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| | Page 1, 2 | Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 317826
3/26/2008 4:47 PM
Report abusive post | Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers
| Quote |
……Update……
Reported, Abu Al-Khasib another city close to Basra, now under Mahdi Army control, Iraqi government calls special forces from Karbala led by Maliki’s “brothers in law” to move to Basra.
…….End update…..
Just reported from Alwasatonline reporter in Basra, Mahdi Army managed to arrest 17 American soldiers, and seizes 7 hammer military vehicles, because of these developments the Iraqi government offered to negotiates with MA but Muqtada Al-Sadr refused any negotiations, also 250 Iraqi soldiers gave themselves up to Mahdi Army.
Key bridge, connecting Basra city to Al-Kurnah is destroyed by Mahdi Army.
Sotaliraq reported that Maliki refused to meet Basra’s mayor “Mohammad Al-Walili [from Al-Fadhilah Party], the mayor threaten if he removed from his position as mayor he will burn all the oil wells around Basra.
There is also reports about American warplanes involvement in the fights, and the Green Zone was bombed again at 8 O’clock p.
There are fighting in Al-Shurta neighborhood in Baghdad in the Karkh part [East, across the river]
[link to www.roadstoiraq.com] |
| Helmut
User ID: 83663
3/26/2008 4:53 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Maybe important to notice:
Iran's influence
Muqtada al-Sadr has close ties with the Islamic Dawa Party, which has ties to Iran.[26] Many leaders of the Dawa Party fled to Iran, and elsewhere, after the Persian Gulf War where they remained in exile until the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. During this period, some of its factions moved to the SCIRI party [27]. After the invasion, both al-Dawa and SCIRI returned to Iraq.
A New York Times report on February 9, 2007, said that US intelligence has confirmed that Iran's Quds Force has provided Shia militants in Iraq with Iranian made explosively formed penetrators (EFP), which have been called the most effective improvised explosive device used against American troops.[28] According to this article, many of these have been brought into Iraq at night at the border crossing at Mehran. Two days later US military commanders in Iraq gave a briefing to reporters, in which they displayed EFPs with what they said are Iranian serial numbers. According to them, these devices have killed over 170 Americans in Iraq.[29] President Bush himself reaffirmed the information several days later.[30] Despite this, some members of the US military and intelligence community are unsure if Iranian leaders are actually behind the delivery of weapons.[31] On February 21, Newsweek revealed that the US military briefer in Iraq had strayed from his script when he said that Iranians at the highest levels were involved in the weapons shipments.[32]
These claims were denied by senior Iranian leaders. "They condemn us for making problems in Iraq, but they don't have any documentary proof," Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hossaini told reporters. "Lots of this evidence is fake, artificial. For example, when they wanted to start a war in Iraq, they made plenty of evidence that there were lots of weapons in Iraq, though the investigators of the International Atomic Energy Agency said they couldn't find any weapons in Iraq," he said. "Right now they're using weapons [with certain markings], but it doesn't prove where these weapons came from.[33]
The Mahdi Army has also recently pledged military support to Iran if Iran were to be attacked by Western forces [34]
Source/Complete article:
[link to en.wikipedia.org]
Ich bin der Helmut und habe jetzt ein post gemacht. |
| dalak
User ID: 381732
3/26/2008 5:14 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
the boys are back in town.
the "emperors" have no clothes! |
| McCoon
User ID: 400417
3/26/2008 5:16 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
but the surge is working! |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 352419
3/26/2008 5:17 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Well I for one am glad to see that Baghdad Bob has finally found some work.
[link to www.youtube.com] |
| anonanon 
User ID: 272356
3/26/2008 5:19 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
And they gave up without a fight?????
That is hard to believe.
Hope we don't see their beheadings on TV tomorrow. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 400453
3/26/2008 5:26 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
I dont believe this.
Are there any other sources to this story than www.roadstoiraq.com?
I've searched and I cant find any. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 331956
3/26/2008 5:28 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
[link to crossfirewar.com]
The Iraq government is rushing more reinforcements south to Basra as fighting erupted heavily on the second day Wednesday morning. This movement of troops from Karbala is quite a risk since it is another major city in the Shi’ite south of the country where the Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr is strongest. Especially since Ashraq al-Awsat/Reuters report the fighting is no longer confined to Basra but has spread into Sadr City-Baghdad and Kut where this action really began more than a week ago (Mar. 13-08) though disturbances there were also reported on this site Dec. 16. It was mentioned then that Kut, 105 miles southeast of the capital, is just forty miles from Iran’s border and has long been used by Teheran to monitor the occupation. As far back as Aug. 28, 2005 this site linked to a Der Speigel article that mentioned Kut was used by Iranian agents to track US Army movements to Baghdad in 2003 during Saddam Hussein’s removal. And that since then Teheran has been directing their contacts, including with the Iraq government, through Iran’s villa embassy in Baghdad.
Now Teheran is using their working relationship with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to direct more of Iraq’s army to a defeat in the south in what has become the life and death struggle of not only Iraq’s new army but for what is left of the Iraq government in Baghdad which London-Washington are depending on to stablize the country, an impossiblility. I suspect since the new Iraq Army reinforcements have come from Karbala, just forty miles south of the capital, fighting will now probably erupt there. This is the beginning of the debacle as Prime Minister al-Maliki has just issued a 72 hour ultimatum for the fighters to lay down their weapons or face arrest. In the meantime the head of the Madhi Army, Muqtada al-Sadr has issued his own ultimatum and is threatening to call for nationwide “civil revolt".
The latest caualties figures are in Basra 40 killed and 200 wounded, in Baghad-Sadr City 14 killed and 140 wounded. There are no figures for Kut where the Mahdi Army has taken control of seven districts. In the meantime for the third day this week the International Green Zone in Baghdad, where most embassies are located, has come under fire injuring three U. S. officials. In Basra a resident Kareem stated, “The situation is so tense. I did not go to work today. Nobody is going to work. There are gunmen at every intersection.” Despite the heavy fighting an official with Iraq’s South Oil Company said there is yet no reduction in output or exports.
rfn=Sadr City - Hundreds of al-Sadr’s supporters seem to have answered his call for civil disobedience with a march in Sadr City. One of the march leaders issued this statement, “We strongly condemn the assaults being conducted by the occupation forces along with the Iraqi security forces who have sold themselves to the renegade occupiers.” This sounds like a statement written in Teheran.
The Jerusalem Post/AP report so far the Prime Minister al-Maliki has not yet requested any assistance from the British forces at their airport base outside Basra. This is extremely significant as British warplanes are currently providing aerial surveillance. I suspect Teheran has instructed the Prime Minister to wait for the 72 hour ultimatum to pass Friday, as fighting increases, before he calls on assistance from London-Washington. The Pentagon has projected withdrawing 20,000 troops by year’s end and the last thing Iran wants to see are for those units to be deployed in other regional theatres like the Balkans. It is quite possible when the UK/US enter the fighting the least Teheran will do is increase its support for the Mahdi Army and have them use their most powerful weaponry. But I would not be surprised if Iran issues its own ultimatum demanding the Iraq government end its offensive and if not then Iran will enter the war by targeting the military bases of not only Iraq’s military but also of the UK/US. Teheran was always preparing for (f)allout direct conflict with the West and as I mentioned yesterday heavier action in Iraq will end any chance for joint operations between Israel and the Pentagon.
rfn=Basra - This link is from Xinhua with several news photos from Basra. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 396204
3/26/2008 5:28 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
  |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 289969
3/26/2008 5:30 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Didn't H.G. Wells say WW3 would start because of something that happens in Basra? Of course, I think that was in the 1930's...? |
| SHR 
Forum Administrator
3/26/2008 5:32 PM
 | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Al Sadr is an Iranian puppet, things are not looking good in region right now. This is Iran creating a situation in Iraq which could possibly force US military action to cross Iranian borders, that combined with the increased tension in GAZA heralded by statements there, Syria moving infantry, Hezbollah threatening a revenge attack and pretty much re-armed to the teeth and all the players seemingly resigned to the prospect of war is not a matter of if, but when. I'd say time is coming near for a large scale conflict.
____________________________________________________
E-mail anytime SHRGLP@Yahoo.com
Inquiring about a ban?, include the IP address found here. [link to www.showmyip.com]
In a different time, when the words didnt rhyme, you could never quite be sure.
Then on with the change, it was simple but strange, and you knew the feeling seemed to say it all.
It cries for you. It's the least that you can do. Like a spiral on the wind.
I can hear it screaming in my mind... |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 318585
3/26/2008 5:35 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
17 NWO baby killers arrested by the freedom fighters?Is that a bad news? |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 398166
3/26/2008 5:35 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
SHR. Who are you? Why are you here? ETC. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 368615
3/26/2008 5:36 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
And they gave up without a fight?????
That is hard to believe.
Hope we don't see their beheadings on TV tomorrow. Quoting: anonanon
Sadly there are some Americans here that would rejoice in seeing
those soldiers beheaded. Anything, just to rub something into Bush. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 368615
3/26/2008 5:37 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
see there's two right now |
| SHR
Forum Administrator
3/26/2008 5:39 PM
| | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
I dont believe this.
Are there any other sources to this story than www.roadstoiraq.com?
I've searched and I cant find any. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 400453
Not seeing any either, 2 US soldiers killed near Bahgdad.
Militiamen Holding Out in Basra Fighting
By KIM GAMEL – 31 minutes ago
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's prime minister warned gunmen in the oil port of Basra to surrender their weapons by Friday or face harsher measures, as clashes between security forces and Shiite militia fighters spread throughout the south and in Baghdad.
Despite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ultimatum Wednesday, government troops in Basra were having trouble making inroads into neighborhoods that the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army has controlled for years. Residents spoke of militiamen using mortar shells, sniper fire, roadside bombs and rocket-propelled grenades to fight off security forces.
Al-Maliki, a Shiite, remained in Basra to supervise a crackdown against the spiraling violence between militia factions vying for control of the center of Iraq's vast oil industry, located near the Iranian border. The events threatened to unravel a Mahdi Army cease-fire and spark a dramatic escalation in violence after a monthslong period of relative calm.
Street battles that broke out Tuesday in Basra and Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City spread to several other neighborhoods and southern cities, leaving at least 119 dead, including civilians, Iraqi security forces and militants. That figure was a rough estimate provided by police and hospital officials who could not give a more specific breakdown.
In Baghdad, several volleys of rockets slammed into the U.S.-protected Green Zone for the third day this week, and the U.S. Embassy said three Americans were seriously wounded. At least eight Iraqis were killed elsewhere in the capital by rounds that apparently fell short, police said.
Two American soldiers were killed Wednesday in separate attacks in Baghdad, the military said, raising the overall U.S. death toll since the war started more than five years ago to at least 4,003, according to an Associated Press count.
The Sadrists are angry over recent raids and detentions, saying U.S. and Iraqi forces have taken advantage of the August cease-fire to crack down on the movement.
They have accused rival Shiite parties, which control Iraqi security forces, of engineering the arrests to prevent them from mounting an effective campaign after the Iraqi parliament agreed in February to hold provincial elections by the fall.
Anthony Cordesman, an analyst at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, cautioned against dismissing those concerns.
"The current fighting is as much a power struggle for control of the south, and the Shiite parts of Baghdad and the rest of the country, as an effort to establish central government authority and legitimate rule," he said in an analysis.
The U.S. military insisted the fight was not against al-Sadr's movement but breakaway factions believed to be funded and trained by Iran, which has denied the allegations.
"This is not a battle against the Jaish al-Mahdi nor is it a proxy war between the United States and Iran," military spokesman Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner said, using the Arabic term for the Mahdi Army. "It is the government of Iraq taking the necessary action to deal with criminals on the streets."
There is minimal U.S. presence in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city 340 miles southeast of Baghdad.
British forces turned over responsibility for Basra to the Iraqis in late December but say they will assist the Iraqis upon request.
British troops have remained at their base at the airport outside Basra and were not involved in the ground fighting, although British planes were providing air surveillance, according to the British Ministry of Defense. It said the Iraqis had not asked the British to intervene.
Some 2,000 Iraqi troops reinforcements were sent to Basra, where gunfire echoed through the streets.
Sadiq al-Rikabi, a chief adviser to al-Maliki, said gunmen in Basra who turn over their weapons to police stations by Friday and sign a pledge renouncing violence will not face prosecution.
"Any gunman who does not do that within these three days will be an outlaw," he said.
Despite the government presence, the militiamen appeared to be holding their positions.
Khaldoon Faisal, a 35-year-old taxi driver in Basra's Jamhoriyah area, said the Mahdi Army was putting up fierce resistance with grenades, bombs, mortar shelling and sniper fire.
"My neighborhood now is under the control of the Mahdi Army," Faisal said. He said Iraqi armored vehicles were in the main street but that "they cannot go deep into the neighborhood."
Police Lt. Col. Ali Sabri said the Mahdi army was surrounding a police training center in northern Basra but that "fierce fighting is taking place and police are defending the site."
Essam Abbas, a 31-year-old barber in western Basra, said "the Mahdi Army controls an Iraqi army base in the area because Iraqi troops fled the scene, leaving their vehicles and weapons."
He said supplies of food and drinking water were running short.
"Why did al-Maliki came to Basra and bring with him this tragedy?" Faisal said.
Hundreds of Shiites took to the streets in Sadr City and Karbala on Wednesday, demanding the government stop military operations in Basra and other cities and withdraw all security forces.
At least 47 people have been killed and 223 wounded in the two days of fighting in Basra, hospital officials said. The clashes in Baghdad left 35 dead and dozens wounded.
A mortar barrage struck homes amid clashes in the Shiite city of Kut southeast of Baghdad, killing 15 civilians, including a woman and her grandson, according to police.
Clashes also broke out between Mahdi Army elements and Iraqi troops backed by U.S. helicopters in Hillah, and 19 fighters were killed, police Capt. Muthanna Khalid said. The American military said four Shiite extremists were killed in an airstrike supporting Iraqi forces.
[link to ap.google.com]
____________________________________________________
E-mail anytime SHRGLP@Yahoo.com
Inquiring about a ban?, include the IP address found here. [link to www.showmyip.com]
In a different time, when the words didnt rhyme, you could never quite be sure.
Then on with the change, it was simple but strange, and you knew the feeling seemed to say it all.
It cries for you. It's the least that you can do. Like a spiral on the wind.
I can hear it screaming in my mind... |
| Navion
User ID: 349238
3/26/2008 5:41 PM
 | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Didn't H.G. Wells say WW3 would start because of something that happens in Basra? Of course, I think that was in the 1930's...? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 289969
~~~~~~~~~~~
1933 - "The Shape of Things to Come" by H. G. Wells is published.
Wells predicts a second world war around
1940, originating from a German-Polish dispute. After 1945 there would
be an increasing lack of public safety in "criminally infected" areas.
The plan for the "Modern World State" would succeed on its third
attempt, and come out of something that occurred in Basra, Iraq. The
book also states: "Although world government had been plainly coming
for some years, although it had been endlessly feared and murmured
against, it found no opposition anywhere."
landmarker@writeme.com
Navion
[link to www.youtube.com]
P51
[link to www.youtube.com] |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 331956
3/26/2008 5:43 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Al Sadr is an Iranian puppet, things are not looking good in region right now. This is Iran creating a situation in Iraq which could possibly force US military action to cross Iranian borders, that combined with the increased tension in GAZA heralded by statements there, Syria moving infantry, Hezbollah threatening a revenge attack and pretty much re-armed to the teeth and all the players seemingly resigned to the prospect of war is not a matter of if, but when. I'd say time is coming near for a large scale conflict. Quoting: SHR
agreed....looks like Iran is trying to stir things up in the south.
Or....on the flip side Maliki and US could be "provoking"
Mahdi to suck in the Iranians thus giving US more reasons to accuse Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs. Also, Cheney's visit to Mideast is suspect as you can never believe their stated reason for going there. I now believe war with Iran is highly probable with these fuckers in office. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 331956
3/26/2008 5:47 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
blogger got his source from this Arabic website...cant confirm unless somebody can read it.
[link to wasatonline.com] |
| Chesire
User ID: 394698
3/26/2008 5:53 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Just surround the place and see how long it holds out with no resupplies . |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 289969
3/26/2008 5:57 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Didn't H.G. Wells say WW3 would start because of something that happens in Basra? Of course, I think that was in the 1930's...?
~~~~~~~~~~~
1933 - "The Shape of Things to Come" by H. G. Wells is published.
Wells predicts a second world war around
1940, originating from a German-Polish dispute. After 1945 there would
be an increasing lack of public safety in "criminally infected" areas.
The plan for the "Modern World State" would succeed on its third
attempt, and come out of something that occurred in Basra, Iraq. The
book also states: "Although world government had been plainly coming
for some years, although it had been endlessly feared and murmured
against, it found no opposition anywhere." Quoting: Navion
Thanks! That is what I was thinking of. My ears perk up whenever someone mentions Basra. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 394011
3/26/2008 6:03 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Al Sadr is an Iranian puppet, things are not looking good in region right now. This is Iran creating a situation in Iraq which could possibly force US military action to cross Iranian borders, that combined with the increased tension in GAZA heralded by statements there, Syria moving infantry, Hezbollah threatening a revenge attack and pretty much re-armed to the teeth and all the players seemingly resigned to the prospect of war is not a matter of if, but when. I'd say time is coming near for a large scale conflict.
agreed....looks like Iran is trying to stir things up in the south.
Or....on the flip side Maliki and US could be "provoking"
Mahdi to suck in the Iranians thus giving US more reasons to accuse Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs. Also, Cheney's visit to Mideast is suspect as you can never believe their stated reason for going there. I now believe war with Iran is highly probable with these fuckers in office. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 331956
I think you got it on that last part. |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 400468
3/26/2008 6:03 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
I personally think it WAS worth the 4000 (or 40,000?) dead Americans-hey-they volunteered-nobody twisted their arms*, the 100,000 (or 1 million?) dead Iraqis - a country left in total ruins-and one-two trillion taxpayer dollars-half unaccounted for-(likely in some off shore bermuda bank)to fund the war
The dollar is about to crash and we are near WW3
But, in the end, being rid of Saddam was worth EVERY penny and human life-dont you agree??
I dont care what you Libbies say.
*Paraphrasing Dick Cheney at a tribute to o ur 4000th |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 398501
3/26/2008 6:09 PM | | SHR
Forum Administrator
3/26/2008 6:15 PM
| | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Al Sadr is an Iranian puppet, things are not looking good in region right now. This is Iran creating a situation in Iraq which could possibly force US military action to cross Iranian borders, that combined with the increased tension in GAZA heralded by statements there, Syria moving infantry, Hezbollah threatening a revenge attack and pretty much re-armed to the teeth and all the players seemingly resigned to the prospect of war is not a matter of if, but when. I'd say time is coming near for a large scale conflict.
agreed....looks like Iran is trying to stir things up in the south.
Or....on the flip side Maliki and US could be "provoking"
Mahdi to suck in the Iranians thus giving US more reasons to accuse Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs. Also, Cheney's visit to Mideast is suspect as you can never believe their stated reason for going there. I now believe war with Iran is highly probable with these fuckers in office. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 331956
Hard to say on provoking, no doubt the Shaia have been in control of Basra since the Brits completed their pullout in Sept of last year, but this has been going on for a long time, so has it just become due, or is the timing meant to lay the groundwork for a possible future confrontaion, aka provoking.
This article snip from May of last year gives some background.
You can't move far in Basra without bumping into some evidence of the Iranian influence on the city. Even inside the British consulate compound visitors are advised not to use mobile phones because, as the security official put it ,"the Iranians next door are listening to everything".
In the Basra market Iranian produce is everywhere, from dairy products to motorcycles and electronic goods. Farsi phrase books are sold in bookshops and posters of Ayatollah Khomeini are on the walls.
But Iranian influence is also found in more sinister places. Abu Mujtaba described the level of cooperation between Iran and his units. His account echoed what several militia men in other parts of Iraq have told me.
Sitting in his house in one of Basra's poorest neighbourhoods, he told me: "We need weapons and Iran is our only outlet. If the Saudis would give us weapons we would stop bringing weapons from Iran."
He went on: "They [the Iranians] don't give us weapons, they sell us weapons: an Iranian bomb costs us $100, nothing comes for free. We know Iran is not interested in the good of Iraq, and we know they are here to fight the Americans and the British on our land, but we need them and they are using us."
Despite this scepticism about Tehran's motives, he said some Mahdi army units were now effectively under Iranian control. "Some of the units are following different commanders, and Iran managed to infiltrate [them], and these units work directly for Iran."
Most of the Shia militias and parties that control politics in Basra today were formed and funded by Tehran, he said.
His assessment was shared by both the general and the intelligence official. "Iran has not only infiltrated the government and security forces through the militias and parties they nurtured in Iran, they managed to infiltrate Moqtada's lot, by providing them with weapons," the general told me. "And some disgruntled and militias were over taken by Iran and provided with money and weapons."
In his office, littered with weapons bearing Iranian markings, Samer showed me footage his men had shot of a weapons smuggling operation after they captured six brand new Katyushas.
"In Basra, Iran has more influence than the government in Baghdad," he said. "It is providing the militias with everything from socks to rockets."
But, like many he was philosophical about Iranian interference. "Unlike the US and the UK, Iran invested better. They knew where to pump their money, into militias and political parties. If a war happens they can take over Basra without even sending their soldiers. They are fighting a war of attrition with the US and UK, bleeding them slowly. We arrest Iranian spies and intelligence networks but they are not spying on the Kalashnikovs of the Iraqi army - they are here to gather intelligence on the coalition forces."
But others cite evidence of Iranian influence being used to pursue less strategic aims. A businessman in Basra, who regularly imports soft drinks from Iran, told me he once had a dispute with his suppler in Iran over price. When he refused to pay, gunmen from a pro-Iranian militia stormed his shop and kidnapped him. He was only released after paying all of what he owed to the Iranian dealer.
Nasaif Jassem, a city councillor for the Fadhila party that controls the governorship and the oil industry in Basra, was critical of Iranian interference. Fadhila, widely seen as backed by the British, split from the main Shia alliance in Baghdad after accusing it of having a sectarian agenda.
"This British occupation will go but the other occupation, that of Iran, will stay for a long time," he said. "They want to have an agent in Iraq that they can move every time they want, just like Hizbullah in Lebanon. Iran is sending a message to the west: don't you dare come close to us because we can burn Basra and its people."
Fear of the Iranians runs through the city. I saw it in the offices of the general as we sat in his office one late one night. His two mobile phones had just rung, each with someone asking for a wrong number. The general's face turned pale and he said: "They have located me - the militia control all the transmission towers for the mobile network and now they have located my position."
Were 'they' the Iranians or a militia, I asked. "They are all the same." He called on his guards to send more men outside and ran to the window to check that the sandbags behind the glass were well stacked. "Do you think I or the British commander can walk freely in Basra?" he asked. "No is the answer, but the Iranian chargé d'affaires runs around freely."
The names of Abu Ammar and Samer have been changed for their safety. Ghaith Abdul- Ahad's second dispatch from Basra on oil smuggling will appear in Monday's newspaper
Competing forces
Several groups vie for power in Basra, Iraq's second largest city
· Mahdi army A loose alliance of Shia militiamen, about half of which are connected to Moqtada al-Sadr's office in the Shia holy city of Najaf. His men control the ports and customs as well as the customs police
· Fadhila party An anti-Iranian Shia militia organisation that controls the oil business in Basra, parts of the security forces and the ports and customs
· Badr brigade The armed wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. Before the 2003 invasion it was based in Iran for 20 years
· Tribes There are at least 20 major tribes in the Basra area. Iraqis often feel the strongest allegiance to their tribe, above nationality. At least one influential tribe in the city runs its own smuggling business. They also support politicians in the city
[link to www.guardian.co.uk]
____________________________________________________
E-mail anytime SHRGLP@Yahoo.com
Inquiring about a ban?, include the IP address found here. [link to www.showmyip.com]
In a different time, when the words didnt rhyme, you could never quite be sure.
Then on with the change, it was simple but strange, and you knew the feeling seemed to say it all.
It cries for you. It's the least that you can do. Like a spiral on the wind.
I can hear it screaming in my mind... |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 16644
3/26/2008 6:36 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 352419
What Baghdad Bob said in 2003 is true as he says, "they(the American troops) are trapped and surrounded everywhere in Iraq"! |
| Dervish
User ID: 379308
3/26/2008 6:45 PM
 | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Well, shit SHR, wtf did you think would happen? The majority of Iraq is Shia like the Iranians.
We sold the Shia up the river to Saddam after GulfWar1. Saddam killed hundreds if not thousands of them. Do you think they have any real reason to trust us?
The Iranians know the game. Fight via proxy. I will give you another clue--look at the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. What country do both of them touch...I am talking about the northern area. Look carefully and you will find another player in the war by proxy.
We screwed the pooch in staying in Iraq. They were, to quote SecState Powell, "Contained". Now we pay the price of an agenda that HAD to have been thought of by enemies of the nation. Its too stupid and fucked up to have been some misguided patriots. This war will bleed us dry.
"If we pull out, Iraq will fall into civil war" well no shit. Its in Civil War now. How many more people do we loose, and how much more capitol do we spend ?
Our best course of action would be to create our own proxy--yes the same shit that got us the mujahaddein, but we do not have many more options. The proxy can fight for us. Hopefully we can turn the tables and let Iran start bleeding cash. But the longer we stay in large numbers, the more we loose.
Have no pride when it comes time to get out of Dodge
-----------------------
Adapt,Improvise,Overcome |
| Anonymous Coward
User ID: 311582
3/26/2008 7:00 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
No such report American soldiers ever got "arrested" or captured by the Mahdi Army. Original source of blog is all bullshit and it's a pro-jihadist crap. |
| End Game
User ID: 372710
3/26/2008 7:04 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Wednesday, March 26, 2008; A0
U.S., British Back Anti-Sadr Offensive
BAGHDAD, March 25 -- Fierce gun battles erupted between Iraqi security forces and Shiite militias in Basra, Baghdad and other cities Tuesday as the government, backed by U.S. and British reconnaissance planes, launched an offensive aimed at breaking the power of politically backed gunmen.
[link to www.fourwinds10.com] |
| Aria
User ID: 382274
3/26/2008 7:11 PM | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
....and we might be there for a hundred years....D$mn! |
| Frigg Stuyvesant
User ID: 398933
3/26/2008 7:19 PM
 | | Re: Mahdi Army arrested 17 American soldiers | Quote |
Baghdad Boob |
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