Good news from Iraq: Al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army offers truce

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=56604






BAGHDAD, OCTOBER 7: A rebel Shi’ite Muslim militia led by Moqtada Al-Sadr pledged on Thursday to disarm in what could be a major advance for US-Iraqi efforts to calm violence in Iraq ahead of elections due in January.

The proposal, which meets a key demand of the interim government, was announced by Ali Smeism, a top Sadr adviser, on Arabic Al-Arabiya television. It followed the release of a pro-Sadr cleric from US detention in Abu Ghraib jail. Smeism said that in return for any weapons surrender, the government must guarantee that Sadr’s followers are not ‘‘persecuted’’ and the US military must free more of his aides.

Wait, that means they're negotiating with the terrorists!

....they are still bombing Falluja. I guess some terrorists are more equal then other terrorists.

I'll wait and see :)

An aide to rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has offered to hand over medium and heavy weapons and co-operate with Iraqi security forces in Baghdad if the government stops pursuing members of the Shiite militia and releases most of his followers held in jail.

The offer, made by al-Sadr spokesman Ali Smeisem on Al-Arabiya television, was aimed at striking a deal to end weeks of fighting between US troops and al-Sadr's militia in his stronghold Sadr City, a teeming Shiite slum in Baghdad.

There was no comment from the Iraqi government or the US command. However, Smeisem made no commitment to disband the Mahdi Army militia -- a key US and Iraqi demand.


http://icharrow.icnetwork.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=14730903&method=full&siteid=53340&headline=rebel-offers-partial-disarmament-name_page.html

By tomorrow, I imagine that we will have further clarification that the agreement is predicated on US withdrawal from cities, and shortly after that, indications that Al Sadr does not now nor has he ever owned the Resistance. ;)

even though the US negotiates with terrorists, we don't negotiate with terrorists.

ok to negotiate for the lives of American and UK hostages? Someone explain this to me? And don't give me the "It was the Iraqis doing the negotiations. They don't make a move without the US ok.

If a guerilla force is somewhat unbalanced in its geographical locations, and wanted to rebalance forces to be more effective over a larger area, what would be the best way to do this?

Isn't Ramadan coming-up with lots of pilgrams travelling here and there?

If al Sadr declared that he was a candidate for PM and al Sistani supported that, there is no doubt that al Sadr would win.

You haven't a fucking clue what you speak of.

To the US, these are "insurgents" and "terrorists."

I prefer the term "partisans," but these of course are "religious partisans."

Sooo...al Sadr for months has been painted as the "bad guy" we won't negotiate with...and that was why I said what I did...

This is just too stupid. They give up some weapons that probably don't work, then use the money we give them to buy better stuff, that somebody probably stole from our own military stockpiles. Fight them or surrender to them, this passive/agressive dance we're doing is just going to make it worse.