Iraqi Lawmakers, Sadrists Sign Cease-Fire

Representatives Of Firebrand Cleric, Shiite Bloc Agree To 4-Day Cease-Fire In Sadr City

(AP)  Representatives of firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and lawmakers from Iraq's main Shiite political bloc signed a four-day cease-fire Monday in an effort to end seven weeks of fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City slum.

It was unclear if the agreement would be respected by all the extremists who have been fighting in Sadr City. Al-Sadr is thought to have influence over some of the militants, but not all of them. Many of those fighting Iraqi and U.S. forces are thought to have splintered away from al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.

The U.S. military has repeatedly said its clashes are with rogue elements of al-Sadr's militia and that the majority of the 60,000-strong Mahdi Army did not openly participate in the fighting, adhering to a general cease-fire ordered last August by al-Sadr.

The fighting was concentrated mostly in the southern part of the Shiite slum that is home to about 2.5 million people, and Iraqi officials have reported that hundreds of people have died in the fighting.

Clashes began in late March after militants responded to a crackdown by Iraqi troops in Sadr City by firing hundreds of mortars and rockets at the heavily fortified Green Zone housing the government and Western embassies.

"We have signed the agreement today," said Khalid al-Attiyah, the deputy parliamentary speaker from the main Shiite political bloc, United Iraqi Alliance.

Al-Attiyah said the cease-fire went into effect on Sunday and Iraqi forces will be allowed to enter the area as early as Wednesday and "take over the security there."

The statement said "the government will decide on the number of Iraqi forces to be deployed in Sadr City to achieve security, in order to refrain from asking help from foreign forces," a reference to the U.S. military.

"Any attack against residential areas, government offices and the Green Zone are prohibited from Sadr City or from another area," the agreement said.

The cease-fire stipulates that Iraqi forces have the right to "impose the law and to pursue illegal situations."

"No one and no side has the right to interfere in the work of these forces," it said, adding that the government retained the right to pursue "those who carried out armed attacks against the government."

Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, an aide to al-Sadr, stressed that the Sadrists rejected conditions set by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to disband the Mahdi Army and hand over their weapons.

"We have agreed on cease-fire and to end displaying arms in public," al-Obeidi said. "But we did not agree on disbanding the Mahdi Army to hand over its weapons.

Al-Obeidi showed a document signed by al-Sadr to an Associated Press reporter that authorized the delegation to sign the cease-fire agreement.

The Sadrist movement said that they do not have any "medium or heavy weapons and that the government forces were free to raid and search any suspected place."

The agreement also allowed the government to clear Sadr City of roadside bombs. It said another entrance to Sadr City will be opened and that government will be allowed to reopen their offices.

The agreement also called on both sides to refrain from using media outlets to provoke tensions. It said al-Maliki will supervise a committee which will monitor any violations.

[mcvet]

Ah Yes! Iraq! The Bush LIE that just keeps on giving! How long was the "Surge" supposed to last and what was the results of that to be? It like the Mission in Iraq has changed so many times I''ve forgotten! Sieg Heil Bush

[prinzowhales]

Troops Home Now! Its time for Americans to take back our government in Washington instead of fighting to occupy a foreign nation for the sake of Oil and Israel!

Here is James Akins, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia on the Zionist control of US foreign policy.
And, behind the Zionists--as with the other godless, secular religions...the ideologies--lies the Oligarchy.

Troops Home Now! Free Iraq!!

[prinzowhales]

Whoops! Here''s that link...

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/315.html

Just think what we could have done with the money squandered on Haliburton and the war!

Where is our mag-rail system? Where is our light rail production? Where are our electric cars?-- the cars that almost 10 years ago were getting 300 miles per charge.

All 40 wells on the North Slope came in at 90 lbs pressure per square inch...it was low sulphur oil... Dr. Adrian Krieg just noted on THE POWER HOUR at Genesis Communications Network...The Regime only allowed pumping from the smallest field--Prudhoe Bay.

THERE IS NO ENERGY SHORTAGE! WE ARE STILL SWIMMING IN OIL...THERE IS ONLY AN ENERGY RIP OFF OF EARTH SHAKING PROPORTIONS! NATIONALIZE THESE THIEVING, LYING WAR-MONGERING SWINE!!

[prinzowhales]

While the oil/banker regime in Washington caps wells with worlds of oil...while it creates chaos in Iraqi production...its supported sanctions against Iran slows and sabotages Iranian production by diverting Iranian resources to defense rather than oil production thanks to threats from UNOCAL-BP-SHELL in the person of Bush, Unocal''s Rice and the animals running Britain for HM''s BP...

http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=8586

Its time to take out the trash in Washington...Instead of re-electing 91% of the incumbants...DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY ARE DOING THAT GOOD A JOB???!!!

[prinzowhales]

While Congress battens on taxes...they have given only the tiniest of increases in Social Security payments for elderly recipients...Congress-creatures, themselves, of course, took home $14,000 more to make up for inflation!

The Regime conveniently leaves food and energy out of the so-called "core inflation" on which they create a false rate of inflation that is artificially low.
International forecaster and newsletter publisher, Bob Chapman, notes that by using the 1980 methods for determining inflation, the rate is now over 12%. You can listen to him at the POWER HOUR at the Genesis Communications Network.

We have the oil--the Bankers and the Oil Companies are giving us the high prices and inflation...and Congress is in their pockets!!

Troops Home Now! Free Iraq! Free America!

[skyk-2009]

This pretty much cements a hatred for this Country and it''s leader into this Country. We are now an occupying force with a built in resistence. How long before they take control of this Government? That depends on how long we can afford to stay. 100 years? I do not think America, with all its good paying jobs exported, can foot the bill much longer. 100 years would most certainly see us completely bankrupt before then. Any FOOL who thinks the Boomer Generation will sit back and be ripped in their retirement is just that, a FOOL.

[prinzowhales]

Terry McAullife, Clinton''s campaign chairman can make money like he owns the printing press...isn''t it amazing how the Queen of the War Pigs, Hillary Clinton can turn huge profits in Cattle Futures courtesy of Tyson Foods and her campaign manager can turn $100,000 into $18 million! They must be magic...

http://www.happinessonline.org/InfectiousGreed/p18.htm

The Republi-scum have their ENRON, the Demo-garbage have their Global Crossing...

Time to vote the scum and garbage out!! Time to vote Third Party!! Time to stop dying and going broke for Big Oil and Israel over the Middle East instead of pursuing energy independence in earnest and nationalizing the oil companies for their criminal conspiracy to drive up oil prices!

[notblue]

skyk, the only "fool" is you and people like you. The 100 years thing is as unvalid as the 935 lies. You people only believe what you want and twist the rest the rst to suit your agenda. This article indicates that ther is political process that was obtained by showing the Iraqi forces are stepping up. As this thing continues to progress politically motivated losers like yourself become less relevant just like the militants you defend every day at these posts.

[prinzowhales]

notblue--You are right! 100 years is irrelevant...we''ve been there for five...so we only have 95 years ago...

Why are the lies irrelevant? They are the sole reason that we are in Iraq now...and the same lying dogs who told them are making up new ones about Iran and terrorist training camps and nuclear weapons.

It is really you and all the other friends of Big Oil and Israel who are "increasingly irrelevant" as America wakes up more and more to the death and thievings that lay at your door.

[joecoolswat]

Prinzowhales....I''m sorry to inform you..but "lies" are not the reason we are in Iraq....the U.S. won the 1st Gulf-War with Iraq, they surrendered...Saddam Hussein did not abide by the surrender agreements of the previous war, giving us authorization to RE-attack a second time...The use of force and regime change was authorized by the U.S. Congress, both democrat and republican parties...Saddam and his sons are gone, and normalcy is returning to Iraq...The WMD''s were only an issue brought up to the UN to get additional support...The UK, Italy, and Poland offered military support...If saddam did abide by the surrender agreements and dis-armed, as demanded, war would have been averted.

[joecoolswat]

Nancy_Naive....sorry, but you are true to your name..."NAIVE"...The war in Afghanistan and the destruction of the AlQaeda Terrorist bases were the response to 9/11....The Iraq war, was a pre-emptive attack on a future threat, and a result of Saddam Hussein, not abiding by the surrender agreements of the 1st Gulf-War....

[notblue]

Prizo, all lies are irrelevant includinmg the ones you and the leftwing in this country spew everday for political not logical reasons. I stopped listening to your idiotic diatribes a long time ago. you become more extreme and irrelevant as Iraq becomes more successful, which clearly indicates who''s side your on, the enemies.

[joecoolswat]

Sucess in Iraq = a loss for Dems, bottom line....They invest their whole political re-election on the hopes that Iraq war fails...Sorry, Democrats lost in their Galliant Effort to undermine the war, like a "Fifth Column"

[prinzowhales]

When US Representative James Moran said that Zionist pressure forced us into Iraq...the Zionazis wanted him to resign...But this is what Jewish writers have to say about the Zionist plotting to get us into a war in the Middle East! Why doesn''t CBSNBCABCCNNFOXPBS report this?

http://www.mail-archive.com/[e-mail]/msg106770.html

You can find this story at whatreallyhappened.com

Troops Home Now!! Vote the Human Garbage in Congress out!! Free Iraq! Free America!!

...Congress has gotten its $14,000 raise over the last few years...have you?

[notblue]

NancyNaive, you purposely ignore the FACT that the extremist agenda is one of ideology and not one of allegiance to a specific country yet you spew the same tired crapp. These miltants are not alligned with Iraq or any other middle east country, why do you keep stating they are?

[joecoolswat]

Prinzowhales....Since Congress is currently controlled by the Majority Democrat party...I guess you mean, get the Democrats OUT of congress...That I agree with...

[prinzowhales]

Posted by JoeCoolSwat at 11:24 AM : May 12, 2008
------------------
Lies, lies and more lies are precisely why the Regime won support for its new war of aggression against the Iraqi people.

Americans who are paying hundreds of billions in dollars and thousands of lives and tens of thousands in wounded did not buy into this war on the basis of the alleged violations of the ''peace agreement'' by Iraq. They supported it because of the 935 lies.

TROOPS HOME NOW! FREE IRAQ! FREE AMERICA!

[prinzowhales]

Prizo, all lies are irrelevant includinmg the ones you and the leftwing in this country spew everday for political not logical reasons. I stopped listening to your idiotic diatribes a long time ago. you become more extreme and irrelevant as Iraq becomes more successful, which clearly indicates who''''s side your on, the enemies.

Posted by notblue at 11:29 AM : May 12, 2008
---------------------
So many lies and dysfunctional thinking...where does one begin?...For starters...you obviously mean, that you stopped READING my ''diatribes''....and, if you stopped READING them...how did you come to the determination that they are "idiotic" and why do you feel compelled to reply to something that you claim you did not read! Imbecile!

[joecoolswat]

Prinzowhales.....did you start listening about the war when Michael Moore produced his film ? Because you apparently have no knowledge of previous history of Iraq agression when they annexed and invaded Kuwait and threatened Saudi Arabia, and the worlds oil supply..but seem to focus on a minor liberal talking points of "lies", with an obvious lack of miltiary knowledge.....The WMD''s were just a bone we threw to the UN to get additional support, Russia and France were the only ones who didn''t agree.

[joecoolswat]

"The agreement also allowed the government to clear Sadr City of roadside bombs. It said another entrance to Sadr City will be opened and that government will be allowed to reopen their offices."......bad news for democrats...

[prinzowhales]

Posted by JoeCoolSwat at 11:41 AM : May 12, 2008
------------------------
I was opposing US intervention in Yugoslavia to advance the fortunes of Interpol-named Albanian terrorists and their al Qaeda allies prior to the invasion...I was opposing the Gulf War...''ell I was opposing US aid to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war!--

We''ve all seen the tape of US Ambassador April Glaspie giving Saddam the green light to invade Kuwait. He clearly did not threaten Saudi Arabia as satellite photos of Iraqi troop dispositions clearly showed.

[prinzowhales]

JoeCoolSwat--Congress is controlled by the Demopublican Apparatus...the two-headed party of the Oligarchy...It has been rubberstamping the Regime''s money demands for five years...If the Democratic wing of the party had wanted to...they could have spoken out and fought the war instead of appeasing the war pigs of Big Oil and Israel.

TROOPS HOME NOW! THE REAL ENEMY ARE IN WASHINGTON! FREE IRAQ! FREE AMERICA!

[joecoolswat]

Prinzowhales...Sorry, but we will need a good amount of troops to man the large number of Army and Air bases we have established in Iraq, to allow us to make strikes against any surrounding country or rogue dictator.....you are way behind dude.

[joecoolswat]

He clearly did not threaten Saudi Arabia as satellite photos of Iraqi troop dispositions clearly showed.
----------------
Posted by Prinzowhales

He didn''t threaten Saudi Arabia, once the U.S. 82nd Airborne paratroopers dropped in....Forget it...I''m done arguing with an obvious European liberal socialist who doesn''t understand the United States 2 party system....The main message..Don''t mess with the U.S., and you will be fine..

[bgwinnett]

Wheres Dumbshun?....the Mahdi Army is usually his favorite topic of discussion after all.

[prinzowhales]

JoeCoolSwat--Who is this "we" that needs bases in the Middle East to strike at the opponents of Big Oil and Israel? I don''t need them! No one I know needs them...and the only rogue nuclear armed state in the area is Israel...a nation that spies on us, sells our technology to Red China and demands its foreign aid from us in Euros.

[prinzowhales]

JoeCoolSwat--Saddam could have continued to advance if that was his aim...he did not! He was foolish enough to trust in the word of the Bush Regime...He was betrayed...250,000 Americans are on disability of some form from that war...tens of thousands have died prematurely and suffered horribly from this ''cheap'' little war.

Through most of our history we existed happily without an interest in the Middle East, and we can do so once more instead of playing the part of the Irish as cannon fodder and taxable morons in the Anglo-American Oligarchy''s attempt to crush freedom and establish their unchallenged rule. Fork ''em!

FREE IRAQ! FREE AMERICA!

[perceptions5]

al-sadr is really feeling the heat.

That''s also why Iran is screaming bloody murder over the Iraqi army''s quest to bring law and justice to Sadr City.

With "success we will bring the troops home. This event is a sign in the right direction which I believe we all can be happy about.

Everyone wants our troops out of Iraq and the majority of Americans want to do it "smartly".

Finish the mission...........quickly

[prinzowhales]

Perception5--Yes, its obvious that we have won...we can bring the troops home tomorrow...Fine, I don''t care what is said as long as our troops come home NOW!!

FREE IRAQ! FREE AMERICA!

[prinzowhales]

While the Regime claims to bring ''democracy'' to Iraq...its Homeland Security henchmen are busy bullying Christian educators for teaching the Bill of Rights and Constitution to the kids.

Go to infowars.com and listen or Genesis Communications Network and tune into the Alex Jones Show if its not in your area on the air.

TROOPS HOME NOW! FREE IRAQ! FREE AMERICA!

[prinzowhales]

The Homeland Security goons visited one of the largest Christian Colleges in Texas because they were teaching the Bill of Rights and Constitution.

The Regime''s Secret Police apparatus has signed up over 26,000 preachers to teach Romans 13--Follow the State!--to get their flocks to convince their congregants to give up their weapons...let their children be taken and go like sheep to camps as ordered.

Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you!!

TROOPS HOME NOW!! THE ENEMY ARE IN WASHINGTON!!
FREE IRAQ!! FREE AMERICA!!

[hotpaulie]

A four day cease fire? How is this news?

[j-whitman]

JoeCoolSwat,,,, I hope you aren''t betting any money on this so-called cease fire, it''s already falling apart.

You aren''t getting your news from Fox''s Karl Rove are you ???

[j-whitman]

McBush made 32 Films for the VC --- Jane Fonda only 1

McBush is the Manchurian Canidate

[notblue]

j-whitman, thank you for once again showing the everyone fantasy world your mind occupies.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, When have you ever been right in the last 8 years on anything ?? ---- It''s you folks who live in fantisy land.

[notblue]

j-whitman, while I freely admit my opininos are up for conjecture, history has shown I have been right far more times than you, but that''s not saying much. Living in a fantasy world as you do allows individuals like yourself to make nonsensical unfounded statements that are always "right" in the mind of the beholder. Just because you say a point is "right" or wrong doesn''t make it so or even has to resemble reality. Reality is something you have lost touch with some time ago.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,,, See, you do live in Fantisy Land -- You haven''t been right once --- Just Fringe Far Right

[notblue]

Al Sadre has been in exile to Iran for some months which exemplifies the fact that his mahdi army, a puppet of the Iranian regime, is LOSING! you can spin that fact any way you want j-whitless, this fact will not back your purposeful ignorance. THe reason they requested a cease fire is because they where getting their butts kicked by the governing Iraqis it''s that simple. The enemy is on the run and Iraqis will take back what the militants have tried to destroy. When that effort becomes complete, ingrates like yourself and the lose at all cost democrats will get what''s deserved a loss in 08 and true Americans will get silence from asssholes like you. As you would say, can you see my middle finger it''s waving just for you.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, You still haven''t figured things out ??? You can''t clame credibility by tuning into Fox News & Karl Rove the traitor & ignoring the facts

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, I''m not normally one who comments on spelling, But, his name is Sadar & he hasn''t been exiled.

[notblue]

j-whitman, typical non statement from you once again, just more unsubstantiated accusations, typical of mental midgets who haven''t a leg to stand on, no facts to debate with just allegations, it means you have lost the debate at this point if you are unable to comprehend the first part.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,,, Maybe you can substantiate your statement that Sadar was exiled.

[prinzowhales]

notblue--al Sadr is an Iraqi Nationalist...al Maliki and others in the Baghdad government were the ones who spent years as guests of the Iranians and received aid from them.

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=12827

As Justin Raimondo notes, it is the government parties who were trained and funded throughout the 1980s and 1990s!! Not al Sadr...He is a nationalist...Now if the US is really worried about Iraq falling under the influence of Iran...they''d be supporting al Sadr! Rent a clue!!

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,,, All due respect girl, but, don''t you ever get tired of this GOP calling you ignorant & exploiting you ???

[crusherking]

Jwhit,

I think this is the evidence you wanted. Try using google sometime . Al Sadr was in exile in Iran. Fact. http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/05/muqtada_al-sadr_returns_from_exile/

[crusherking]

notblue,,,,, All due respect girl, but, don''''t you ever get tired of this GOP calling you ignorant & exploiting you ???

Posted by j-whitman

What? You have this exactly backwards!!! Its the Dems who have consistenlty insisted that we Americans are not capable of running our own retirement plans, healthcare etc. They continually take control away from the American people because they, in their elitist minds, believe they know best.

[guadalcanal3]

Cease fire??...If the Iraqi Government wants to survive they need to stay on the offensive and finish the job..No Government of any country can allow another "well armed" psuedo Government to exist side by side...The Iraqi Government needs to take complete control of their country...No wonder Saddam was at war with these guys...anybody who beats themselves with chains (Shiites)I would be very leery of...If Iraq wants an example of what would happen if the Mahdi army is allowed to exist need to only look at the example Of what Hezbollah is doing in Lebanon.

[j-whitman]

crusherking,,, Thank you, got it, from Outside the Beltway. Keep in consideration it being a conservative rag like Newsmax

It still wasn''t an Exile, not in the least

[crusherking]

crusherking,,, Thank you, got it, from Outside the Beltway. Keep in consideration it being a conservative rag like Newsmax

It still wasn''''t an Exile, not in the least

Posted by j-whitman

Ok whatever Jwhit. It was not the only publication to state the same thing. And exile is exile whether its forced or self imposed. I guess your left wing radical rags are the only ''reliable'' sources?