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Ear to the Ground

Sadr: U.S. Will Always Be Enemy

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Posted on Apr 12, 2008
Sadr
swissinfo.org

Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintained his defiant stance against the U.S. as intense fighting in Sadr City and Najaf claimed more lives this weekend, including that of a Sadr relative and supporter, Riyad al-Nuri. Sadr roundly rejected American Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ call for him to “work within the political process in Iraq,” instead vowing that the U.S. would be his enemy until “the last drop of blood.”


BBC:

“Those who are prepared to work within the political process in Iraq, and peacefully, are not enemies of the United States,” Mr Gates said.

“[Mr Sadr] has a large following. And I think it’s important that he become a part of the process if he isn’t already.”

But Mr Sadr asked: “Which political process do you want to involve me in when you are occupying my land?”

He said he would continue resisting the US presence in a “way that we consider suitable”.

He urged the Iraqi government to “rid the land of the occupier” but said his followers should not “raise your weapons against Iraqis as long as they don’t help the occupier”.

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By hippy pam, April 14, 2008 at 10:33 am Link to this comment

I ask..AGAIN…What is the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN-SADR.Sadr and Hussein were/are in THEIR OWN COUNTRY….shrub is an INVADER..IRAQ-PLEASE CALL FOR A WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL..NAME MAMES..TRY THE KILLERS..

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By Aegrus, April 14, 2008 at 7:08 am Link to this comment

I’m pretty sick of hearing people talk about Sadr. Our government is practically working side-by-side with his army, and it seems every faction in Iraq is getting supplies from Iran. Does it even matter who says what right now?

To date, Sadr has called cease fires, and worked to accomplish things peacefully. Meanwhile, “official” Iraqi police and army have remained violently hostile to anyone who isn’t part of their faction. Seeing how, as I understand it, pretty much every Iraqi faction has some backing from Iran, why should we even care about who has power in Iraq anymore? Of course, I’m not taking into consideration imperialist or economic strangleholds.

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By Expat, April 14, 2008 at 6:07 am Link to this comment

Yes, they should take the bow of shame.

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By Expat, April 14, 2008 at 6:06 am Link to this comment

Good! Right on!

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Paolo's avatar

By Paolo, April 13, 2008 at 1:26 pm Link to this comment

Stupidity is a requirement now for politicians to rise to the top. George W. Bush is one example. John McCain, who claims great foreign policy expertise while not quite being able to distinguish between Shi’ite, Sunni,  Iranian, and Al-Qaeda factions, is another.

Our Masters in Washington are very stupid indeed, in the sense of having no historical sense or what we might call “book learning.” They do, however, have a certain amount of animal cunning and cleverness, which our political system rewards much more than book learning.

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By DennisD, April 13, 2008 at 1:25 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

While most Arab countries with oil were merely trying to screw us financially with the help of our own corporations we’ve now succeeded in making permanent enemies of them as well.

I didn’t think it possible that any President could fu*k up things this badly but Bu$hII has succeeded beyond expectations and given future Presidents a new level of corruption and incompetence to aim at.

Congress you’ve ably aided and abetted this administration every step of the way. Take a bow.

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By Fadel Abdallah, April 13, 2008 at 11:48 am Link to this comment

Excellent point Don Stivers, and a pointed rhetorical question indeed!

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By Don Stivers, April 13, 2008 at 10:51 am Link to this comment

20 years from now, one of the children that had the brains and blood of their parents spattered all over them will bomb the Super Bowl and the United States will wonder why?  The United States invaded their country and then stood up to sing God Bless America.

Is our Government stupid?  That’s a rhetorical question.  We already know the answer.

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By Fadel Abdallah, April 13, 2008 at 8:37 am Link to this comment

Since you’re working for the Devil, then, yes, it would be an honor for me to work as an advocate for a freedom-fighter.

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By Ostrogoth, April 13, 2008 at 8:34 am Link to this comment

Haha, Marshall. So you must work for our torturing, fascist prez.

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By Paolo, April 13, 2008 at 7:43 am Link to this comment

Moqtada Al-Sadr resists the American occupation of his own country. Would we not do the same, if the tables were turned? If a foreign power invaded and occupied America, would you take up arms and resist, or would you “participate in the [rigged] electoral process”?

Get it through your thick heads, America! We are totally, one hundred percent in the WRONG in Iraq! We waged a war of aggression against a non-belligerent (a war crime), we have killed a hundred thousand Iraqis (a war crime, by extension), we have committed torture (a war crime).

Al-Sadr is right to resist.

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By Expat, April 13, 2008 at 6:37 am Link to this comment

^ understand us Americans; we’re a little thick (dense, stupid) at times.  Enough of us are blind followers who keep the few from doing the right thing.  We lack the ability of critical thinking,  and, even those of us who see the debauchery don’t quite know what to do.  We lack knowledge of the mechanism of action.  Pity us, but not if we destroy the world.

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By bozhidar bob balkas, April 13, 2008 at 6:25 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

as far as i can make out, the optimal solution for US is establishment of three puppet states and 53d US state in syrian dessert. US did not need approval from any land or empire to invade iraq. it doesn’t need approval now for anything it might do. thre is now only one int’l law, that of US/israel. jews have us finally subjugated. we are now all palestinians
the most muqtada can obtain is a shia state governed by a puppet ‘gov’t’, installed by US with full support from EU.
US may also subjugate all arab lands. many are now US protectorates in varying degree. in any case,rich and super rich people of the world cannot lose. housewives? yes!

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By Purple Girl, April 13, 2008 at 2:58 am Link to this comment

This admin has not only assited in Recruiting those who hate Ameirca, they are helping AmericaNs re- evaluate the Real Goals of this Regime.
I am outraged as a Natural Born 6th gen, of European descent citizen by the Crimes being comitted against US by this Admin. How can I possibly reject the outrage by those who have been also used by the OIL doctrine for decades. I was born & raised in MI- the state which has been Gutted by the Oil/Auto industry.‘Bitter’, No Pissed! Why are we clinging to our ‘Guns & God’ because they are the last Two Rights they have not been able to seize.
How can we deny what evils They are commiting agaisnt Them when they hav ecommitted so many agaisnt US. Lest we forget where the Majority of ‘hi jackers’ called Home - Saudi Arabia, and yet nothing has been done to that nation in regards to ‘terrorists’.Deductive reason begs the Question- why are we there, and on Who’s behalf? We are not only the ‘World Police’ We are being Used as the Saudi’s (UAE) Army!

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By Bboy, April 12, 2008 at 9:18 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I mean schezzz, a foriegn power is occlupying your country and they want you to play by their political propagnda rules. Uhh ya, that would go over just as well here, huh?!

And then the military is outraged that the ingrate doesn’t follow the necessary course to appease us. Then comes the assasination!

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By Marshall, April 12, 2008 at 8:16 pm Link to this comment

Do you work for Sadr?

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By Fadel Abdallah, April 12, 2008 at 5:43 pm Link to this comment

This statement by Sadr should be added to the glorious achievements and victories at hand of the occupying US army in Iraq! It is certainly many Iraqis’ counter response to the so-called “surge.” That’s because for every surge by the forces of occupation, there is similar reaction by the freedom-fighters equal to it in force and opposite to it in direction. This is a law of physics which equally applies to human nature. But how would one expect slow-thinking Bush and gang to understand this complex equation?!

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