Posted by
on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 9:39:48 AM
The surge hasn't even officially begun, and we have our first, major victory. ABC News, Captain Ed, and John at PowerLine are reporting that Moqtada al-Sadr has flown the coop, and is sitting in Tehran:
While members of the U.S. House of Representatives take turns weighing in on President Bush's planned troop surge in Iraq, the focus in Iraq is not on the arrival of more U.S. troops, but the departure of one of the country's most powerful men, Moqtada al Sadr and members of his army.
According to senior military officials, al Sadr left Baghdad two to three weeks ago and fled to Tehran, Iran, where he has family.
Al Sadr commands the Mahdi army, one of the most formidable insurgent militias in Iraq, and his move coincides with the announced U.S. troop surge in Baghdad.
Sources believe al Sadr is worried about an increase of 20,000 U.S. troops in the Iraqi capital. One official told ABC News' Martha Raddatz, "He is scared he will get a JDAM [bomb] dropped on his house."
Sources say some of the Mahdi army leadership went with al Sadr.
Though he is gone for now, many believe al Sadr is not gone for good. In Tehran he is trying to keep the Mahdi militia together.
Captain Ed noted this Yahoo story that says he's still in Iraq:
Lawmakers and officials linked to al-Sadr have denied that he had left the country, with one saying the cleric had met with government officials late Tuesday in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.
An Iraqi government official said al-Sadr was in Najaf as recently as Tuesday night, when he received delegates from several government departments. The official, who is familiar with one of those meetings, spoke on condition of anonymity because he has no authority to disclose information on his department's activities.
Lawmaker Nassar al-Rubaie, the head of Sadrist bloc in parliament, also insisted al-Sadr had not left the country.
"The news is not accurate because Muqtada al-Sadr is still in Iraq and he did not visit any country," al-Rubaie told The Associated Press.
Then, as Captain Ed offers, let him hold a presser. Prove the US military wrong. Prove to his supporters he hasn't turned coward (like all terrorists do) and run back to his people in Iran. But he won't because he isn't in Iraq. And about him running the Mahdi army from Tehran? Who's going to follow him? Even terrorists aren't going to follow a leader that has turned tail and run.
We've barely begun to scratch the surface of the terrorists in Iraq with the surge, and the bniggest one there has called no joy. So, while Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer continue to butt heads in the House (over this retarded resolution she's pushing, which doesn't have the force of law to begin with), and the GOP tries to mount a defense against the resolution, al-Sadr decided that rather than stick around and tough things out, the view of the war looked better in Tehran. Man, his handlers have got to be pretty disappointed in their little attack dog. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to learn later on down the road that he's been executed.
Publius II
SPECIAL NOTE: Marcie and I are beginning our vacation later today, and Sabrina will be covering the site. Now, don't go nuts on her. she is back at work after having beaten her breast cancer. She's a busy woman, and will post when she gets a chance to. Be nice to her guys. This may be the last time she does anything on the site for some time. Keep the comments clean, and no, don't go asking her out on a date. We'll see you all back here on 22 February (next Thursday). Sabrina will also be putting up the notice of our new column up at Common Conservative on the 16th.
You all have a good time while she's here, and have a Happy Valentine's Day!