Iraqi President Talabani Backs Moves To Disband Sadr Militia - AFP

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP)--Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Wednesday he backed efforts to disband the feared Mahdi Army militia of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al- Sadr.

"We consider the Sadr movement a respectful organization and I work continuously to see that they are part of the government," Talabani told reporters in Baghdad.

"I hope they respond to the demand of all political factions to disband the Jaish al-Mahdi (Mahdi Army). We will take all efforts to convince them and we have decided to hold meeting with them to discuss the issue."

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, in an interview with U.S. television network CNN broadcast Monday, said an ultimatum had been given to Sadr to disband his militia which is currently engaged in fierce fighting with security forces.



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[GodlessBiker]

1. Yes, hold a meeting.

[cain_7777]

2. Clerics tell Sadr not to disband his Mehdi Army

By: John Amato @ 4:30 PM - PDT
We told you that Sadr probably already knew what the religious leaders would say before he publicly asked for guidance about his militia. Maliki is weakened and Sadr gets stronger.

Iraq’s top Shiite religious leaders have told anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr not to disband his Mehdi Army, an al-Sadr spokesman said Monday amid fresh fighting in the militia’s Baghdad strongholds. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki demanded Sunday that the cleric disband his militia, which waged two uprisings against U.S. troops in 2004, or see his supporters barred from public office.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/

[endarkenment]

3. Jalal Talabani is the leader of one of two huge Kurdish militias

Of course that fact is left out.

[Tempest]

4. Shiite clerics told al-Sadr to keep the militia together

Talibani will be ignored.

[tama]

5. Yup

But the finer point is that the top shiite clerics have consistently held the non-partisan ("diplomatic") view that Mahdi army was not created by their action or blessing so they refuse take action either way present and future in word or deed. It easily escapes us how refined religious jurisprudence is and has to be on earthly matters, if hoping to stay in that position.

So Al-Sadr certainly was not surprised by shia clerics unwillingness to call for dismembering Mahdi army, but could count on it. But just as well, sure as hell it was very important for him to ask for their advice (to be not given) both in the eyes of masses and the top clerics alike.

Those accustomed to thinking in lines pure hobbesian realpolitik (power and greed) tend so and could take this as enforcing their cynical view about religious morals and politics, but IMHO they are wrong and Al-Sadr the man and his actions cannot be understood without respecting the strong moral guidelines that that direct them. I'm nowadays inclined to believe that the islamic student in the holy city of Qom is in his soul truly a man of peace and justice (according the standards of his own very ancient culture) as far as circumstances allow him, the poor guy who had History thrown upon him Big Way.

[Jazzgirl]

6. Thank you tama for the sanity check.

I read earlier the same thing, that the Shiite clerics said they wouldn't call for disbanding the Mahdi army because they had nothing to do with it. Interesting how they word this to make it look like the clerics order Sadr not to disband.

[Igel]

8. al-Sistani hasn't weighed in.

There's a difference between "disagreeing" with dissolving a militia and having nothing to say on the matter. That's the difference between "refusing to take action either way" and backing a horse in a race. They took action--or, at least, al-Sadr says they did.

al-Sistani, according to one report, declared his opposition to al-Sadr's militia's continued existence. I haven't seen that report repeated. This one ignores the Iraqi clerics' entirely, a not inconsequential omission. Having Qom scholars outweigh Iraqi scholars would be something of a theological coup; in this, the guys in Qom were in agreement with Saddam.

The Islamic student in Qom only decided to "get religion" when it was in his interests. While he might be sincere, that he's there on a crash course with ayatollah-hood waiting for him in a year or two, instead of the usual decade or two, speaks volumes concerning both the intents of al-Sadr himself and those of his minders ... I'm sorry, did I say "minders", I meant "mentors".

May I point out that "men of peace" don't usually have a militia behind them and threaten to open the gates of hell on those that don't recognize just how "peaceful" they are? Nah, "you may not" is the likely answer.

[tama]

9. Cultural relativism

Is the only "universal" ethics I know. A very humble ethics based on (mis)understanding and beauty of differences. Based on what little I (mis)understand about Shia culture, by their standards Sadr is not a bad dude but a swell guy. And who am I not to respect that? Given that he just wants yankees out, better living for his own people and so forth. I'm not afraid of Sadr intending to conquer the world and putting all people under his thumb of this or that version of "universal" ethics. If he ends up fucking his people, so what? If only Bush and rest of your fuckheads would just fuck up you guys and not the whole planet, no bigger harm. But the universalist missionarism (or just plain greed by other name) is not nice for the plenty of us.

Sorry to be so simple, hope you understand.

[tama]

10. Men of peace, in a context

This deserves a comment, too:
"May I point out that "men of peace" don't usually have a militia behind them and threaten to open the gates of hell on those that don't recognize just how "peaceful" they are? Nah, "you may not" is the likely answer."

- First of all, there would be "militias" (or rather, bands) by the poor Shia masses in a country where every family has a stash of kalashnikovs. One organized and lead by mr. Sadr is certainly more peacefull and organized than one withoug a central figure who is also a moral authority. But of course, talking about grades here, not absolutes.
- Second, judging by the recent news, mr. Sadr seems to be more than willing to take the political and democratic peacefull route, if given a chance - as his policies are poiced to win big in elections, meaning that Iraq parliament lead by Sadr would politely and peacefully etc ask US to get the hell out of Iraq ASAP. But in light of illegal kidnappings of his supporters, armed oppression and attempts to exclude the figure head of poor shia masses from the elections all together by US neocon puppet, despite mr. Sadr's best intentions the situation now looks like there is really no choise but full scale War of Liberation against the foreign (satanic) occupier and their puppet.

And as the economic de facto reality behind the occupying emperial military power is now on the verge of collapsing (ie worse than just a depression), why not give chance for that possibility of a honorable outcome that certainly would not make the world a worce place?

[tchunter]

7. why don't Malaki and Talabani disband their militias too?

Malaki's interior ministry is a government sanctioned goon squad and Talabani's peshmerga isn't likely to disband so why should Sadr's Mahdi Army be the only one to go?