Meanwhile, back at the militia...

Demiurge · Feb 21, 2008

Interesting events in the Mahdi militia in Iraq.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/20/AR2008022000726.html

Hundreds of Mahdi Army members have been similarly executed, jailed or excommunicated by the militia since the freeze was ordered by Sadr in late August, part of a nationwide reorganization that has dramatically altered the group's public image in Iraq and has been a crucial reason for the recent downturn in violence, according to senior militia leaders and U.S. officials.

The purge has boosted Sadr's reputation -- particularly among American commanders who once considered him an enemy but now refer to him respectfully -- while also helping Sadr exert more control over his sprawling irregular army. At the same time, members say, the freeze has made the Sadrist movement more vulnerable to attacks and repression by rival Shiite groups.
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And:

U.S. military commanders, who have fought some of their bloodiest battles of the war against the militia, now praise Sadr and say the Mahdi Army is no longer participating in violence. Anyone disobeying the freeze, they say, cannot be a member in good standing of the militia. The military refers to splinter elements as "special groups" and links them primarily to Iran.

U.S. officials and some Mahdi Army members view the freeze as Sadr's attempt to cleanse Iranian elements from the militia.

"They said, 'Look, we have two foreign influences that are battling for control of Iraq: Iran and the American occupation,' " said a senior U.S. Embassy official, who spoke on condition of anonymity under diplomatic ground rules. " 'And of the two, we need to be more concerned with Iran. We can deal with the U.S. politically and they are going to withdraw soon anyways.' "
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The truce, which is set to expire this month, is said to be renewed by order of al Sadr tomorrow:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022100719.html

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is expected to extend a six-month ceasefire by his Mehdi Army militia, two senior officials in his movement confirmed for the first time on Thursday.

They said Sadr had issued a declaration to preachers to be read during midday prayers on Friday at mosques affiliated with the cleric, whose militia was blamed for fuelling sectarian violence with minority Sunni Muslims in 2006 and 2007.

U.S. officials say the ceasefire has helped to sharply reduce violence in Iraq, and an extension of the truce would be widely welcomed.
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Experts have said truthfully that the surge was only of limited use - that the warring militias would have to find a political settlement with the government.

This looks to be one of the best signs pointing to that in recent memory.

Jeff Cooper Disciple · Feb 21, 2008

But Reid and Pelosi and the media have said we lost the war!

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Meanwhile, back at the militia...

Demiurge Goodbye and Hello, as always.

Jeff Cooper Disciple You've gotta be shittin' me.

Log in or Sign up

Meanwhile, back at the militia...

Demiurge Goodbye and Hello, as always.

Jeff Cooper Disciple You've gotta be shittin' me.

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