Iraq cleric to followers: Stop attacking US troops

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2011/September/middleeast_September198.xml§ion=middleeast

(AP)

11 September 2011BAGHDAD — An anti-American cleric in Iraq is calling on his followers to cease attacks on US troops leaving the country so that the withdrawal isn’t slowed down.

Muqtada Al Sadr has been demanding that all American forces leave Iraq by the end of the year as planned, or potentially face widespread violence.

Al Sadr says in a statement posted on his website late Saturday that he has ordered his militias to let the Americans leave peacefully.

[Cirque du So-What]

1. And then...the deluge

US forces (or 'coalition' forces, if you prefer) could stay in Iraq for 100 years, and civil war would still be inevitable. The invasion and occupation of Iraq provided a window of opportunity for opening old wounds, jockeying for position, and jostling for power. Muqtada al Sadr surprises me with this call for cessation of attacks in order to hasten the departure of US forces, but it's actually quite shrewd. I give it 5 years before Iran is controlling - by proxy - over 2/3 of the population and area of Iraq.

[Lasher]

2. That's why the DOD is so desperate to keep some soldiers there past December.

If any remaining soldiers get attacked, they'll have an excuse to send another hundred thousand or so back in. The neocons have deliberate intention that we will never leave Iraq.

[DCBob]

3. interesting... but I suspect Sadr has more on his mind than protecting US soldiers.

he will be the ruler of Iraq someday if he doesnt get killed in the process.

[NNN0LHI]

4. If he can outlive Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani maybe?

Sistani is about 80 so Sadr has that going for him.

Don