Wait a minute! Why hasn't Bush ever uttered the words "Moqtada al-Sadr" in any of his speeches?

[NNN0LHI]

Why hasn't the media ever asked him about Moqtada al-Sadr? Like maybe ask him if it is still the goal of the US to "kill or capture" Moqtada al-Sadr as it was several years ago. Final question. Why is Moqtada al-Sadr still able to fog a mirror if he is such an anti-American enemy?

Anyone else wondered about these things?

Don

[acmavm]

1. I think Moqi scares the shit out of bush**. He knows that he's no

boogie man and he can and will cause him no end of grief. (Not coming here and doing a 911 but stirring up even more shit in Iraq).

But I think Moqi intends to be bush**s worst nightmare anyway.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Moqtada al-Sadr is nothing one "smart-bomb" couldn't take care of in a jiffy

Somethings afoot here.

Don

[acmavm]

6. Yeah, bush** could take out anyone he wants. But the consequences of

a 'controlled air strike' just might be more that he/the troops/the clowns in the Green Zone can handle.

Are you thinking that bush** wants to strike up some kind of deal with him? Like give him Maliki's position?

[NNN0LHI]

8. Bush wasn't the least concerned about the consequences of Shock and Awe

One more "anti-American" Iraqi getting blown up would be immaterial compared to that in the grand scheme of things.

I don't know whats going on but obviously something isn't right here.

Don

[acmavm]

11. No shit he wasn't concerned. I read a report released by the GAO I

believe that stated that out of something like 122 targets bombings during Shock and Awe, they didn't hit even one 'high-value' target. (That was the first time I'd ever heard the term high-value target before.)

Anyway, he has never cared who he killed or in what numbers. That's understood.

I think he (bush**) has intentions of playing his favorite game, Kingmaker, again. And he just might offer the position to Moqi.

There is one thing that does keep me puzzled. What is Chalabi's position in all this. He's traveling the country (heavily guarded no doubt) trying to drum up support for an American-military supported government. Who is he talking to? What chances does that lying bastard think he has for still ending up on the top of the heap. Does he have any ties to Moqi?

[NNN0LHI]

16. I think the tip off was when Saddam's hangmen invoked Sadr's name

Apparently they knew something we didn't.

Don

[wtmusic]

17. They already tried to get him, and blew it

I don't believe they know where he is. MAS is being much more careful about hiding his goings and comings.

He is too powerful and too rational to make into a public enemy.

[NNN0LHI]

20. You don't believe we know where he is?

We knew he visited Syria last year:

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wosadr214672273mar23,0,5647711.story

March 23, 2006

DAMASCUS, Syria -- As he walked into one of Shia Islam's holiest shrines, the cleric was greeted by hundreds of believers waving his picture and pumping their fists in the air. The surging crowd chanted, "With our blood, with our souls, we will sacrifice for you, Muqtada."

Such a reception is typical for Muqtada al-Sadr in Iraq, where he commands a wide following. But this was the capital of a neighboring country, Syria, a secular dictatorship where visiting religious leaders usually do not rate a hero's welcome.


We also knew he visited Iran last year:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR2006012301701.html

Sadr, With Powerful Militia, Vows to Respond to Attack by West on Neighbor

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Omar Fekeiki
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, January 24, 2006; Page A13

BAGHDAD, Jan. 23 -- An Iraqi Muslim cleric who leads a major Shiite militia pledged to come to the defense of neighboring Iran if it were attacked, aides to the cleric, Moqtada Sadr, said Monday.

The commitment, made Sunday in Tehran during a visit by Sadr, came in response to a senior Iranian official's query about what the cleric would do in the event of an attack on Iran. It marked the first open indication that Iraq's Shiite neighbor is preparing for a military response if attacked in a showdown with the West over its nuclear program.



We also knew Chalabi (the guy that sat with Pickles at the State Of The Union address) was meeting with him in 2005:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0222/p06s02-woiq.html

<snip>The alliance of Sadr and Chalabi couldn't have been between two people of more disparate ideologies.

Chalabi is a secularist and was once the darling of the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency, which used his information to build a case for war in Iraq and envisioned him one day leading the country. He fell out of favor last May over allegations that he was passing intelligence information to Iran. He has also struggled to shake off charges that he embezzled funds from Petra Bank in Jordan, which he founded and which later collapsed. He adamantly denies the allegations.

By contrast, Sadr's Mahdi Army led bloody uprisings against the US last spring and summer, and is avowedly religious, even setting up religious courts based on sharia, or Islamic law, just months after war ended. Sadr boycotted the election but his supporters ran as independents.

The unusual pairing started last spring when Chalabi served as a negotiator during clashes between Sadr and US forces, winning him credibility in Sadr's eyes, according to Chalabi spokesman Haider Mousawi. The fighting showed Sadr's ability to muster thousands of supporters across the country, something Chalabi lacks. Chalabi has strong ties to the US and West, which Sadr lacks.



No, I think we pretty much know where this old boy is located at all times.

Don

[wtmusic]

24. I don't believe we do

mainly because he would already be dead.

We lured him to a meeting and failed to kill him only because he was a few minutes late. Why not kill him on the way? His appearances AFAIK are never pre-announced.

He knows he is a target, and his lieutenants likely take elaborate steps to cover his movements -- body doubles, etc.

[NNN0LHI]

27. He didn't sneak into Syria and Iran without us knowing about it

That doesn't pass the smell test right there.

Don

[wtmusic]

28. All speculation

but our intelligence gathering capability is probably better in both of those countries.

Why haven't they killed him yet?

[NNN0LHI]

29. He is Plan "B"

That was my plan "A" about 4 years ago. Give the keys to the first thug with an AK-47 and run like hell.

We should have done it then.

Don

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. Why do you hate 'Murica?

:evilgrin: Good question! I wonder about a lot of things not asked or answered with regard to this illegal and immoral war/occupation. But who cares what I think?

[earthboundmisfit]

3. He very, very rarely mentioned Osama Bin Laden either till the last few weeks

And I get the feeling that the Chimp only started talking about OBL recently because he thought that would surely help drum up support for the Surge...

[NNN0LHI]

5. He NEVER mentions Moqtada al-Sadr

Not infrequently.

Don

[earthboundmisfit]

10. You are 100% correct

And the fact that * never mentions him IS weird as hell.

[catmandu57]

7. Probably because

Osama is so much easier to say for him he would just butcher the name and then giggle about it, then everyone wouldn't know his fury, i forget the bushism but there was something about fury, maybe furry?

[spanone]

9. True, too many consonants.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

12. Beat me to it!

:)

[Rob H.]

13. Yeah, knowing Bush it would come out "Chewbacca al Slobber"

or something equally moranic.

[NNN0LHI]

14. Mook-ta-da-el-sodder

Granted it might take a week or two for his handlers to teach it to him for some reason they haven't?

Hell, he still doesn't know how to pronounce nuclear yet but he keeps saying it anyway.

Don

[SoCalDem]

15. He'd probably call him Colonel Mustard in the Salon n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Maybe he can't pronounce it?

:shrug:

[lpbk2713]

19. I'll bet if the asshole had it to do all over again he would have invaded England.

Simply because the names of the people and places might be a little easier for him to read and pronounce.

[sabra]

21. US now believes al-Sadr wants “to play a positive role inside Iraq.”

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351356447&path=!nationworld&s=1037645509161

<snip>

In Washington, a spokesman for the National Security Council, Gordon Johndroe, expressed hope that al-Sadr’s reappearance signaled he wanted “to play a positive role inside Iraq.”

“He has an opportunity to be a part of the political reconciliation process. We’ll see if he and his followers participate,” he said.

:crazy:

[NNN0LHI]

22. If a Dem president was playing footsie with someone who's followers killed hundreds of our soldiers

...that Dem president would have been dragged from the White House and strung up by now.

How do these Republicans get away with this stuff I will never know?

Don

[erpowers]

23. Saudi Arabia Supporting Him?

Is he one of the people the Saudi Arabian government is supporting? I had heard that the Saudi Arabian government is supporting some militia groups in Iraq. I am not sure which side the Saudis are supporting, but I think they are supporting a side. I think it is the one that is doing the most damage; however, I might be wrong.

[IDemo]

25. Maybe because he would sound as if he were gargling marbles if he tried?

[bamacrat]

26. Cant pronounce it.

He still says nucular, and ive never heard him attempt Irans presidents name.

[Lilith Velkor]

30. Because his guys are good at killing Al-Qaeda's.

He may very well be the next U.S.-sponsored Iraqi dictator.

[sabra]

31. see post #21...

[Lilith Velkor]

32. Yyyup.

That would be why they were allowed to hang Saddam Hussein, I reckon.