Great News, I'm Going To Stop Raping Your Wife!

Pardon the unreal politik here, but if someone tells their army to stand down from killing you for a rest, isn't it an admission that they were doing that very thing, and as good a reason as any to wax their butt? Actually, this has to be a desperation play by Mookie. There's every chance many factions of the Mahdi Army won't stand down, leaving al-Sadr exposed as an Iranian puppet who no longer pulls that many strings on the ground in Iraq. It'll be interesting to watch, but don't look for the media to point that last bit out if it happens.

BAGHDAD - Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered a six-month suspension of activities by his Mahdi Army militia in order to reorganize the force, and it will no longer attack U.S. and coalition troops, aides said Wednesday.

The aide, Sheik Hazim al-Araji, said on Iraqi state television that the goal was to "rehabilitate" the organization, which has reportedly broken into factions, some of which the U.S. maintains are trained and supplied by Iran.

"We declare the freezing of the Mahdi Army without exception in order to rehabilitate it in a way that will safeguard its ideological image within a maximum period of six months starting from the day this statement is issued," al-Araji said, reading from a statement by al-Sadr.

Comments

[chris]

Funny, Fred Beloit counts this as a VICTORY and proof that the SURGE is WORKING. Huh.

[jj]

So do I, chris. It is quite obvious that the US military is causing many hundreds of casualties in the Mahdi Army, especially as the surge has given Gen. Patreus the troops he needs to start dealing with Mookie's men. Yes, Mookie is laying low and hoping he can preserve some of what he has. I have no doubt, though, that just like you, he will return to be a pain in the butt. You and he both need to be dealt with, Mookie sent to meet his maker, and you banned from this blog.

[IslamoLlama]

"The aide, Sheik Hazim al-Araji, said on Iraqi state television that the goal was to "rehabilitate" the organization, which has reportedly broken into factions, some of which the U.S. maintains are trained and supplied by Iran."

Sounds more to me like al-Sadr raised a pit-bull of a militia he forgot to get housebroken. This is the sort of thing a wanna-be strongman says as the wheels start coming off his wagon.

Not that this is comforting, mind you. Al-Sadr is basically complaining that he can no longer control his pack of murdering thugs. Personally, I'd feel safer as an Iraqi knowing that somebody - even an evil, America killing fuck (who has receives millions in US weapons and moneys via black market deals and extortion with US paid contractors) - has a leash on a small army of AK wielding genociders. But that's just me.

I'm sure now that even the insurgencies are falling into chaos, and the civil war is losing all vestiges of leadership as it turns into one massive bloody dog pile, success is right around the corner.

[Phoenix]

"...in order to rehabilitate it in a way that will safeguard its ideological image ..."

How rich is this? They're worried about 'image'? Right. "its ideological imperatives" is what they want, and they'll not get that now, so why not go Hollywood and say 'image'. clap clap... And the Oscar goes to the fat guy in the black turban. NO, not Michael Moore, you fool!

[southdakotaboy]

IslamoLlama you seem to think that the total collapse of organized terrorism is a bad thing. People are rapidly going to start turning to the Government as the only organized group around that will be able to provide some sort of stability. Granted, this is proablely not the way that we planned on doing it, but if it works it works.

[seekeronos]

"--- So do I, chris. It is quite obvious that the US military is causing many hundreds of casualties in the Mahdi Army, especially as the surge has given Gen. Patreus the troops he needs to start dealing with Mookie's men. Yes, Mookie is laying low and hoping he can preserve some of what he has. I have no doubt, though, that just like you, he will return to be a pain in the butt. You and he both need to be dealt with, Mookie sent to meet his maker, and you banned from this blog. ---"

Nah, the reason Dan keeps chrisStamfordKelvinBoob around is because he is sorta like comic relief.

Nearly everything he says is so far out of left field, its like comedy gold every time he opens that cesspool he calls a mouth of his.

[Fred Beloit]

"Funny, Fred Beloit counts this as a VICTORY and proof that the SURGE is WORKING. Huh."

So OK, Mr christamfordmum, what if the news said the opposite, the Mahdi "army" will keep up attacks on the coalition for at least the next six months? This would be good news? You are not a moron. Why act like one?

[jj]

"...you are not a moron. Why act like one?"

I don't know about that, Fred, I don't think he's acting.

[Fred Beloit]

Well, jj, one does have to admit of the possibility.

[Aye Chihuahua]

Mookie needs a bullet in his skull.

[Purple Avenger]

What Mookie is doing, essentially, is giving us the green light to eliminate his problem children. I believe this is part of a campaign on his part to morph himself into political semi-legitimacy by getting rid of (via us) the common thugs and wild men.

I don't believe him to be completely stupid. A thug yes. A murderer yes. A foaming at the mouth rabid loose cannon no. He can see the writing on the wall and knows how this all is going to end. If he don't get with the program, it all ends rather badly for him. And that would be sooner rather than later.