Loading ...The Real Story: Behind Sadr’s warning to the US lies an unavoidable fact - he holds critical cards
Tuesday April 22nd, 2008
In this three part story on “Who is Muqtada al Sadr”, Senior News Editor Paul Jay introduces the context . . . Sadr’s call for all out war until liberation if the attacks on Sadr city do not end.
The Real News Analyst Pepe Escobar introduces Sadr in his own words with clips from a rare interview with Al Jazeera.
Patrick Cockburn, author of the book Muqtada, tells Pepe Escobar that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s recent military offensive against al-Sadr may be an attempt to control the outcome of provisional elections to be held this fall, which al-Sadr and his allies are likely to win. Cockburn concludes a new phase in the war may have started, where large sections of Shia militias enter the fight against US occupation.
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Moqtada Sadr said he was giving the government a “last warning”, and urged it to take “the path of peace“.
His statement came as Iraqi troops, with US and UK support, clashed with his forces in Baghdad and the south.
In August the cleric’s militia declared a ceasefire, pledging not to attack government or foreign soldiers.
“I’m giving the last warning and the last word to the Iraqi government,” Moqtada Sadr said.
“Either it comes to its senses and takes the path of peace… or it will be (seen as) the same as the previous government,” he added, referring to former President Saddam Hussein’s fallen regime.
“If it does not stop the militias that have infiltrated the government, then we will declare an open war until liberation,” he added.