Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr: The Iraqi government is

finally trying to clip his wings after months of

armed clashes with his Shiite political rivals and

U.S. and Iraqi troops.

Azzaman, Iraq

Muqtada al-Sadr's Free Ride is Over: It's About Time

"In Iraq, one of the many questions that can only be asked with great difficulty - like something that's so hard to swallow, one needs a drink afterwards - is this one: Why for years, was the Mahdi Army allowed to parade in front of the public and guard areas of central Baghdad, flouting what passes for democracy, the rule of law and the fiction of a 'just constitution?'

By Fateh Abdusalam

Translated By Nicolas Dagher

April 24, 2008

Iraq - Azzaman - Original Article (Arabic)

There’s a kind of perverse equality in Iraq, which is that no one has a right to ask questions. Or everyone has a right to ask questions, according to Democratic theory, but not everyone who asks one has the right to an answer.

The same can be said about questions on political matters. There are those who excuse this [disapproval of questions] and exempt the Iraqi government from any responsibility on the grounds that, "the eye cannot overcome the will" - or the American oversight of Iraq [an Arabic expression that means the eye - that being the feeble Baghdad government, cannot overcome the "will" -that being the mighty U.S.], where the file of outstanding problems remains suspended in the Pentagon.

One of the many questions that are forbidden or that can only be asked with great difficulty - like something that's so hard to swallow, one needs a drink afterwards - is this one: Why was the Mahdi Army permitted to operate day and night for three years - and especially the last two years since the eruption of sectarian strife and the failure of al-Jaafari's  notorious government [2005-2006] which showed leniency toward all parties involved and failed to control the strife, all of which only served to pour oil on the fire?

Why was the Mahdi Army allowed to parade in front of the public and guard areas of central Baghdad, flouting what passes for democracy, the rule of law and the fiction of a "just constitution?" The public airwaves reported on these "authorities" as though they comprised part of the new Iraqi state - until three-quarters of Baghdad’s original population comprised of various sects and groups were forced to flee because they weren't “loyal” to those who prevailed in the street … or to those who prevailed in the secret/or open headquarters of public authorities or armed parties.

Why does the Mahdi Army remain silent about the “renegades and infiltrators” who used its name and address for years, through the consent of alliances and friendships. … until a crisis of “existence” and “authority” broke out with a party that was smarter and better equipped logistically [the Badr Brigades] and which caused all parties to expose the dirty laundry of their opponents.

[Author refers to the fact that Muqtar al-Sadr blamed Mahdi Army "renegades" for recent clashes in Basra against its main Shiite rivals - the Badr Brigades , which is the armed faction of Iraq's largest Shiite Party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. The Council is headed by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who is considered close to the Iraqi government of Nouri al-Maliki - and Tehran. According to the author, Muqtada al-Sadr had remained silent about his Mahdi Army "renegades" until these clashes in Basra - presumably because this time he has stepped on Shiite toes - and so needed to explain himself]. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

Why is a person [Muqtar al-Sadr] who was above the law three years ago, now wanted by the law? What has changed: the person or the law or the ones in charge of overseeing that law?

Those questions are not permitted, but they certainly make for useful sentences.

CLICK HERE FOR ARABIC VERSION

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US April 28, 10:48pm]