Where Is Muqtada Al-Sadr?

Military Spokesman In Iraq Says Radical Cleric Likely In Iran, His Associates Deny Departure

(CBS/AP)  The chief U.S. military spokesman in Iraq insisted Wednesday that Muqtada al-Sadr has left the country and is believed to be in Iran, despite denials from the radical Shiite cleric's supporters.

The statement by Maj. Gen. William Caldwell came after a U.S. official said al-Sadr left the country some weeks ago and is believed to be in Tehran, where he has family.

The official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. monitoring activities, said fractures in al-Sadr's political and militia operations may be part of the reason for his departure. The move is not believed to be permanent, the official said.

Lawmakers and officials linked to al-Sadr quickly 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.

Caldwell declined to comment on the reasons al-Sadr had left the country or give more details.

"We will acknowledge that he is not in the country and all indications are in fact that he is in Iran," Caldwell told reporters in Baghdad.

The U.S. report on al-Sadr's departure coincided with an announcement that Iraq will close its borders with Iran and Syria for 72 hours as part of the drive to end the violence that has threatened to divide the capital along sectarian lines.

A close aide who meets regularly with him said al-Sadr was not in Tehran. The aide said the U.S. report probably stems from a campaign by al-Sadr's people to put out false information about his movements amid fears he will be detained by U.S.-led forces. The cleric also is sleeping in different places each night, the aide said.

An official in al-Sadr's main office in the Shiite holy city of Najaf said the cleric had decided not to appear publicly during the current month of Muharam, one of four holy months in the Islamic calendar.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information.

In other developments:

Challenged on the accuracy of U.S. intelligence, President Bush said Wednesday there is no doubt the Iranian government is providing armor-piercing weapons to kill American soldiers in Iraq. But he backed away from claims the top echelon of Iran's government was responsible. Mr. Bush, at a news conference, also said he would fight any attempt by the Democratic-controlled Congress to cut off money for the war. "They need to fund our troops and the need to make sure we have the flexibility necessary to get the job done," he said. The House is expected to vote Friday on a nonbinding resolution opposing President Bush's decision to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.

A Shiite militant group has released a video of an Iraqi-American soldier who was kidnapped nearly four months ago while visiting his wife in downtown Baghdad, an American television network reported Wednesday. The U.S. government has offered a $50,000 reward leading to the recovery of Iraqi-born American Army translator Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, a 41-year-old reserve soldier from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who was abducted by gunmen on Oct. 23.

A U.S. soldier died Wednesday after coming under small arms fire a day earlier from insurgents while on patrol north of Baghdad, the military said. Separately, another soldier died Tuesday in a non-combat-related incident that is under investigation, it said.

A Sea Knight helicopter that crashed last week northwest of Baghdad was shot down, the U.S. military said Wednesday, reversing earlier statements that it appeared to have been due to mechanical failure. The Marine CH-46 troop transport went down northwest of Baghdad on Feb. 7, killing all seven people on board, and an al Qaeda-linked Sunni group claimed responsibility and aired a video (click here to watch) showing a helicopter shot down, which military officials have called very convincing. "Initial evidence indicated that the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter went down as a result of mechanical failure. After further investigation using all available means, the cause of the incident has been confirmed to be hostile fire," said Maj. Jeff Pool, a spokesman for the Multi National Force — West.

The Bush administration plans to allow about 7,000 Iraqi refugees to settle in the United States over the next year, a huge expansion of a program at a time when this country is facing international pressure to help some of the millions of refugees who have fled their battle-torn Mideast nation. The United States has allowed only 463 Iraq refugees into the country since the war began. A senior State Department official described the expanded program on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement later Wednesday.

A Marine has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping in the slaying of an Iraqi man who was dragged from his home last April and shot, but he denied murdering the victim, a charge prosecutors will dismiss if he testifies for the government. Lance Cpl. Robert Pennington, 22, told a court-martial Tuesday that he knew the kidnapping was wrong, but he participated because he and his fellow Marines were tired of suspected insurgents escaping the justice system.

French counterterrorism police arrested nine suspects in a pre-dawn sweep on Wednesday aimed at breaking up an alleged al-Qaida-linked recruiting network to send radical Islamic fighters to Iraq, the Interior Ministry said. The nine were all from southwestern France. Two of the suspects were arrested at Orly airport in Paris after returning from abroad, the ministry said in a statement, without saying where they had come from or where the others had been taken into custody.

Continued

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© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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by karlimhof February 14, 2007 6:50 AM PST

bush has opened pandoras box - the whole unemployed middle east will be joining up to throw the "invader" out.

what have we gotton ourselves into?!

Reply to this comment

by ghareeb2-2009 February 14, 2007 7:06 AM PST

from Egypt
the dirty blood-handed invaders are now burnt in choppers and on the ground of Iraq
congrats to the brave Iraqi fighters

Reply to this comment

by formrusmcsgt February 14, 2007 7:20 AM PST

bush has opened pandoras box - the whole unemployed middle east will be joining up to throw the "invader" out.

what have we gotton ourselves into?!
Posted by karlimhof at 06:50 AM : Feb 14, 2007

Short answer? A very expensive boondoggle....

Reply to this comment

by formrusmcsgt February 14, 2007 7:26 AM PST

"The aide said the U.S. report probably stems from a campaign by al-Sadr's people to put out false information about his movements amid fears he will be detained by U.S.-led forces."

And the press release was a result of U.S. disinformation attempting to shade everything with Iranian involvement except for Anna Nicole's baby.....

Reply to this comment

by dallison7 February 14, 2007 7:30 AM PST

More 'cat and mouse', WHERE IS BIN LADEN?!!

Reply to this comment

by crater7 February 14, 2007 7:31 AM PST

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS FINALLY DECIDED TO CLOSE THE BORDERS IN IRAQ. IT'S LIKE CLOSING THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE COWS GOT OUT. CLOSING THE BORDERS , WELL, AFTER FOUR YEARS, I GUESS 72 HOURS IS BETTER THAN NEVER.

Reply to this comment

by hillaryin08 February 14, 2007 7:34 AM PST

Here i how it should read

Democrats Deny He's Fled Iraq
Allies Of Al-Sadr Deny U.S. Report He's In Iran

Reply to this comment

by formrusmcsgt February 14, 2007 7:38 AM PST

Here i how it should read

Democrats Deny He's Fled Iraq
Allies Of Al-Sadr Deny U.S. Report He's In Iran

Posted by hillaryin08 at 07:34 AM : Feb 14, 2007

No, here's how it should read. "The administration has no better idea as to Sadr's whereabouts than it does Bin Laden's or Omar's".

Reply to this comment

by crater7 February 14, 2007 7:39 AM PST

dallison7: WHERE IS BIN LADEN? HE HEARD OVER THE IRAQI NEWS (SPECIAL NEWS ALERT ) THAT THE BUSH ADMINSITRATION, IS CLOSING ITS BORDERS FOR 72 HOURS, SO HE DECIDED TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC, AND LEAVE EARLY FOR A DINNER DATE WITH aL-SADR IN IRAN.

Reply to this comment

by antoniof123 February 14, 2007 7:44 AM PST

Why are we in Iraq? Oh yes because god wanted us to go, please for the love of god people do not ever let a moron back in the White House.

Reply to this comment

by formrusmcsgt February 14, 2007 7:50 AM PST

Why are we in Iraq? Oh yes because god wanted us to go, please for the love of god people do not ever let a moron back in the White House.
Posted by antoniof123 at 07:44 AM : Feb 14, 2007

When the resolution is passed, don't be surprised if Bush addresses the country and tells us that if we withdraw from Iraq, God will foist the seven plagues on America.......

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad February 14, 2007 8:29 AM PST

formrusmcsgt; Bush beat you to it he is going to have a press conference at 11:00 am eastern time to do just what you said. Maybe billy Grahm or Tammy Baker or even Tedd Haggart will confirm Bushs devine message!

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by bluestardad February 14, 2007 8:37 AM PST

Now Iraq is no longer an immediate threat to America. There are no Weapons of Mass Destruction, Saddam Hussein is no longer in power, and a New Elected Government is in office. Mission Accomplished Pull the Troops OUT and come home. The Iraqi people do not want American soldiers there! If accomplishment of the Original Mission is considered failure in Iraq then what was the original plan and war authorization? To encapsulate the countries wish to Withdrawal from Iraq into a Losing Sound Bite argument for staying the Course in Iraq or you don%u2019t support the troops, is a Rovian NeoCon Tactic that the Rest of America has rejected on November 7, 2006 and is not buying now. So Republicans take your Neocon, Chicken Hawk support Israel and Saudi Arabia stay the course or people will die bologna and pounditupyourasssideways. Americans are dieing three per day and billions of dollars are being spent so you can have a Middle East vacation spot. America has spent 50 years of blood and billions in treasure and you are still not civilized enough to walk down the street without shooting at each other! Enough is enough America is pulling out of the Middle East and you guys can throw camelpoop and bagels at each other till hellfreezes over but without American blood or Money!

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by omar sherdil February 14, 2007 8:39 AM PST

If the news is true and Moqtada Al-sadr is realy in Iran now (maybe with Mehdi soldiers!), one more reason for the current american administration to order its troop to invade Iran.

This will secure, at the same time, the eastern borders of Afghanistan, vital for the american strategy in the region.

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by formrusmcsgt February 14, 2007 8:40 AM PST

The issue is to get our of Iraq after DEFEATING the CRIMINAL terrorist which are flooding that country and killing thousands of their own!! You are all so stupid and so unintelligent I am surprised you know how to read and write.
Posted by getserious1 at 08:36 AM : Feb 14, 2007

And you are so intelligent that you think you won't be sending your great-great grandchildren to Iraq to in an attempt to stop sectarian violence? It will go on beyond your great-great grandchildren, friend......

Religious hatred began with religions, and there will be no end to it.

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by karlimhof February 14, 2007 8:41 AM PST

PREVENT these SICK CRIMINALs from coming over here to spread their version of ISLAM!!I hope some day you are held to the same stupid ridicule that you put Pres. Bush through. You are all so stupid and so unintelligent I am surprised you know how to read and write.
Posted by getserious1

you sound like an old immam yourself! bet you wet yourself writing that trash.

Reply to this comment

by karlimhof February 14, 2007 8:46 AM PST

it's amazing to read how many contributors have been infected by the Bush fear campaign :

"they're coming over to get us" , "we got to fight them there or else here"

i didn't realize how frightened these poor souls are

Reply to this comment

by dallison7 February 14, 2007 8:48 AM PST

You are all so stupid and so unintelligent I am surprised you know how to read and write.
Posted by getserious1

I don't know about the rest of you people, but I certainly feel enlightened. WOW!! Is this what they mean by 'born-again'? Thank you getserious1, thank you sooo much. I have to go now, I'm going to dedicate my life to 'God and Bush'. I was so stupid before with that I actually thought the proper stance was 'God and Country'.

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by formrusmcsgt February 14, 2007 8:49 AM PST

didn't realize how frightened these poor souls are
Posted by karlimhof at 08:46 AM : Feb 14, 2007

A lot of cowards buy Bush's "the boogeyman's coming" mantra that he's been spouting incessantly for the last 5 years.....

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by karlimhof February 14, 2007 8:49 AM PST

This will secure, at the same time, the eastern borders of Afghanistan, vital for the american strategy in the region.
Posted by sherdil

I propose sherdil as new commander in chief!!

Reply to this comment

by nothappyatall February 14, 2007 9:02 AM PST

Google the Tonkin Bay incident and how President Johnson faked an attack to justify "retialiation" that resulted in the Vietnam war, we are seeing a repeat of it now with the Bush regime and IRAN.

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by grumpas February 14, 2007 9:07 AM PST

getserious1! Grow up!!!!! You have been conned by the king of the con artist's! George W Bush is a pathological liar of the highest order! There is literally nothing that comes out of his mouth that can be taken seriously! Are you really stupid enough to think Muslims are coming here after you?????? I doubt very seriously they want you! Your not worth the effort to try and talk to about anything! You have been spoon-fed Bush Propaganda for so long I am surprised you are still walking among sane people! Talk about being naive! You are out there in the twilight zone somewhere!

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by bluestardad February 14, 2007 9:25 AM PST

Who is going into Saudi to get the supporters of the Sunni who are killing American Marines?

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by bluestardad February 14, 2007 9:37 AM PST

Remember the Israeli and Saudi Arabian Neocon Supporters are pushing America to fight their wars for them! It is OK to disagree with Israeli Policy don't be scared! Founded in 1953 by Isaiah L. "Si" Kenen, AIPAC's original name was the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. According to UCLA political science professor and author, Steven Spiegel, "the tension between the Eisenhower administration and Israeli supporters was so acute that there were rumors that the administration would investigate the American Zionist Council. Therefore, an independent lobbying committee was formed, which years later was renamed [AIPAC]." [SPIEGEL, p. 52].[citation needed] Today, AIPAC has over 100,000 members.[1]
Activities and stated goals
AIPAC's stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together" to meet the challenges of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism and achieving peace".[2] It regularly meets with members of Congress and holds events where it can share its views. The New York Times described AIPAC on July 6, 1987 as "a major force in shaping United States policy in the Middle East
Contact your senator The middle East is not in American Interest, we have invested 50 years of blood, money enough is enough!
firststatehttp://www.senate.gov
/general/contact_information/senators_cf
m.cfm

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by dallison7 February 14, 2007 10:20 AM PST

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS STORY?
CNN & FOX TRIED TO TIE THIS TO IRAN
Posted by mocaleo


Yeah, the whole thing looked bogus from where I sat. Not even good animation.

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by bigwhtpony February 14, 2007 10:31 AM PST

Just like these islamo-fascist cowards.....dress up like women and skip the country......too cowardly to die like men. But they don't mind sending other empty headed muslims to die for their cause.

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by dallison7 February 14, 2007 10:33 AM PST

Just like these islamo-fascist cowards.....dress up like women and skip the country......too cowardly to die like men. But they don't mind sending other empty headed muslims to die for their cause.
Posted by bigwhtpony


MAUDE, THE KIDS ARE UP!!

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by radiob-2009 February 14, 2007 10:38 AM PST

In regards to Iran
Let us hope that the questions are asked from the public and the press and that no wavering of seeking the truth shall be trampled by fear of repression of truth or by fear of the unknown or perceived threat to the public shall prevent us from discovering the truth prior to any military incursion into Iran. The truth must be foremost in disclosure to avoid the mistakes that have occured when an absence of it led us into Iraq.A secondary lapse of the public's failure to demand that the truth be foremost in regards to military action would only further endanger the fragile world that we all share. War is always a last resort when all available means have been exhausted. The intelligence must be scrutinized and there must not be a sliver of doubt before we are to engage another nation in armed conflict.

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by bigwhtpony February 14, 2007 10:39 AM PST

MAUDE, THE KIDS ARE UP!!
Posted by dallison7 at 10:33 AM : Feb 14, 2007

I swear, you're the best friend our enemies have. If I look up "bleeding heart liberal", I'm sure I'll find your picture. :)

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by trueprogress February 14, 2007 10:46 AM PST

For all of you lefties that believe that our foreign policy is govern always by some cabal (Jewish) other than supporting what is right, and as JFK stated to help all those who are fighting for liberty, please explain our support for Taiwan. No oil. No Jews. The only President not to, by the way, was that numbhead bigot Carter, who withdrew our embassy there.
Just like a true progressive, JFK, President Bush et al have made an effort to bring Democracy to that part of the World. It has not succeeded, not because the people did not vote for it. They did by the millions. The EVIL of IRAN leading to blowing up innocent civilians everyday, that is the enemy. Not us. We are the good guys.

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by terrapin78 February 14, 2007 10:47 AM PST

Fire the Commander that is supposed to be in charge of keeping tabs on this guy. I know it is, as Dumbya says, "hard work" but either do the hard work or get the heck out of there.

Of course it is still the chicken hawks fault we are in this mess. If they had served in Vietnam like they should have (instead of getting multiple deferments, ***; or hiding out in TX National Guard doing Republican organizing at taxpayer expense, GWB; I have forgotten how Rummy dodged the draft), we may not have started a war of choice against a counrty that never attacked us.

Reply to this comment

by dallison7 February 14, 2007 10:51 AM PST

Not us. We are the good guys.
Posted by trueprogress


Keep telling yourself that, you will make a very good soldier for the riech.

Reply to this comment

by dallison7 February 14, 2007 10:55 AM PST

If I look up "bleeding heart liberal", I'm sure I'll find your picture. :)
Posted by bigwhtpony

No, that picture would be Jesus. I'm bald-headed.

Reply to this comment

by trueprogress February 14, 2007 11:01 AM PST

DAllison 7 " How dare you equate the mass murdering, EVIL Nazis with the USA ! You are obviously a numb skull college graduate who does not know anything about history, and have been trained to be a moral idiot, for grades. Pathetic.

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by bigdarkie February 14, 2007 11:02 AM PST

All Islamo-Nazi Sand Terrorists must be hunted down and brutally slaughtered. These sick left handed gutter snakes only understand hard death. Let us give it to them every day in every way until the free people of the world do not have to live in fear of homicide bombings & listen to the filthy twisted Muslim invective they spew to the free world. HERE'S TO A VIOLENT DISMEMBERING DEATH TO ALL ISLAMO-FASCIST SAND NAZIS!!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

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by dallison7 February 14, 2007 11:11 AM PST

You are obviously a numb skull college graduate who does not know anything about history,
Posted by trueprogress

Whoa, lot of hate and aanger there! But thanks for pointing out for us that college graduates are numbskulls. Pretty much reveals your own education level.

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 February 14, 2007 11:13 AM PST

For everyone on both sides of this debate some words from former Supreme Court Justice Brandeis
Those who won our independence believed that the final end of the state was to make men free to develop their faculties, and that in its government the deliberative forces should prevail over the arbitrary. They valued liberty both as an end and as a means. They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. They believed that freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile; that with them, discussion affords ordinarily adequate protection against the dissemination of noxious doctrine; that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people; that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government
Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.

Part one

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by radiob-2009 February 14, 2007 11:14 AM PST

Part two
Those who won our independence by revolution were not cowards. They did not fear political change. They did not exalt order at the cost of liberty. To courageous, selfreliant men, with confidence in the power of free and fearless reasoning applied through the processes of popular government, no danger flowing from speech can be deemed clear and present, unless the incidence of the evil apprehended is so imminent that it may befall before there is opportunity for full discussion.

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by bigwhtpony February 14, 2007 11:17 AM PST

No, that picture would be Jesus. I'm bald-headed.
Posted by dallison7 at 10:55 AM : Feb 14, 2007

Needless to say, you're NO Jesus. And you're no American, either. You give aid and comfort to our enemies and you are about as patriotic as a door ***. And those are your good points!

Better to just pack up and move to France....where you will be immersed with people of like cowardace and lack of spine. You'll find much in common with them.

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by johnshaft4 February 14, 2007 11:37 AM PST

As a consequence of the PNAC/AEI/AIPAC Zionist meddling in fomenting the phoney Iraqi WMD's lies and invasion, there WILL BE an Iranian/Iraqi Shiite Superstate. No stopping it...It appears that the conniving Zionist plan backfired on them. Big time... Way to go go Wurmser and Douglas J. Feith, :-) heh, heh, heh...

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 February 14, 2007 11:38 AM PST

The intelligience that brought us into this war has long been provened to be false, the questions now are on the continuance of the war and the possibility of it spreading to neighboring nations based upon intelliegience that has already by rebuked by General Pace as stemming from the government of Iran. The conflict in Iraq must be brought to closure leaving Iraq with some form of stabilty. How that is to be obtained is open to discussion. The war against the terrorist has suffered by invading Iraq under the premise's that were given and has diminshed support from us it's citizens by the loss of credibility steeming from this admin. There is utmost a concern that we do not engage another nation based on the same type of intelligience that brought us into the current conflict this has nothing to with a "lack of patriotism" I served my country.
It has to do with a lack of confidence in the administration regardless of political party. Individuals from both parties now are rightly questioning the continuance of the war, the approach to continuance and the possible expansion of the war. Questions should be raised before " A policy of shoot first and ask questions later" that is what led us to where we are today.

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by radiob-2009 February 14, 2007 11:56 AM PST

Sadr along with other members of the Iraqi gov., police and military have proven that they are no friends of Iraqis or the US.

Reply to this comment

by rafterman1 February 14, 2007 12:05 PM PST

"Shameful. And what kind of American does the above trash make you?"

Don't even bother with pony. All these so-called patriots claim to love Ameirca, yet they continuously support views and policies that are right in line with the very enemies we fight. Telling someone to shut up or move to France is exactly the kind of tolerance that an Islamist or a communist would show.

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison February 14, 2007 12:07 PM PST

"There is utmost a concern that we do not engage another nation based on the same type of intelligience that brought us into the current conflict..."
Posted by radiob at 11:38 AM : Feb 14, 2007

RadioB--they did not change the staff on ground level in the FBI or CIA or other spy agencies, they only changed a very few of the top dogs--means SAME "specialists" (people) relaying "intelligence". When do we know that our intelligence is telling the truth and when do we know our intelligence is lying?

We don't. So what should actually be done is a total clean out of ALL agencies--lying is not allright---especially when an entire world is counting on your "truth". It is frightening the words need to be said.

Reply to this comment

by bigwhtpony February 14, 2007 12:16 PM PST

exactly the kind of tolerance that an Islamist or a communist would show.

Posted by Rafterman1 at 12:05 PM : Feb 14, 2007

The same sort of tolerance all conservatives get in this CBS forum from liberal leftests.

Reply to this comment

by radiob-2009 February 14, 2007 12:21 PM PST

BlondMadison
"We don't. So what should actually be done is a total clean out of ALL agencies--lying is not allright---especially when an entire world is counting on your "truth". It is frightening the words need to be said."

It would be dangerous to clean out all of our intel agencies.

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison February 14, 2007 12:24 PM PST

Sadr is an obvious problem and THREAT--he needs to be removed from power---other world leaders should not acknowledge him or his self-appointed position. It should be a formal public announcement that all world leaders will not be acknowledging self appointed people trying to shove their way into political and religious positions inappropriately. Why? Because it is dangerous.

Wouldn't it be funny if the other world leaders--other than Israel England and America--other than them--if the others would unite secretly pledging non-violent remedies--- to simply IGNORE Sadr? No press, no radio, no tv, no internet articles or photos about him and anything trying to get thru---gets deleted automatically...!!

Quietly sedate the villagers who follow him--using the water supply--and then remove them in the night, village by village leaving Sadr to wake up one morn ---all alone. Or, Stuck in Iran forever.

I wish the world leaders would get on board with pulling funny stunts like this on the Sadr's of the world.

If people would get on board using non-violent approaches--humor would abound. Sedating people is much easier, better, and safer than shooting them or bombing them.

Sedate Remove Relocate. Call them SRR Missions--Quietly Leap Frog them out of their village and move on to the next! Then have Country Home Edition follwing behind to remove all the buildings and plant gardens! An overnight process leaving gardens in their tracks!

Reply to this comment

by rafterman1 February 14, 2007 12:32 PM PST

"The same sort of tolerance all conservatives get in this CBS forum from liberal leftests."

Well, stop calling libs and dems traitors and America haters because we think that being in Iraq is bad for the country. Then we won't smack you back.

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison February 14, 2007 12:34 PM PST

"It would be dangerous to clean out all of our intel agencies."
Posted by radiob at 12:21 PM : Feb 14, 2007

All right, think on this just a minute--

One day all staff at the intel companies go to a luncheon, a MANDATORY special forces conference where they are served, "Vanilla Surprise!" for desert. Once eaten--as they are listening to new secret approaches to whatever--they one by one start nodding off and falling over...Sedate Remove the body/ies, Relocate to a site unseen and unheard of--where for all intents and purposes---they have vanished.

In their places / with the agency--they are one day replaced with retired NFL football players who have documentation of being hired.

Of Course all the minor and major details must be coordinated but think about that for real---no kidding--as a possiblity of a non violent, no scandal approach to changing people in positions who have done clear and present harm just being themselves. Not okay. Should not be ignored. Sedate them. Remove them. Replace them, as though it were any other day of the week, and move on to the next agency.

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison February 14, 2007 12:40 PM PST

Sedate Remove Relocate Tear the building down and plant gardens in it's place and move on.

Like a candid camera moment!

Like Thieves in the Night! Real quiet like!!! It was there, now it's a garden. Done. Mission Accomplished.

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[karlimhof]

bush has opened pandoras box - the whole unemployed middle east will be joining up to throw the "invader" out.

what have we gotton ourselves into?!

[ghareeb2-2009]

from Egypt
the dirty blood-handed invaders are now burnt in choppers and on the ground of Iraq
congrats to the brave Iraqi fighters

[formrusmcsgt]

bush has opened pandoras box - the whole unemployed middle east will be joining up to throw the "invader" out.

what have we gotton ourselves into?!
Posted by karlimhof at 06:50 AM : Feb 14, 2007

Short answer? A very expensive boondoggle....

[formrusmcsgt]

"The aide said the U.S. report probably stems from a campaign by al-Sadr's people to put out false information about his movements amid fears he will be detained by U.S.-led forces."

And the press release was a result of U.S. disinformation attempting to shade everything with Iranian involvement except for Anna Nicole's baby.....

[dallison7]

More 'cat and mouse', WHERE IS BIN LADEN?!!

[crater7]

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS FINALLY DECIDED TO CLOSE THE BORDERS IN IRAQ. IT'S LIKE CLOSING THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE COWS GOT OUT. CLOSING THE BORDERS , WELL, AFTER FOUR YEARS, I GUESS 72 HOURS IS BETTER THAN NEVER.

[hillaryin08]

Here i how it should read

Democrats Deny He's Fled Iraq
Allies Of Al-Sadr Deny U.S. Report He's In Iran

[formrusmcsgt]

Here i how it should read

Democrats Deny He's Fled Iraq
Allies Of Al-Sadr Deny U.S. Report He's In Iran

Posted by hillaryin08 at 07:34 AM : Feb 14, 2007

No, here's how it should read. "The administration has no better idea as to Sadr's whereabouts than it does Bin Laden's or Omar's".

[crater7]

dallison7: WHERE IS BIN LADEN? HE HEARD OVER THE IRAQI NEWS (SPECIAL NEWS ALERT ) THAT THE BUSH ADMINSITRATION, IS CLOSING ITS BORDERS FOR 72 HOURS, SO HE DECIDED TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC, AND LEAVE EARLY FOR A DINNER DATE WITH aL-SADR IN IRAN.

[antoniof123]

Why are we in Iraq? Oh yes because god wanted us to go, please for the love of god people do not ever let a moron back in the White House.

[formrusmcsgt]

Why are we in Iraq? Oh yes because god wanted us to go, please for the love of god people do not ever let a moron back in the White House.
Posted by antoniof123 at 07:44 AM : Feb 14, 2007

When the resolution is passed, don't be surprised if Bush addresses the country and tells us that if we withdraw from Iraq, God will foist the seven plagues on America.......

[bluestardad]

formrusmcsgt; Bush beat you to it he is going to have a press conference at 11:00 am eastern time to do just what you said. Maybe billy Grahm or Tammy Baker or even Tedd Haggart will confirm Bushs devine message!

[bluestardad]

Now Iraq is no longer an immediate threat to America. There are no Weapons of Mass Destruction, Saddam Hussein is no longer in power, and a New Elected Government is in office. Mission Accomplished Pull the Troops OUT and come home. The Iraqi people do not want American soldiers there! If accomplishment of the Original Mission is considered failure in Iraq then what was the original plan and war authorization? To encapsulate the countries wish to Withdrawal from Iraq into a Losing Sound Bite argument for staying the Course in Iraq or you don%u2019t support the troops, is a Rovian NeoCon Tactic that the Rest of America has rejected on November 7, 2006 and is not buying now. So Republicans take your Neocon, Chicken Hawk support Israel and Saudi Arabia stay the course or people will die bologna and pounditupyourasssideways. Americans are dieing three per day and billions of dollars are being spent so you can have a Middle East vacation spot. America has spent 50 years of blood and billions in treasure and you are still not civilized enough to walk down the street without shooting at each other! Enough is enough America is pulling out of the Middle East and you guys can throw camelpoop and bagels at each other till hellfreezes over but without American blood or Money!

[omar sherdil]

If the news is true and Moqtada Al-sadr is realy in Iran now (maybe with Mehdi soldiers!), one more reason for the current american administration to order its troop to invade Iran.

This will secure, at the same time, the eastern borders of Afghanistan, vital for the american strategy in the region.

[formrusmcsgt]

The issue is to get our of Iraq after DEFEATING the CRIMINAL terrorist which are flooding that country and killing thousands of their own!! You are all so stupid and so unintelligent I am surprised you know how to read and write.
Posted by getserious1 at 08:36 AM : Feb 14, 2007

And you are so intelligent that you think you won't be sending your great-great grandchildren to Iraq to in an attempt to stop sectarian violence? It will go on beyond your great-great grandchildren, friend......

Religious hatred began with religions, and there will be no end to it.

[karlimhof]

PREVENT these SICK CRIMINALs from coming over here to spread their version of ISLAM!!I hope some day you are held to the same stupid ridicule that you put Pres. Bush through. You are all so stupid and so unintelligent I am surprised you know how to read and write.
Posted by getserious1

you sound like an old immam yourself! bet you wet yourself writing that trash.

[karlimhof]

it's amazing to read how many contributors have been infected by the Bush fear campaign :

"they're coming over to get us" , "we got to fight them there or else here"

i didn't realize how frightened these poor souls are

[dallison7]

You are all so stupid and so unintelligent I am surprised you know how to read and write.
Posted by getserious1

I don't know about the rest of you people, but I certainly feel enlightened. WOW!! Is this what they mean by 'born-again'? Thank you getserious1, thank you sooo much. I have to go now, I'm going to dedicate my life to 'God and Bush'. I was so stupid before with that I actually thought the proper stance was 'God and Country'.

[formrusmcsgt]

didn't realize how frightened these poor souls are
Posted by karlimhof at 08:46 AM : Feb 14, 2007

A lot of cowards buy Bush's "the boogeyman's coming" mantra that he's been spouting incessantly for the last 5 years.....

[karlimhof]

This will secure, at the same time, the eastern borders of Afghanistan, vital for the american strategy in the region.
Posted by sherdil

I propose sherdil as new commander in chief!!

[nothappyatall]

Google the Tonkin Bay incident and how President Johnson faked an attack to justify "retialiation" that resulted in the Vietnam war, we are seeing a repeat of it now with the Bush regime and IRAN.

[grumpas]

getserious1! Grow up!!!!! You have been conned by the king of the con artist's! George W Bush is a pathological liar of the highest order! There is literally nothing that comes out of his mouth that can be taken seriously! Are you really stupid enough to think Muslims are coming here after you?????? I doubt very seriously they want you! Your not worth the effort to try and talk to about anything! You have been spoon-fed Bush Propaganda for so long I am surprised you are still walking among sane people! Talk about being naive! You are out there in the twilight zone somewhere!

[bluestardad]

Who is going into Saudi to get the supporters of the Sunni who are killing American Marines?

[bluestardad]

Remember the Israeli and Saudi Arabian Neocon Supporters are pushing America to fight their wars for them! It is OK to disagree with Israeli Policy don't be scared! Founded in 1953 by Isaiah L. "Si" Kenen, AIPAC's original name was the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. According to UCLA political science professor and author, Steven Spiegel, "the tension between the Eisenhower administration and Israeli supporters was so acute that there were rumors that the administration would investigate the American Zionist Council. Therefore, an independent lobbying committee was formed, which years later was renamed [AIPAC]." [SPIEGEL, p. 52].[citation needed] Today, AIPAC has over 100,000 members.[1]
Activities and stated goals
AIPAC's stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together" to meet the challenges of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism and achieving peace".[2] It regularly meets with members of Congress and holds events where it can share its views. The New York Times described AIPAC on July 6, 1987 as "a major force in shaping United States policy in the Middle East
Contact your senator The middle East is not in American Interest, we have invested 50 years of blood, money enough is enough!
firststatehttp://www.senate.gov
/general/contact_information/senators_cf
m.cfm

[dallison7]

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS STORY?
CNN & FOX TRIED TO TIE THIS TO IRAN
Posted by mocaleo


Yeah, the whole thing looked bogus from where I sat. Not even good animation.

[bigwhtpony]

Just like these islamo-fascist cowards.....dress up like women and skip the country......too cowardly to die like men. But they don't mind sending other empty headed muslims to die for their cause.

[dallison7]

Just like these islamo-fascist cowards.....dress up like women and skip the country......too cowardly to die like men. But they don't mind sending other empty headed muslims to die for their cause.
Posted by bigwhtpony


MAUDE, THE KIDS ARE UP!!

[radiob-2009]

In regards to Iran
Let us hope that the questions are asked from the public and the press and that no wavering of seeking the truth shall be trampled by fear of repression of truth or by fear of the unknown or perceived threat to the public shall prevent us from discovering the truth prior to any military incursion into Iran. The truth must be foremost in disclosure to avoid the mistakes that have occured when an absence of it led us into Iraq.A secondary lapse of the public's failure to demand that the truth be foremost in regards to military action would only further endanger the fragile world that we all share. War is always a last resort when all available means have been exhausted. The intelligence must be scrutinized and there must not be a sliver of doubt before we are to engage another nation in armed conflict.

[bigwhtpony]

MAUDE, THE KIDS ARE UP!!
Posted by dallison7 at 10:33 AM : Feb 14, 2007

I swear, you're the best friend our enemies have. If I look up "bleeding heart liberal", I'm sure I'll find your picture. :)

[trueprogress]

For all of you lefties that believe that our foreign policy is govern always by some cabal (Jewish) other than supporting what is right, and as JFK stated to help all those who are fighting for liberty, please explain our support for Taiwan. No oil. No Jews. The only President not to, by the way, was that numbhead bigot Carter, who withdrew our embassy there.
Just like a true progressive, JFK, President Bush et al have made an effort to bring Democracy to that part of the World. It has not succeeded, not because the people did not vote for it. They did by the millions. The EVIL of IRAN leading to blowing up innocent civilians everyday, that is the enemy. Not us. We are the good guys.

[terrapin78]

Fire the Commander that is supposed to be in charge of keeping tabs on this guy. I know it is, as Dumbya says, "hard work" but either do the hard work or get the heck out of there.

Of course it is still the chicken hawks fault we are in this mess. If they had served in Vietnam like they should have (instead of getting multiple deferments, ***; or hiding out in TX National Guard doing Republican organizing at taxpayer expense, GWB; I have forgotten how Rummy dodged the draft), we may not have started a war of choice against a counrty that never attacked us.

[dallison7]

Not us. We are the good guys.
Posted by trueprogress


Keep telling yourself that, you will make a very good soldier for the riech.

[dallison7]

If I look up "bleeding heart liberal", I'm sure I'll find your picture. :)
Posted by bigwhtpony

No, that picture would be Jesus. I'm bald-headed.

[trueprogress]

DAllison 7 " How dare you equate the mass murdering, EVIL Nazis with the USA ! You are obviously a numb skull college graduate who does not know anything about history, and have been trained to be a moral idiot, for grades. Pathetic.

[bigdarkie]

All Islamo-Nazi Sand Terrorists must be hunted down and brutally slaughtered. These sick left handed gutter snakes only understand hard death. Let us give it to them every day in every way until the free people of the world do not have to live in fear of homicide bombings & listen to the filthy twisted Muslim invective they spew to the free world. HERE'S TO A VIOLENT DISMEMBERING DEATH TO ALL ISLAMO-FASCIST SAND NAZIS!!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

[dallison7]

You are obviously a numb skull college graduate who does not know anything about history,
Posted by trueprogress

Whoa, lot of hate and aanger there! But thanks for pointing out for us that college graduates are numbskulls. Pretty much reveals your own education level.

[radiob-2009]

For everyone on both sides of this debate some words from former Supreme Court Justice Brandeis
Those who won our independence believed that the final end of the state was to make men free to develop their faculties, and that in its government the deliberative forces should prevail over the arbitrary. They valued liberty both as an end and as a means. They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. They believed that freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile; that with them, discussion affords ordinarily adequate protection against the dissemination of noxious doctrine; that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people; that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government
Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.

Part one

[radiob-2009]

Part two
Those who won our independence by revolution were not cowards. They did not fear political change. They did not exalt order at the cost of liberty. To courageous, selfreliant men, with confidence in the power of free and fearless reasoning applied through the processes of popular government, no danger flowing from speech can be deemed clear and present, unless the incidence of the evil apprehended is so imminent that it may befall before there is opportunity for full discussion.

[bigwhtpony]

No, that picture would be Jesus. I'm bald-headed.
Posted by dallison7 at 10:55 AM : Feb 14, 2007

Needless to say, you're NO Jesus. And you're no American, either. You give aid and comfort to our enemies and you are about as patriotic as a door ***. And those are your good points!

Better to just pack up and move to France....where you will be immersed with people of like cowardace and lack of spine. You'll find much in common with them.

[johnshaft4]

As a consequence of the PNAC/AEI/AIPAC Zionist meddling in fomenting the phoney Iraqi WMD's lies and invasion, there WILL BE an Iranian/Iraqi Shiite Superstate. No stopping it...It appears that the conniving Zionist plan backfired on them. Big time... Way to go go Wurmser and Douglas J. Feith, :-) heh, heh, heh...

[radiob-2009]

The intelligience that brought us into this war has long been provened to be false, the questions now are on the continuance of the war and the possibility of it spreading to neighboring nations based upon intelliegience that has already by rebuked by General Pace as stemming from the government of Iran. The conflict in Iraq must be brought to closure leaving Iraq with some form of stabilty. How that is to be obtained is open to discussion. The war against the terrorist has suffered by invading Iraq under the premise's that were given and has diminshed support from us it's citizens by the loss of credibility steeming from this admin. There is utmost a concern that we do not engage another nation based on the same type of intelligience that brought us into the current conflict this has nothing to with a "lack of patriotism" I served my country.
It has to do with a lack of confidence in the administration regardless of political party. Individuals from both parties now are rightly questioning the continuance of the war, the approach to continuance and the possible expansion of the war. Questions should be raised before " A policy of shoot first and ask questions later" that is what led us to where we are today.

[radiob-2009]

Sadr along with other members of the Iraqi gov., police and military have proven that they are no friends of Iraqis or the US.

[rafterman1]

"Shameful. And what kind of American does the above trash make you?"

Don't even bother with pony. All these so-called patriots claim to love Ameirca, yet they continuously support views and policies that are right in line with the very enemies we fight. Telling someone to shut up or move to France is exactly the kind of tolerance that an Islamist or a communist would show.

[blondmadison]

"There is utmost a concern that we do not engage another nation based on the same type of intelligience that brought us into the current conflict..."
Posted by radiob at 11:38 AM : Feb 14, 2007

RadioB--they did not change the staff on ground level in the FBI or CIA or other spy agencies, they only changed a very few of the top dogs--means SAME "specialists" (people) relaying "intelligence". When do we know that our intelligence is telling the truth and when do we know our intelligence is lying?

We don't. So what should actually be done is a total clean out of ALL agencies--lying is not allright---especially when an entire world is counting on your "truth". It is frightening the words need to be said.

[bigwhtpony]

exactly the kind of tolerance that an Islamist or a communist would show.

Posted by Rafterman1 at 12:05 PM : Feb 14, 2007

The same sort of tolerance all conservatives get in this CBS forum from liberal leftests.

[radiob-2009]

BlondMadison
"We don't. So what should actually be done is a total clean out of ALL agencies--lying is not allright---especially when an entire world is counting on your "truth". It is frightening the words need to be said."

It would be dangerous to clean out all of our intel agencies.

[blondmadison]

Sadr is an obvious problem and THREAT--he needs to be removed from power---other world leaders should not acknowledge him or his self-appointed position. It should be a formal public announcement that all world leaders will not be acknowledging self appointed people trying to shove their way into political and religious positions inappropriately. Why? Because it is dangerous.

Wouldn't it be funny if the other world leaders--other than Israel England and America--other than them--if the others would unite secretly pledging non-violent remedies--- to simply IGNORE Sadr? No press, no radio, no tv, no internet articles or photos about him and anything trying to get thru---gets deleted automatically...!!

Quietly sedate the villagers who follow him--using the water supply--and then remove them in the night, village by village leaving Sadr to wake up one morn ---all alone. Or, Stuck in Iran forever.

I wish the world leaders would get on board with pulling funny stunts like this on the Sadr's of the world.

If people would get on board using non-violent approaches--humor would abound. Sedating people is much easier, better, and safer than shooting them or bombing them.

Sedate Remove Relocate. Call them SRR Missions--Quietly Leap Frog them out of their village and move on to the next! Then have Country Home Edition follwing behind to remove all the buildings and plant gardens! An overnight process leaving gardens in their tracks!

[rafterman1]

"The same sort of tolerance all conservatives get in this CBS forum from liberal leftests."

Well, stop calling libs and dems traitors and America haters because we think that being in Iraq is bad for the country. Then we won't smack you back.

[blondmadison]

"It would be dangerous to clean out all of our intel agencies."
Posted by radiob at 12:21 PM : Feb 14, 2007

All right, think on this just a minute--

One day all staff at the intel companies go to a luncheon, a MANDATORY special forces conference where they are served, "Vanilla Surprise!" for desert. Once eaten--as they are listening to new secret approaches to whatever--they one by one start nodding off and falling over...Sedate Remove the body/ies, Relocate to a site unseen and unheard of--where for all intents and purposes---they have vanished.

In their places / with the agency--they are one day replaced with retired NFL football players who have documentation of being hired.

Of Course all the minor and major details must be coordinated but think about that for real---no kidding--as a possiblity of a non violent, no scandal approach to changing people in positions who have done clear and present harm just being themselves. Not okay. Should not be ignored. Sedate them. Remove them. Replace them, as though it were any other day of the week, and move on to the next agency.

[blondmadison]

Sedate Remove Relocate Tear the building down and plant gardens in it's place and move on.

Like a candid camera moment!

Like Thieves in the Night! Real quiet like!!! It was there, now it's a garden. Done. Mission Accomplished.