Influential Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has had his plate full leading a protest movement calling for major reforms, but in comments to followers today instructed them that US ground troops inside Iraq are “a target for us,” the latest indication the US could quickly find itself facing a Shi’ite insurgency on top of the ISIS war in Iraq.
This isn’t a surprise, as Sadr has been loudly opposed to US deployments of ground troops into Iraq, warning that his followers would resist any attempt to return to the days of the American occupation, during which US troops repeatedly targeted Sadrists.
The timing of the comments, less than a week after the most recent Pentagon announcement of another large deployment to Iraq, suggests that Sadr’s patience for the growing US force is wearing thin, and that, having already gone far beyond the “cap” the Abadi government set on US troop numbers, he doesn’t care to see more troops arriving uncontested.
Sadr’s Mahdi Army was disbanded almost a decade ago, but fighters loyal to that army remain across the Shi’ite portions of the country, and have often made public their presence in such cities as a set of “Peace Brigades.”
There is little real doubt that Sadr could reform the Mahdi Army as a substantial force overnight, and if he really does intend to begin targeting US forces, it could be a major change in the country’s landscape, and the US view that their latest deployment is limited just to ISIS.
Interesting. Doubtful that he could work things out with Da’esh, but perhaps he intends to rally non-takfirist Sunnis to his cause in reforming the government through political rather than military means.
Yes, you got it right. He has been patient, but it seems that in their view US is crossing their red lines by going way above the numbers that presumably were fighting ISIS. It has been very interesting following the media narrative. According to the narrative — that changes on a dime — focus of Baghdad government on places like Fallujah or Ramadi was the cause of massive protests in the capital. The masses wanted reforms and focus on the security in the city itself. According to the narrative, Iraqi Army is incompetent, and thus, going outside to fight ISIS was leaving the city unprotected. Reality, however, was a little different from the narrative. The populace is viewing the government as weak and under the thumb of US forces.
However, once Iraqi government defied US generals, and instead of going (again) to Mosul, decided to focus on places closer home. Removing ISIS from Fallujah was a proof that Iraqi army could perform. But unfortunately for the president, in wanting to appease US generals, they sent a few tanks on Mosul. Just to get them off their backs. The public reacted quite badly to these symbolic, but indicative acts of appeasement. And with the news of more US troups heading into Iraq — all sorts of red lines were crossed.
The narrative of populace protesting against corruption and demanding democracy — is falling on its face. But no problem, our creative neocons will reinvent it again.
I do agree that there are many, many Sunni tribes whose chieftains are in Baghdad, as they needed to escape ISIS. They are more then eager to liberate their regions of ISIS, and they will collaborate with Sadr — especially as he has a long history of pushing for Sunni inclusion — even at the time when it was dangerous. He boycotted many Governments just because of abuse of Sunnis. He as a Shia cleric has a reputation for not approving of Shia-Sunni sectarianism. It will be interesting to see how this evolves.
Yes. It was apparent in 2004 that he was an Iraqi patriot. He organized a humanitarian relief column for the Sunnis of Fallujah during the first
siegecollective punishment.Unfortunately, he was either unable to control sectarianism within his Mahdi Army, or Western media lied when they blamed them for sectarian killings. It’s also possible the US drove him into exile so that CIA assets could stir up sectarianism within the Mahdis.
Someone like al-Sadr could both unify the Arabs of Iraq and dry up support for Da’esh within the country. That’s why he’s hated and feared by Western governments and media who want to implement the Lewis/Brzezinski/Yinon plans.
I’m surprised he’s waited this long.
Wait…the US has already far surpassed the supposed “cap” that Abadi’s quisling government supposedly set? Color me shocked. Even if ISIS were defeated tomorrow, it is highly unlikely that the troops would be pulled out unless the Iraqis again began targeting them.