IRAQ: Sadr weighs in on U.S.-Iraq deal
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Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr has remained out of Iraq’s political fray since spring, but the debate over a deal that would determine the future of American troops in Iraq has revived his fiery rhetoric and that of some of his more militant followers. A pro-Sadr song making the rounds in Baghdad and sold at local markets includes the lyrics: ‘We’ll be back after this break ... the revolt will return and the lions will go again. It’s an advertising break, then we’ll strike back again.’
Some Iraqis have downloaded it onto their cellular phones. The lyrics, an apparent attempt to warn Iraqis that Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia has not gone away, have also been scrawled on walls in some Sadr strongholds. Not everyone finds this amusing. ‘This is proof that these people who pretended for a long time that they were serving Islam and Shiites have no real faith. They were just thugs using the name of Mahdi,’ said 72-year-old Abu Zaher as he looked at one such scrawl.
Questions remain about what exactly the draft agreement says regarding the date for withdrawal of American forces. U.S. and Iraqi officials have made a point of playing down suggestions that it sets a pullout date of 2011 if security is such that Iraq’s security forces can take over.
As far as Sadr and his loyal supporters are concerned, no deal is acceptable unless it sets a specific deadline for a U.S. withdrawal, and the sooner the better.
This could put Prime Minister Nouri Maliki into a difficult position as he tries to negotiate with the Americans while also looking for a deal that won’t anger Iraqis. With provincial elections anticipated in coming months, Maliki has to be extra careful not to be seen as relinquishing Iraqi independence and bowing to U.S. demands.
‘Some Iraqis want the Americans to stay because they think there will be chaos if they leave, but of course we will be in better hands with the Iraqi government in charge,’ said one worshiper after the weekly Friday prayer service in Sadr City. The event always draws thousands of Shiites to a broad avenue in Sadr City, and closes with anti-U.S. chants blared through loudspeakers and repeated by the crowd.
Friday’s chants focused on the agreement, which is still in draft form and has to be approved by Iraq’s parliament. Lawmakers are in recess until Sept. 9, and there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to agree on either the current draft or another version.
Sadr’s angry words are a reminder of what a headache he can be for Maliki, even from a distance. The cleric is known to live in Iran, where an aide tells the Associated Press he is studying to become an ayatollah. That could ultimately provide him the religious and political clout he seeks in Iraq. Skeptics say Sadr might be in Iran not out of choice but because Iran controls his moves and wants to keep him in check.
Whatever the case, Sadr’s comments are a hint at what lies ahead as Iraq’s deeply divided political factions begin hashing out details of the U.S.-Iraq plan. If they can’t agree on a final draft, it would leave U.S. forces in a state of limbo here. The United Nations mandate governing their status expires at the end of this year, and the controversial plan is supposed to replace it.
--Tina Susman and Usama Redha in Baghdad
Video: Caesar Ahmad / Los Angeles Times
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