http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/...ves/009157.php

Well, so much for the whole 72 virgins thing and the radical Islamist desire to die in martyrdom:

The story tonight in Iraq is not 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.

This couldn't have come at a better time. Congress has tied itself in knots trying to opine on what a disaster the surge will be, and before they can vote on a resolution scolding George Bush for wasting resources, he's already chased one of the worst actors out of Baghdad. Nancy Pelosi will be holding a debate to disapprove of a strategy that has already demonstrated success.

And as for Sadr, this will destroy him and his Mahdi Army. ABC reports that Sadr wants to try to run the Mahdis from Teheran, but his credibility as a jihadi just tanked. Who's going to fight for someone who won't stand up for himself?

And the Iranians surely have to be thumping their foreheads over his bug-out. The US had just demonstrated that the Iranians had backed the insurgencies, which the Iranians disputed, and the chief of the Shi'ite militias announces that he's going to become a remote-control general from their turf. It's going to be very difficult for anyone to pretend that Iran has not actively fueled the insurgencies while Moqtada directs his armies by long-distance telephone calls.

This demonstrates that the US forces have seized the initiative in Baghdad, and that the Maliki government has apparently completely abandoned Sadr. It's a tremendous victory in the preliminary stages, and it sets the table for an end to the hottest part of the insurgencies in the Iraqi capital. (via Power Line)

LOL! I bet there are virgins in Iran too.

Sadr showed the usual and expected Islamic courage. They have none except when it comes to murdering women and children in the name of their pedophile prophet and silly god.

__________________

Liberal-a person who has his cake, eats his cake, and complains that other people don't have cake, and believes that you should donate your cake to them

Thanks Scoody; You really contributed to this thread

__________________
That's what I'm talking about

First of all, he doesn't live in Baghdad, he lives in Nejef.

Second, what reason would he have to leave? Would it be the 21000 troops? No, why should he be scared of 21000 troops when there already thousands there that are trying to kill him? Would it be the security crackdown? No, because it's the government that's cracking down, and we all know that Sadr's part of the government, right? Bush and Al-Maliki alike have stated that this crackdown isn't against any political party, it's to try and keep Baghdad safe. Why would the government try to out one of their biggest supporters? Third, why even if he had those reasons to flee, I don't see why they would want to get rid of him anyway. He seems to be the last thread between Al-Qaeda taking over Iraq and Iraq becoming free. Remember when those workers were supposedly burned (when there was no proof whatsoever)? That happened at the time a crackdown had been placed in Iraq. Why would there be workers at a time there was a curfew?

__________________
That's what I'm talking about

And as for Sadr being allies with Iran: Bullshit. His dad cooperated with Saddam, and an we all know how much Saddam hated Iran. They tried to use each other to gain in their own political agendas. Are there any known ties between Sadr and Iran, other than that it is suspected? Iran and Sadr were rivals in their own repective Shi'a parties.

__________________
That's what I'm talking about

Good perspective ME. I like reading your posts.

So, it is your belief that the reports are not true?

It might not be the 21,000 additional troops that he is worried about, but the way they might be implemented. As far as you saying the crackdown is not against any political party, you are both right and wrong. The crackdown is not aimed at a particular group but rather a widespread and indiscriminant enforcement. Perhaps he and his followers were protected under prior tactics while now they are under fire. Just something to think about.

__________________
He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.
Dr. Samuel Johnson

Just as Skinny Fats suggests, Sam and ME, the question here is why would he leave.

__________________
He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.
Dr. Samuel Johnson