Telegraph:
Moqtada al-Sadr, one of the most radical figures in Iraqi politics, made his first public appearance for two years when he paid a surprise visit to Turkey.
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Waiting in the wings to return. What have we done for Iraq and Afghanistan after these wars? Nothing. They remain in the middle ages in their mentality -- and they like it that way. There was a wonderful presentation on NRP yesterday morning (05/03/2009) from bloggers, like us, from Iran, Israel and Iraq, I believe. Some of their friends have been imprisoned, some killed, for blogging in their countries and telling the truth.
It reminds me how fortunate we are to live in the U.S. but also reminds me how futile the last 8 years have been with so many wasted lives. We haven't changed these societies one iota, and we need to remove our soldiers now and not give them one more chance to criticize America. Leave them to their own devices, and let's see how long it takes before they break into civil war in Iraq. This man's reappearance is a sure sign of that possibility.
Like it or not, his major role in Iraq is the result of George Bush's stupid invasion and Katrina-like aftermath.
He and Iran should name a national holiday after W in return for assuring Iranian dominance in the area and major influence on Iraq.
Of course he's a religious fanatic -- he reminds me of the Hebrew Prophets, railing against anyone who doesn't share their beliefs.
The success of fanaticism in the Mideast -- Israeli and Muslim, is largely the outgrowth of our misguided Israel uber alles policy, born unprofessionally out of domestic politics rather than a true measure of our national interest. We can hope that iraq will somehow recapture the secular focus that Syria, for example, has maintained. Egypt may sooner than later fall to fundamentalists like Sadr, because its corrupt leader has turned his nation into an Israeli poodle.
Developments like that will finally uproot the alien Israeli state, probably with frightening human cost, but our legacy in the area will be shameful and laden with the sad effects of our badly conceived policy.
Al-Sadr lost a lot of weight. I wonder if this is due to a medical problem.
He is very powerful but an obstruction to Iraq's stability. He is also suspected of being a pawn for Iran. He is too political and not religious enough for democracy. Time will tell what his role and impact will be.
What does that mean to be too political and not religious enough for Democracy? Is your role model Pat Robertson and his infamous FATWA to klll Chavez?
Pat Robertson is not my role model and I don't advocate theocracy.
My comment was misinterpreted. Al-Sadr was a cleric and in Iraq clerics and other leaders were secular or non-partisan in political matters.
Al-Sadr was in Iran for various reasons. One of them is studying to be an Ayatollah. But his record shows him involved in politics more than religion and amassing a huge following of supporters.
In the best interest of Iraq, Al-Sadr should behave more like Ali al-Sistani and stay distant from politics. He should let democracy work without his interference.
TONY BENN
"I met them all - Gandhi, Mandela, Kenyatta, Nkrumah, Lumumba - first they are denounced as terrorists. Then we negotiate. Then they end up running their newly independent countries. Finally they get invited for tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace and we negotiate trade deals with them." Paraphrased.
Tony Benn, on why demonizing your Empire's political enemies is a mugg's game.
Tony Benn - the man who waited eighty years, only to be proven correct -
http://www.bennites.com/NEW_TO_TONYBENN
THE WAR NERD
The War Nerd from The Exiled - on why Moqtada Al-Sadr won in Iraq -
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20237.htm
Great links. Thanks.
These freaks are sub-human. what is that, half man half water buffalo. so gross all of them. enough hair on his back to weave a dark black rug
hmm, who are you referring to as "freaks"? All mu.slims, or just those who lead the the freedom fighters to push the im.p.eri.al.ist US our of their country? Al-Sadr is far from a saint, but then those in power never are. We created him through our callous lack of empathy for human life.
What do you say about those that lead invasions based on lies to subjugate countries for their resources, and put in enough military bases to rule the entire region? Of course you've drunk the prop.ag.anda, and see everything as black(islam) and white(christians).
Thank goodness there are those of us that actually care about the truth, and see the big picture enough to kick your as_s.es out of power.
What do you call yourself?
This guy always reminds me of Meat Loaf. Kind of chubby for the role of desert wolf.
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| 05/ 1/09 02:00 PM