Azzaman,
Iraq
Mahdi Army Commanders Told 'Not to Resist' U.S. Troops
“Moqtada Al-Sadr is reported to have instructed Mahdi Army commanders to behave in a manner that will not lead to the loss of even a 'single Mahdi Army member.'”
By Nidhal al-Laithi
January 15, 2007
Azzaman - Iraq- Original
Article (English) 
Moqtada al-Sadr, often described as a 'radical anti-American
cleric,' is at the center of Iraq's growing sectarian divide. He
has reportedly ordered the commanders of the Mahdi Army,
which he controls, to
hold theor fire when the Americans begin
operating in Sadr City and other Shiite areas.
[LATEST NEWS PHOTOS: Iraq].
Representative of Muqtada al-Sadr, Dheik Rahim Al-Alaaq, center,
holds hands with members of one of the few Sunni families left in the
Shiite enclave of Sadr City, Dec. 10. The event was to show solidarity
between Shiites and Sunnis, in the midst of what many call the 'ethnic
cleansing' of Sunnis from Shiite areas, and Shiites from Sunni areas.
Moqtada al-Sadr's al-Mahdi army on parade in Basra, Nov. 28.
Members of parliament from the Sadr bloc hold a press conference
to announce they are withdrawing support from the government as
retribution, after Prime Minister al-Maliki met with George W. Bush
on Nov. 30.
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The Mahdi Army, which is the Shiite militia group blamed for much
of the sectarian violence in Iraq, has taken several measures to alleviate the
impact of a possible attack by U.S. forces.
The United States is sending thousands more troops to Baghdad as
part of a new strategy to pacify the restive city.
American and Iraqi troops have so far failed to subdue the city, where
nearly six million people are virtual hostages of murderous militias, gangs and
other violent groups.
As it plans the deployment of its own troops to Baghdad's streets
and districts for extended periods of time, the U.S.-backed government says it
is hopeful that this new campaign will succeed.
Baghdad has been divided into separate military-controlled zones in
coordination with U.S. commanders. Iraqi forces, backed by American Marines,
will try to flush out the armed groups and ensure that they never return.
The Mahdi Army militia is heavily armed and wields tremendous
power in Baghdad, particularly in Shiite-dominated areas.
Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who controls the Mahdi Army, is
well aware U.S. determination to curtail the power of his forces, is said to
have ordered his men not hide their weapons but to refrain from fighting once
the American campaign begins in earnest.
Al-Sadr's power base is centered on Sadr City, a sprawling Shiite
township of over two million people.
Mahdi Army commanders are reported to have held a meeting recently
to flesh out a strategy to counter the imminent American military campaign.
As part of a strategy to preserve their weapons and power in
preparation for the post-U.S. era, the commanders had orders not to resist American
forces.
Al-Sadr, who is the Mahdi Army's top commander, is reported to
have instructed the militias to behave in a manner that will not lead to the
loss of, "even a single Mahdi Army member."
Analysts say that Al-Sadr is keen to remain a force to reckon with
after U.S. troops withdraw; something that he believes could take place by the
end of this year.
The Mahdi Army has infiltrated Iraq's new army and police, and Al-Sadr's
political movement is a major force within the governing Shiite-dominated
coalition.
Sources say that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is trying to
resist American pressure to battle the Shiite militias in the streets of Baghdad.
Maliki would also like additional U.S. forces to be sent to the
restive provinces of Anbar, Diyala and Mosul, which are major strongholds for
anti-American rebels.
VIDEO FROM QATAR: MUQTADA
Al-SADR WARNS U.S., ARABS
Al Jazeera TV, Qatar: excerpts from an interview by Iraqi Shiite Leader Muqtada Sadr, Feb. 18, 00:04:29, Via MEMRI
"All the talk and all the rumors that if the American forces leave - or even if they don't leave - Islamic or Arab forces will enter - they, too, will be occupiers."
Iraqi Shiite Leader Muqtada Sadr
