Iraqi Political Leaders Protest U.S. Siege Of Sadr City

[Purveyor]

Source: McLatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD, Iraq — About 50 leaders representing a variety of Iraqi political blocs took to Baghdad's Sadr City on Sunday, a stronghold of fiery religious leader Muqtada al Sadr, to protest the U.S.-led siege of that area.

The leaders promised to work together with Sadrists to remove insurgents and weapons in the area. But they also had six other demands of the government, including that it immediately suspend military activity in the city, supply basic services to residents and prioritize peaceful solutions over military conflicts.

"Whatever point the crisis reaches we will keep our efforts to put an end to it," said Ahmed Radhi, a member of the Iraqi Accordance Front, the largest Sunni Muslim bloc. Radhi said the leaders formed a committee to meet with Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to solve problems plaguing Sadr City.

"We have a delegation meeting with Maliki to let him know the real situation going on in the city," said Nassar al Rubaie, a Sadrist. "We have lawmakers from different blocs and parties to come and watch the situation on the ground."

Lawmakers representing the Iraqi National Accord, the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue and the Kurdish alliance also were present. The leaders said they were moved by pictures of civilian casualties as well as the health crisis plaguing residents in Sadr City.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/35066.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Who cares what you think?" - Commander AWOL

[Supersedeas]

5. where a military occupation meets the incompetence of the State Dept diplomatic efforts

[ohio2007]

2. You are going to see life get a lot better for Iraqis in the south part of Sadr City,"

snip
There has been relative calm in the east Baghdad slum of Sadr City in the past few days after weeks of pitched battles and bombings between Iraqi security forces and insurgents.


snip
You are going to see life get a lot better for Iraqis in the south part of Sadr City," he said.

Iraqi Brig. Gen. Qassim Atta echoed Stover's comments, saying security forces are focused on providing services for residents in Sadr City.

"There is no siege in Sadr City," Atta said during a press conference Sunday. "The movement is normal, except in areas where there are still military operations."


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/35066.html



I guess they feel lobbing shells into the green zone is acceptable but...... The army can plot what areas of the slums those mortar rounds are commming out of, inform Iraqi ground forces and it's up to
Sadr's militia to stop shooting at Iraqi soldiers on patrol in Sadr city.

[mcollier]

3. Any thoughts as to WHY!

Empathy is vastly under rated....

[LynnTheDem]

4. They seem to think they're actually "sovereign" or something.

They don't yet seem to understand.