Feb 13 2007
Sadr Runs [Home?] To Iran
Radical Shia Cleric Maqtada Sadr apparently has bolted from Iraq and is now in Iran.
The U.S. military believes radical Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, one of Iraq’s most powerful figures, has left the country and is now in Iran, two senior American officials said on Tuesday.
Sadr’s departure was first reported by the ABC News network which said he had fled to Iraq because of fears that he might be targeted by U.S. bombs and worries over his safety because of a fracturing within his organization.
I doubt seriously Sadr had as much to fear from the US as he did from the Iraqis, since one of his people planted in the Health Ministry was recently apprehended for running death squads and kiling government officials who appeared to support the coalition (which is why most are IN the Iraqi government). Since this man has been apprehended, and probably by now interrogated to the point he is spilling the beans, Sadr has more to fear from simple tribal vengeance than anything else. Many tribes and families will be looing for retribution of those his ‘man’ had assassinated. Sadr is now the Benedict Arnold of Iraq, so it is no surprise he has had to leave. There would be no sanctuary in the Shia community since he probably killed with impugnity there as well as against Sunni.
But there could be additional reasons Sadr had to run to his puppetmasters in Tehran:
The report of Sadr’s departure comes just days after U.S. military officials in Baghdad showed journalists fragments of what they said were Iranian-manufactured weapons and asserted that people at the “highest levels” of Tehran’s government were involved in arming Iraqi militants.
If Sadr’s people used Iranian weapons to kill Iraqis, he would be seen in the same light as Saddam – a butcher few in Iraq would defend and most would sign up to be on his firing squad. If this is the case, wacth for the dynamics in Iraq to see radical change. The US will not be the evil invaders, Sadr will become the evil traitor to his people. More here.
Mookie bugs out…
Sadr Flees Iraq John Hinderaker Stunning news, I think: Moqtada al Sadr has bolted to Iran, apparently because he fears for his safety as more American troops pour into Baghdad. Sadr reportedly took the top command of his Mahdi army…
The big chicken. I guess the Iranians did not know anything about this either.
Maliki, Rubaie Arranged Muqtadas Iranian Vacation?…
The alleged letter was dated 14 January 2007, and was signed by the prime minister….
i’m sorry to hear it. he needs to be killed–he’s three years past his due date– and it’s virtually impossible if he’s in iran.
I thought I read somewhere that Sadr is a sayeed and untouchable according to muslim laws. That he is a direct descentant of Mohammed and to kill him would inflame the muslims to frenzy. If this is true there would be no firing squad for him and no killing him. This probably why he was not elimminated two years ago.
Does it bother anyone else the irony inherent in government we have installed – after 3500 troops killed and 20,000 wounded – being in the hip pocket of our supposed arch-enemy Iran – and supporting Hezb’Allah and Hamas?
It’s kind of like having most favored nation trading status with China ( a real long-term threat) and boycotting Cuba – who couldn’t hurt a fly with a rolled up Washington Times.
asoothsayer:
That is absurd and besides it is not half as ironic as hearing the same people who say we are picking on Iran complain that the Shia in Iraq are {gasp} Shia. In other words, if Iran is as innocent as many on the left claim, why would you care if they have influence in Iraq. Do you think we should follow in Saddam’s footsteps and kill a million or so of them?
There is nothing absurd about Soothsayer’s saying the obvious.
What happened was, Iranian double-agents eg Chalabi,played Israel-first American neocons to a victory for Iran by lying about the WMDs
and telling them America would be welcomed in Iraq. It was a
gamble for Iran too, but so far so good.
http://www.counterpunch.com/patrick02152007.html
Strata is such the “democratic friend” of the Iraqi people
he wishes to kill perhaps their most popular figure. This
exemplifies the ugly American imperialist who poses as
a friend of those he wishes to subject. Your cover’s blown AJ.