Is Mookie Goin’ Fishing?

It’s hard to ignore the fact that one of our most persistent enemies in Iraq is publicly throwing in the towel (at least temporarily) and that momentum is clearly on our side. Of course I am sure the Democrats and the MSM (but I repeat myself) will find a way to do just that.

NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) - Radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his dreaded Shiite militia on Wednesday to stop attacks on US-led forces as part of a six-month suspension of the militant group's activities. …

"I direct the Mahdi Army to suspend all its activities for six months until it is restructured in a way that helps honour the principles for which it is formed," Sadr said in a statement issued by his office in the city of Najaf.

Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani, a Sadr aide who led a bloody rebellion against US forces in Najaf in 2004, said the suspension included a ban on any attacks on US-led forces.

"The suspension means that the Mahdi Army will stop all armed activities against the occupiers or any other groups," he told AFP. "The aim is to reorganise the militia but not to dismantle it. It is also an effort to root out the rogue elements."

…

Most of his fighters are reported to have disappeared to avoid the military crackdown and taken shelter in the Shiite south of the country.

It’s unclear exactly what Mookie’s game is here. He could simply be lying, laying low and waiting for his allies in Congress to bail him out or any number of other possibilities. And while Sadr is the most well known Shiite militia leader, he isn’t the only one. Regardless, I hope that the US military doesn’t take a 6 month break in operations against Sadr’s group…keep kicking them, especially when they are down.

Here’s an early attempt at spin from Bassem Mroue of the Associated Press.

But it's unclear how much influence al-Sadr still wields over Shiite groups blamed for waves of attacks, including powerful roadside bombs that remain the chief killer of U.S. troops. American officials, meanwhile, reacted with skepticism and urged al-Sadr to show tangible steps to rein in his fighters.

I eagerly await the newest talking point from the left….”Just because our enemy is giving up doesn’t mean we are wining in Iraq!” or something like that.

posted by DrewM. at 06:53 PM

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