mahdi Army melting down

Hot Air » Blog Archive » LA Times: Mahdi Army melting down — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 01:15:39 +0000

[...] Yeah, we know all about that at this point, don’t we? JAM sources tells the Times that Sadr’s been purging his ranks since October, but that it hasn’t stopped the defections to the “rogue,” Iranian-backed wing of the Mahdi Army so far. In which case, why doesn’t Sadr play ball with Iran and offer his services as a Nasrallah-type proxy? Iran probably wants his brand name more than they want him, but they can’t be thrilled by the prospect of having their own foot soldiers targeted by fighters still loyal to Muqtada when they’re trying to establish hegemony. Much easier to coopt him and use him as a figurehead. Sadr is allegedly a true Iraqi nationalist, though, so that may be the stumbling block. Here’s another puzzle: if Iran really is trying to steal his militia out from under him, what on earth is Sadr doing hiding out in Iran? Shouldn’t he be nervous that they’re going to bump him off to decapitate the Sadrist movement, which could then be reoriented towards Tehran with promises of money and materiel? It’s like the leader of the Gambino family hiding out in Genovese territory. Either he’s not in Iran at all or he must be in cahoots with them and knows he has nothing to fear by being there. No other explanation makes sense. [...]

By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » UK paper recycles three-month-old story to blame U.S. for hostage crisis

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 01:44:29 +0000

[...] Ah, but Iraq’s not just a “country neighboring Iran” and the IRGC isn’t just there to visit and the CIA and MI6 don’t answer to terrorist regimes. Iran’s trying to export rule-by-cleric to Baghdad; we’re trying to export democracy. Is the Independent agnostic as to which it is? [...]

By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » Big news: U.S. arrests leader of breakaway Mahdi Army faction for Karbala raid

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 22:54:28 +0000

[...] The bombshells keep bursting. Read this if you haven’t yet before you go any further, though; it’s important and you’ll need it as background. [...]

By: Purple Avenger

Purple Avenger — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 20:22:14 +0000

There’s an old murder charge mookie’s been dodging isn’t there?

By: Confederate Yankee

Confederate Yankee — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:28:46 +0000

al-Sadr Spokesman Captured; Held For Karbala Attacks…

Two brothers with ties to Muqtada al-Sadr have been arrested for their role in the killing of five American soldiers in Karbala two months ago. From CNN: “Over the past several days, coalition forces in Basra and Hilla captured Qais……

By: Militia Disintegrating - Media Spinning : The Crimson Blog

Militia Disintegrating - Media Spinning : The Crimson Blog — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 04:34:42 +0000

[...] Others Blogging: Hot Air Power Line The Belmont Club Say Anything [...]

By: PinkyBigglesworth

PinkyBigglesworth — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:26:00 +0000

The leader of the breakaway faction allegedly is Qais al-Khazaali; google him and you’ll see plenty of statements from him issued on Sadr’s behalf back in 2004, when we should have mopped up all of them up.

Exactly! But we didn’t want to offend anyone……. especially those who are shooting at our troops….

Will we ever learn “who” made that decision?

By: csdeven

csdeven — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:19:31 +0000

Exit question: Why? Does he really think we’re going to arrest him?

My bud who is in Sadr City has a pic of Mookie and wants to send him to Allah. What is the official US position? Do we shoot this POS on sight or grab him up?

By: Defector01

Defector01 — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:19:02 +0000

I’d love to get my hands on Mookie for this crap

By: Phil Byler

Phil Byler — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:44:04 +0000

This is actually better this way. Now, we can go after Sadr and his Mahdi Army as outlaws to lawful Iraqi government authority and completely destroy them.

By: sharinlite

sharinlite — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:19:43 +0000

Now is the time for all good men from America in our military to take out every last one of these “things”. ASAP. No more mister nice guy. For pity’s sake, let’s get it on!

By: Buck Turgidson

Buck Turgidson — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:18:01 +0000

On one hand I wish we would give Iran the whupping they’ve deserved since 79. On the other I think maybe the majority in Iran might like to be rid of the mullas as much as we would. Iran is not Iraq. I tend to think the people there might be capable of some kind of self rule. Maybe not. The situation in Iraq has been an education in why authoritarianism rules the ME. It seems the only thing free arabs/persians would fight for is more islam. Those who wouldn’t, won’t stand up to those who would. It’s a shame to have to bomb the former to hit the latter. Still, I’d prefer that to letting them develop nukes. If they test one, let the hellfire rain down.

By: Romeo13

Romeo13 — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:11:17 +0000

On the exit question?

There is still an Iraqi Warrant out for his arrest as an accesory to murder of a fellow Shiite cleric 3 years ago.

Warrant was not being served because of his political power, but as far as I know its still active.

By: Zorro

Zorro — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:00:04 +0000

Exit question: Why? Does he really think we’re going to arrest him?

I think he had a vision of .50 cal. aimed right at his sternum.

By: LakeRuins

LakeRuins — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:37:14 +0000

Somebody contact a Spec 4 working in an MI unit on the ground over there and get the true answer fer Christs sake. All these damn theories sound more like a bunch of truthers debating the flammability characterics of skyscrapers.

By: JayHaw Phrenzie

JayHaw Phrenzie — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:30:01 +0000

Kill em all, Let AP sort them out!

By: TexasDan

TexasDan — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:18:01 +0000

A stretch maybe, but Sadr could be setting up for a double-cross. Get the boys out of town while things are hot, and on Iran’s dime too. Little more training, some new equipment, and then back in his camp when the time is right.

By: SailorDave

SailorDave — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:14:05 +0000

I really hope this is the last time I read the name al-Sadr except in the context of an obituary.

By: steveegg

steveegg — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:51:50 +0000

I have this feeling that Iran has been behind the Mahdis all along, so hold off on that crow.

Methinks the splintering is those seeking to keep their lives and realizing the time is not yet right to strike.

By: NEMETI IN SYRACUSE

NEMETI IN SYRACUSE — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:33:32 +0000

If the story is true, now is the time for the US Forces to arrest this pig and bring him to justice, before he has the time to build up his forces again.