Thousands march in Baghdad against U.S. pact

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Thousands march in Baghdad against U.S. pact
By Peter Graff Peter Graff – 25 mins ago

Play Video Video: Packing Up FOX News BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Thousands of followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Saturday in a demonstration against a pact that would allow U.S. forces to stay in Iraq for three more years.

Marchers waved Iraqi flags and chanted "Yes, yes Iraq! No, no to the occupation!"

"It is a peaceful demonstration, demanding that the occupier leave and the government not sign the pact," Ahmed al-Masoudi, a Sadrist member of parliament, told Reuters.

Demonstrators set fire to a U.S. flag, but the atmosphere appeared mostly peaceful.

Iraqi authorities said the demonstration was authorized and security had been increased to protect the protesters, who were marching from Sadr's stronghold of Sadr City in the east of the capital to a nearby public square at a university.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081018/ts_nm/us_iraq

[soothsayer]

1. are they asking us nicely to leave (again)? Thought * said we'd leave when asked

[Imagevision]

2. Maliki stated alst year he wanted US. troops out of Iraq by November 2008 but

dano perino came out with a cockameeme story that Maliki's statement was taken out of context - yaaaaaawwwnnnn....!

[SpiralHawk]

3. SURGE - against republicon nation building & imperialism

D'oh

[Solly Mack]

4. Some pictures

Demonstrators carry banners and Iraqi national flags during a protest march in Baghdad's Sadr City October 18, 2008. Thousands of followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Saturday in a demonstration against a pact that would allow U.S. forces to stay in Iraq for three more years.




Demonstrators wear Iraqi national flags during a protest march in Baghdad's Sadr City October 18, 2008. Thousands of followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Saturday in a demonstration against a pact that would allow U.S. forces to stay in Iraq for three more years.

[Solly Mack]

6. More

Demonstrators wave Iraqi national flags during a protest march in Baghdad's Sadr City October 18, 2008. Thousands of followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Saturday in a demonstration against a pact that would allow U.S. forces to stay in Iraq for three more years.




A demonstrator holds a copy of the Koran as he chants slogans during a protest in Baghdad's Sadr City October 18, 2008. Thousands of followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Saturday in a demonstration against a pact that would allow U.S. forces to stay in Iraq for three more years.





Demonstrators carry Iraqi national flags during a protest march in Baghdad's Sadr City October 18, 2008. Thousands of followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Saturday in a demonstration against a pact that would allow U.S. forces to stay in Iraq for three more years.

[mallard]

9. Nice photos

Thank you for your effort to help illustrate civilized progress ... in decommissioning a legally tenuous, unwanted and undesirable occupation.

[MNDemNY]

5. Ok, let's leave. Now.

[shadowknows69]

7. I guess they were all wearing their Al Sadr Uniforms

Because it couldn't have just been regular old Iraqi citizens that are against us occupying them for another 3-4 years. :eyes:

[ohio2007]

8. "I have failed to liberate Iraq, and transform its society into an Islamic society." Moqtada al-Sad

Whatever Happened to Moqtada?

"I have failed to liberate Iraq, and transform its society into an Islamic society."
-- Moqtada al-Sadr, Asharq Al Awsat newspaper, March 8, 2008

Moqtada al-Sadr -- the radical cleric dubbed "The Most Dangerous Man in Iraq" by a Newsweek cover story in December 2006 -- has just unilaterally extended the ceasefire he imposed on his Mahdi Army militia last summer. And on the eve of the Iraq War's fifth anniversary, Sadr also issued a somber but dramatic statement. He not only declared that he had failed to transform Iraq, but also lamented the new debates and divisions within his own movement. Explaining his marginalization, Sadr all but confessed his growing isolation: "One hand cannot clap alone."


snip
Moqtada al-Sadr came very close to establishing a state within a state inside Iraq, much like Hezbollah had done in Lebanon.

It began in 2003, when Sadr's followers orchestrated the murder of Majid al-Khoie, a moderate Shiite cleric whom the U.S. government had hoped could play a pivotal role in building a democratic Iraq.

snip

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120596796160950147.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

If he ever comes back from Iran, al Sadr still has that outstanding warrant out for his arrest.

[unapatriciated]

10. This part of the pact is a little troubling...

"The pact describes certain conditions under which Iraq would have the right to try U.S. service members in its courts for serious crimes committed while off duty, an element that was crucial to winning Iraqi political support."

What "off duty" time does a soldier have in a war zone? Can bush guarantee a fair trail?
Bush just threw the soldier on the ground under the bus, to boost the republican party during an election year.
I wonder if Fox News will question that part of the pac or just praise bush for "Mission Accomplished" and victory in Iraq.

[dipsydoodle]

11. At issue isn't only the subject of prosecution

of US citizens, where appropriate, by Iraqi courts. Equally important to al-Sadr supporters is the other main issue of the USA using Iraq as a base to attack other counties.

I think the crack in the dam is about to open.

[snappyturtle]

12. Kick! K&R

:kick: