I think the Iraqis have figured out Moqtada al-Sadr who hasn't been seen in 9 months is in custody

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/79603/

By Kareem Zair, Azzaman. Posted March 13, 2008.



First major breach of Moqtada al-Sadr's unilateral ceasefire.

Violence erupted once again in central and southern Iraq as heavily armed Shiite militia groups battle with police and army over control of residential quarters.

The most ferocious clashes are reported to be taking place in the Province of Wasit of which the city of Kut is the capital.

Police sources in Kut say the Mahdi Army, the military army of the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, has driven police forces from city.

The clashes follow orders from Sadr to permit his militias to carry arms and defend themselves. This is the first breach of the six-month truce he and U.S. commanders had agreed upon.

So far the fighting has involved his militias and Iraqi forces. But the latest clashes in Kut prove that Iraqi troops are no match for Sadr’s heavily armed militia.

Police and security forces have fled the city and are reported to be regrouping for a counter attack.

[acmavm]

1. Why do you think he's in custody? The excuse for him being out

of the public eye is that he's studying to become an ayatollah.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Because even people studying to be an ayatollah normally can be caught by a camera occasionally

But not this cat.

Don

[acmavm]

3. See, I think he's purposely lying low. He can't win the way things

are right now. There's no side that he can take and still survive. If he supports his Mahdi Army, he's got the US and the 'Iraqi government' against him. If he supports the 'Iraqi government' and the US, he's a traitor to his people. He's in a lose/lost situation and his ONLY alternative is to lay low and hope that one side or the other destroys itself.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Lying low and becoming invisible are two distinct and different things

Even when our soldiers were battling his people tooth and nail he was still giving regular live press conferences and sermons.

No more.

Don

[acmavm]

5. Yeah, but he was a hero back then. Now it's Shia against

Shia. They aren't a unified sect anymore. The US puppet government is Shia. The Mahdi Army (who is against the US puppet government is Shia. And the Shi'ite populace is sick and tired of the killing.

Nope, lose/lose. He has to lay low.

[NNN0LHI]

6. You may be right Sistani is no young kid any more

What is he a hundred and something?

Might be waiting for the old coot to kick?

But personally I think Sadr has a bag over his head somewhere.

Don

[acmavm]

7. Only time will tell.