NationStates Jolt Archive

Sadr's militia defeated: US
From correspondents in Baghdad
June 6, 2004

THE US military said today it had defeated the outlawed militia of flamboyant Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Sadr across central Iraq, and denied that there was any truce with the radical preacher.

"The Moqtada militia is militarily defeated. We have killed scores of them over the last few weeks, and that is in Najaf alone," Brigadier General Mark Hertling, one of the top US commanders in charge of Najaf, told AFP.

"Over the past several days, Moqtada's militia has lost much of their stomach for fighting," he said, also declaring victory in the central cities of Kut, Diwaniyah and Karbala, dogged by fighting over the past two months.

"We have also destroyed their weapons stores and their offensive capability," he said.

"What remains of them, which is a very small force, will take advantage of the governor's announcement to disperse if not disband."

"There is no truce between the coalition forces and the militia ... We have not conceded anything to Sadr.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9763089%5E1702,00.html

time to celebrate...pop up the champagne :P

So, Mission Accomplished...again?

This reminds me of a priceless BBC News Online headline about the fighting in Sudan, from a month ago. It went something like "[Big Cheese] declares Darfur rebels defeated. Rebels deny this is the case." :lol:

Similarly, the Russian Federal Forces' multiple victories in Chechnya.

I give this latest offering zero credence.

Well, if they say it's destroyed, it must be.

Just like they said we'd capture Osama...

THE US military said today it had defeated the outlawed militia of flamboyant Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Sadr across central Iraq, and denied that there was any truce with the radical preacher.


Translation. Yes we have allied ourselves with him. A few of his followers disliked this and so with his aid we have slaughtered them.


"The Moqtada militia is militarily defeated. We have killed scores of them over the last few weeks, and that is in Najaf alone," Brigadier General Mark Hertling, one of the top US commanders in charge of Najaf, told AFP.


We have killed lots of people and are feeling quite chuffed with ourselves. Presumably not all the dead were civilians.


"Over the past several days, Moqtada's militia has lost much of their stomach for fighting," he said, also declaring victory in the central cities of Kut, Diwaniyah and Karbala, dogged by fighting over the past two months.


We have killed many civilians but for some reason people are still shooting at us. We have plenty more killing to do in Kut, Diwaniyah and Karbala, but as we have to restore order anywhere else don't hold your breath.


"We have also destroyed their weapons stores and their offensive capability," he said.


Send more body bags this is harder than we thought.

Good.

THE US military said today it had defeated the outlawed militia of flamboyant Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Sadr across central Iraq, and denied that there was any truce with the radical preacher.


Translation. Yes we have allied ourselves with him. A few of his followers disliked this and so with his aid we have slaughtered them.


"The Moqtada militia is militarily defeated. We have killed scores of them over the last few weeks, and that is in Najaf alone," Brigadier General Mark Hertling, one of the top US commanders in charge of Najaf, told AFP.


We have killed lots of people and are feeling quite chuffed with ourselves. Presumably not all the dead were civilians.


"Over the past several days, Moqtada's militia has lost much of their stomach for fighting," he said, also declaring victory in the central cities of Kut, Diwaniyah and Karbala, dogged by fighting over the past two months.


We have killed many civilians but for some reason people are still shooting at us. We have plenty more killing to do in Kut, Diwaniyah and Karbala, but as we have to restore order anywhere else don't hold your breath.


"We have also destroyed their weapons stores and their offensive capability," he said.


Send more body bags this is harder than we thought.

No, I don't think that's what he said at all...

I heard 9 militias are disbanding earlier today . . . does that include what's left of Sadr's?

I heard 9 militias are disbanding earlier today . . . does that include what's left of Sadr's?

No. That deal brokered by the new Iraqi government doesn't apply to Sadr's militia. The 9 militias are purportedly resistance fighters who were in opposition to Saddam and will either return to civilian life or join security forces by next year's free elections. Sadr's militia was excluded because of their actions, although a truce officially exists between his militia and coalition forces.

Al-Sadr Fighters Seize a Police Station in Najaf
By EDWARD WONG
BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 10 — Militiamen loyal to the rebel Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr seized a police station in the center of Najaf on Thursday, set prisoners free and allowed looters to plunder the building, witnesses and Iraqi security officials said. ...
The gunmen withdrew from the police station after several hours, but they returned throughout the day as the looting went on. At night, militiamen set fire to eight new police cars, witnesses reported.


http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/06/11/international/iraq.1841.jpg
Aljazeera photos© A Shiite militiaman crossed a street littered with old banknotes from the Saddam Hussein era, past a police car riddled with bullets, shortly after militants seized a police station Thursday, ending a cease-fire in Najaf.

*looks at above post*

It really is "Mission Accomplished" all over again, any chance they could squeeze an aircraft carrier up the Potomic for the president to give a speech on after the funeral services tomorrow.

(for those too thick to know, the former statement is one of a satirical nature)

too bad....

Well, if they say it's destroyed, it must be.

Just like they said we'd capture Osama...

8)

Ah, here we are . . .

Sudan's western rebels 'crushed' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3473245.stm)
President Bashir says Darfur rebels have been defeated, although they deny this.

Since that news report, the fighting has intensified to record levels.

When a militia disbands, they only needs to exchange a few phone calls, and a reason to fight, to reform. And then it's business as usual.