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"...even the wicked get worse than they deserve." - Willa Cather, One of Ours

Friday, May 21, 2004

Eviction Notice

Al-Hayat
The struggle for the leadership of Iraq's Shia is at the heart of Muqtada Al-Sadr's standoff with the US-led occupation forces.
...Muqtada al-Sadr met with local tribal chieftains from Najaf and its environs, who gave him a letter asking his forces to vacate the holy places of Najaf. The letter threatened that if he did not do so voluntarily, the tribes are strong enough to kick him out.

[...]

"Everyone knows that the militia will not be able to expel the US-led army. So there is a dominant feeling in the Iraqi street of the futility of these battles," he added. He pointed out that the timing for the breakout of such battles could have negative repercussions, as the Iraqis await the 30 June transfer of power. "There is a general feeling among the majority of Iraqis -- not just the Shia -- that this confrontation was unnecessary, particularly when Al-Sadr's goals are not clear enough."..."Sayed Al-Sistani has demanded that Najaf be evacuated of all armed militias. They don't approve of the city being turned into a battlefield"...
This struggle is not just over who will fill the political vacuum left once the US transfers power, but also over the question of which political movement truly represents the will of Iraq's Shia. Ultimately, it is very unlikely that the senior Shia leadership will accede to the dominance of Muqtada.

The Coalition will ensure that Muqtada'a militia is defeated militarily, and the Shia leadership will ensure that Muqtada is defeated politically
Posted by: Zayphar / 5/21/2004 01:34:00 AM
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