Defiant Sadr Vows Uprising Will Continue (al Jazeera)

[Dover]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5F79E495-C18B-4F11-A554-CD4F679B50D9.htm


The revolt by supporters of Iraqi leader Muqtada al-Sadr will continue until occupying troops are withdrawn from populated areas and prisoners are released.



"The uprising will continue and we will not negotiate unless they fulfil our demands, which are a withdrawal from populated areas and the release of prisoners," al-Sadr aide Qays al-Ghazali said on Tuesday.



He also read a statement from the Shia cleric denouncing President George Bush and the US-led occupation.



"This insurrection shows that the Iraqi people are not satisfied with the occupation and they will not accept oppression," the statement said.



Al-Sadr said he called on countries with forces in Iraq to withdraw their soldiers.



"I direct my words to the great evil, Bush, and I ask who is against democracy? Is it the one who is advocating peaceful resistance or the one who is bombing the nation and shedding blood?" he said.



The statement said al-Sadr had decided to end a sit-in at the main mosque in Kufa, near Najaf, because he feared that the mosque would be raided and defiled by occupation troops.



Several killed



So far 66 Iraqis and seven US soldiers have been killed in fighting between followers of al-Sadr and occupation forces across the country...>> cont'd >>

[bemildred]

1. UPI reports Sunnis backing Sadr:

About two hours into the standoff, despite the neighborhood being sealed off by U.S. troops, two Sunni clerics -- one from the Anbar province, which includes the towns of
Ramadi and Fallujah, and another from Adamiyah -- arrived with a letter, which proclaimed support for Sadr's opposition to the U.S.-led occupation forces, signaling for the first
time a public alliance between the previously Sunni and Baathist resistance and the Iraq's Shiite majority. It is the first time the Army of Mohammed has publicly announced
support for Sadr. The letter called upon all Muslims to come together to throw out "infidel occupiers of Iraq."

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040406-113426-9330r

[David__77]

4. "Uniter not a divider."

Someone had to say it!

[saigon68]

2. I guess he won't honor Viceroy Bremer's Warrant*

Not good

*note----- Arrest Warrant issued by an appointed Judge of Viceroy Paul Bremer, the head of the Republican Government of Eastern Iraq-Nam

[bemildred]

3. Sadr: A new Arab hero in the making

Another UPI story:

Additionally, new reports emerging from Iraq Tuesday indicate that an unholy alliance is being forged between Sadr's militia, known as the
Mehdi's Army and the Sunni resistance, traditionally grouped under the banner of Mohammed's Army. And on Tuesday U.S. troops battled
both; followers of Mohammed's Army in the Sunni hotbed of Fallujah where the Marines are currently engaged in fierce clashes, as well as
armed followers of the young cleric in Sadr City and other parts of the country who are resisting American attempts to disarm them, as
thousands of armed militiamen faced off American tanks and armored personnel carriers.

In just two short days, the situation in Iraq has changed dramatically, from one of terrorists and foreign jihadi agitators fighting the coalition,
to that of a domestic popular rebellion already being compared by some to the Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

And while the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority has labeled Sadr "an outlaw" and seeks to apprehend him and put him on trial for the
murder of fellow Shiite cleric Abdel Majig al-Khoei last spring, there is also little doubt that his political clout will skyrocket in the Arab and
Islamic world.

In short, the United States' gamble to go after Sadr may have grossly backfired. The question is why did the U.S. decide to go after Sadr
at this particular time? The answer could be that as the countdown to the June 30 handover of sovereignty to Iraqis is underway with less
than 90 days remaining on the clock, the U.S. -- at the instigation of certain parties who would like to see the elimination of the maverick
cleric -- may have decided on the need to clean the playing field of potential dissent voices for the Iraqi government to be.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040406-120830-3652r

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. A new Arab hero

There are thosands of these new heros in the making. Until last year, had anybody heard of this one? There is no end to this. It's like groundhog day.

[saigon68]

6. It's Better than Ground Hog Day

It far more entertaining watching the criminals scurry for their holes. It happens at least once a month.

The bad part is a lot of civilians and young kids from Iowa, Florida and New Jersey are being blown to bits so President Cheney's Thuggish Friends can increase corporate profits.

[Dover]

7. Can we WAIT until November elections to change course?

Things are changing very rapidly now...

From your UPI story:

In just two short days, the situation in Iraq has changed dramatically, from one of terrorists and foreign jihadi agitators fighting the coalition,
to that of a domestic popular rebellion already being compared by some to the Palestinian intifada, or uprising

[abb9]

8. Bush/Sharon/Same thing.Colonial Bullies & International Outlaws.

No difference,both arrogant Crusaders,trying to subdue and kill Arabs simultaneously for the control of their land and their resources.
They are also dangerous and endanger the world as we know it,if we allow them to continue on this course.
The Iraqis have a right to drive out any colonial occupiers they dont want there,and they are not terrorist as the whitehouse peg them as.
Anyone invades my home,and try to oppress and controll me will not do as they feel without retaliation from me.
:evilfrown:

[cliss]

9. The occupation's worst nightmare is coming true....

I've read in several reports that the US felt that this occupation could work, as long as the Sh'ia majority would accept it. If they were riled up or angered to the point of taking up arms against the coalition forces, then it would be hard to sustain the occupation.

Through its own negligence, the US has managed to anger the people who really counted in this "scheme". Things are going to change dramatically in the next few days if there is an uprising, and we could see massive warfare, maybe even in several cities simultaneously.

I'd like to see Bush continue airing his election campaign ad, "we deliver security".

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. This is going to really suck

The scary part, is that the only time since the US invaded Iraq did we meet any real resistance was at the battle of Nasiriya. This was the battle where Jessica Lynch got lost and ended up in an Iraqi hospital, we killed at least 8 of our own in a friendly fire incident, and Saddam ended up with his only POW's before he fell from power. It is clear that US forces performed miserably and Rummie went and made a quick deal with Saddam's people to cut and run. Free flights out of Baghdad Airport were enough of an incentive, I'm sure.