Sadr threatens rogue commanders of his Iraqi militia

[ECH1969]

Radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr has threatened rogue commanders in his Mahdi Army militia with the wrath of God, his principle mouthpiece told worshippers at prayer Friday

The Mahdi Army is one of the most powerful armed Shiite groups in Iraq and has been implicated in a number of recent battles with police, despite orders from Sadr to his followers not to spill Iraqi blood without permission.

“This disobedience to the leadership has divided us and earned us multiple enemies,” declared Sheikh Jaber al-Khafaji, the preacher who speaks for Sadr at the mosque in the central Iraqi town of Kufa.

“The directives of Muqtada Al Sadr in his speach during Eid prayers should not go unnoticed,” he added, referring to the latest of Sadr’s recent attempts to rein in his movement’s more undisciplined cadres. “If you do not obey, you will regret it. Indeed, I declare that you will be cursed. Sayid Muqtada Al Sadr is a blessing from God upon you and is your protector,” Khafaji told the large crowd in this Shiite area.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2006/October/focusoniraq_October196.xml§ion=focusoniraq

[Kagemusha]

1. This is downright funny. Sadr has his alibi now.

He threatened the wrath of God on those too stupid to not know when to put their heads down. How can anyone say that he's not trying to rein in violence now?

(Well, a lot of people can by questioning his sincerity. But it's a good alibi, no?)

[MrPrax]

2. Great alibi!!

One of the few non-Iranian backed moderate Shi'ite in the entire middle east...and the US hates him. Just like Saddam before him to the guy's father, Negroponte and his puppets send their 'death squads' out to get him too. But we are assured they want to being 'freedom' tot he Iraqi people.

Clearly when it comes to our highly-touted values -- the only one we really want is 'obedience'.

[ECH1969]

3. He does need to find a way to reign in his militia

The Sunni population of Balad was liquidated by the Madhi Army last week and his militia is taking over Iraqi towns and cities in the south.

There are two bad options. One that he is playing a shell game of say one thing and do another or two he really has lost control of his militia. I don't know which is worse.

[bemildred]

4. I doubt that he ever had "control".

At least not in the way we would use that term. He has little or no force at his direct disposal to punish disobedient followers. Notice that he threatens the disobedient with exposure, not with any direct action.

[MrPrax]

5. So...it's his country?

I was under impression we invaded BECAUSE of the excesses of Sunni rule??

Get your story straight...

[ECH1969]

6. If he doesn't have control if his militia

And, it is really under the countrol in large part of Iranian and Hezbollah elements like he told the Iraqi government reciently, then he is nothing but a figurehead.

[Kagemusha]

7. You know the funny thing?

The excesses of Sunni rule were done to keep people like Sadr down, because THIS is what they were gonna do if they weren't put down.

And if the US can't do it instead, you can fairly say that Saddam kept the country far more peaceful and secure.