With concerns that another rocket attack in Baghdad is going to fuel another round of US attacks on Shi’ite militias, key Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr issued a statement demanding the US remove its “occupying forces” from all of Iraq.
The rocket in this case hit a base near Baghdad airport, wounding four US troops. It’s not clear who did this, but the US has in the past used it as a pretext to move against Shi’ite factions inside Iraq. Sadr, who is a powerful Shi’ite cleric, clearly doesn’t want that.
But more importantly, Sadr is a major political player in Iraq, and the Iraqi parliament wants the US out of the country. Pushing this position is an obvious position to take, and one that makes clear that a violent US reaction would be unwelcome.
It is unlikely that the US will publicly respond to the comments from Sadr, as generally the US ignores anything that would involve considering leaving Iraq. Negotiations are planned at some point on the future of US deployment in the country, though this is likely on hold with the coronavirus.
Uhh… Sadr’s statement isn’t exactly ‘We didn’t do it!”, if its reprisals he’s worried about.
Wonder if the U,S, has in any way toned down its military activities in response to worldwide anti-racist protests.
Most of the people being shot and bombed by the U.S. military aren’t white.
Sadr statement is — we did it. By “we” he is assuming some Iraqi did it. And rather then thinking of response, how about assuming that being unpopular means more is coming. And think plan L, for leave.
Sadr needs to force the US to remove its troops. Without firm action they will remain forever – unwanted – hated- and reviled.
Sadr is the agent
The agent of whom Vincent???
” Negotiations are planned at some point on the future of US deployment in the country ”
This will demand that Iraq pay a substantial sum for protection.
As if Iraq has a choice in the matter …
Vassal state: Needs are subjugated to the desires of the master, not allowed to make their own decisions, not allowed to leave relationship, expendable.
I detest Pompeo because is is a sociopath and a liar. If we leave, we will leave Iraq in ruins and blame it on Iran.
Yes, true Chris, but the ball is now in his court. According to Bianca”s take, how many more dead Americans & billions of $$$$$ do you wanna spend here on this 79% lost cause…?????
last time they asked the USA to leave their oil export funds were blocked at the New York Federal Reserve where they were kept —— just in case: Iraq is not allowed to get rebuilt.
And trump, who supporters swore was going to get us out of the Iraq debacle, sure didn’t press the issue. If that wasn’t evidence that war for democracy was a myth, I don’t know what is…
Sadr was the ONLY Iraqi that we (the U.S.) could not bribe, compromise or kill as he remained true to his own people & Iraq. He is the picture of preseverence in the face of a foe of
overwhelming force and malign intent. He still remains true to his stated ideals. There would be no elections or genuine Iraqi roll in the future of Iraq if he and Iotola Sistani had not made a show of force and demanded elections of Iraqi leaders when the structure of Iraqi governance was being determined by the U.S. and it’s bogus “Coalition of the Willing, or whatever it was called by those who invaded Iraq, all & solely based on the WMD lie, and some vague inuendo that Mohamed Atta had met some Iraqi(s) prior to the nine II attacks. Bush wanted the U.S. to appoint regional governors and the parliament Sadr is a daring & great man.