US interest in keeping close ties with the Iraqi government got a lot more difficult with this month’s elections, in which cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s political bloc won the plurality. The US has historically portrayed Sadr as an enemy, and had nothing to do with him.
Top Sadr aide Dhiaa al-Asadi says that’s changed since the election. Since Sadr’s victory, US officials have been using intermediaries to open the lines of communication with the major new political bloc. Right now, it seems the focus is on finding out what Sadr’s position is on the US military presence in the country.
Officially, the US has 5,200 troops in Iraq. In reality, they have in excess of 7,000 troops there, far beyond the level Iraq’s government has agreed in the past to allow. Sadr, a long-time opponent of Iraq being beholden to foreign interests, is unlikely to let that continue.
Asadi confirmed s much, saying there is “no return to square one,” and that the Sadrist bloc doesn’t intend at this point to have any military force in the country other than Iraq’s own military. That’s probably not going to sit well with the US, though it remains to be seen if there might be room for keeping US trainers in the country.
After his fiasco, Sadr went into the Muslim equivalent of a seminary, and studied intensely to qualify himself for religious advancement. Now after years of study he has emerged older and “wiser” as a rather different political personality. That is what such study is supposed to do, educate and aid personal growth.
Maybe it did. Should we be shocked? We should at least notice it happened, because his Iraqi follower certainly know it and value it.
Iraq is a sovereign country and has a right to do what they want but I am curious how many Iranian soldiers, like the IRGC are in Iraq. I bet it is much less as we Caterwaul about Iran.
Sadr an ideal or at least an adequate friend for US? He would be if he’d love or at least not speak or act against Israel and some Sunni lands.
But will Sadr ever turn against any Shiites? Not likely for at least some while, Right?
But Islams, just like Judaisms, and the Christianities loathe and fear above all else a democracy, fairness, peace in the world, women….
Right now, Islam is just fine with their democratic outcome… USA, not so much.
Please, Sir, kick Uncle Sam out of Iraq and save the American taxpayer some $$$.
Good luck Moqtada. Look out for those grassy knolls.
The coalition that attacked Iraq did everything they could to silence him. He and Sistani demanded that Iraqui leaders be elected by Iraqis, not appointed by Bush & the coalition. When Bush & the coalition tried to install their puppets, Sadr got 100s of thousands to come out onto the streets in a show of resolve. He was the ONLY prominent Iraqi leader who could not be bought off, scared off or neutered. He risked his life for many years to bring.about this current status… He is the father of the new democratic Iraq.. after the American vast destruction of & looting of Iraq.
it remains to be seen if there might be room for keeping US trainers in the country.
Sure, always room for a few potential hostages.
Any volunteers?…