Shi'a again turning to Sadr...grounds for a renewed rebellion?

[Terran1212]

April 8th, 2005 1:22 pm
An Old U.S. Foe Rises Again in Iraq; Shiite Mahdi Army Growing Bolder in South


By Anthony Shadid / Washington Post


GHARAF, Iraq -- Over the loudspeakers set up in this small town in a backwater of southern Iraq, the commands came in staccato bursts. "Forward!" a man clad in black shouted to the militiamen. "March!"

Column after column followed through the dusty, windswept square. Some of the marchers wore the funeral shawls of prospective martyrs. Others were dressed in newly pressed camouflage. Together, their boots beat the pavement like a drum as they goose-stepped or double-timed in place.

Over their heads flew the Iraqi flag, banners of Shiite Muslim saints and a portrait of their leader, Moqtada Sadr -- symbols of their militia, the Mahdi Army, twice subdued by the U.S. military last year but now openly displaying its strength in parts of the south.

"At your service, Sadr! At your service, Moqtada!" the men chanted in formation. "We hear a voice calling us!"

"The tanks do not terrify us," others joined in. "We're resisting! We're resisting!"

[hippiechick]

1. This whole 'liberation' was to ensure that we'd have to go back

..in 10 years and "re-liberate" them from whoever takes over after we've razed the country and left it in shambles ...

That's how the military-industrial complex makes it's moolah.

[Terran1212]

2. Interesting "soundbite" from the article...

"Wherever America is present, then there is terrorism," Saadi said. "When they ask the terrorists why they're here, they say we came to fight America. If America leaves, there would be no terrorism. Terrorism would leave with it."

Why shouldn't we leave again?

[xchrom]

3. sad'r's power base has never left

they have quieted down as a favor to al sistani.
but shi'a bitterness directed at the u.s. has not gone away.

and there are plenty of iraqi's wanting a conservative islamic government, others who want a civil war, and others who want a free kurdistan.

bushco has unleased chaos to go along with all the murder.

[manic expression]

4. "twice subdued"????

Are you kidding me? We cut a cease-fire deal with them, if I remember correctly.