BAGHDAD, Aug. 28, 2008
Top Iraqi Shiite Arrested In Baghdad
U.S. Forces Allege Official Led Iranian-Backed Militants Responsible For Deadly Bombing
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The arrest of Ali al-Lami could bring serious pressure on the U.S.-backed government from Sunni groups and others worried about Iranian and Shiite militia influence in the top ranks of the Iraqi leadership.
The U.S. military confirmed it arrested a senior Shiite figure at the airport Wednesday, but would not release the name or say whether it was al-Lami.
The military said the man detained is believed to be a senior leader of Iranian-backed militias and behind a June bomb blast in Baghdad that killed four Americans and six Iraqis.
Al-Lami heads a committee that is in charge of keeping senior Saddam Hussein loyalists out of government positions. He was returning to Iraq from Lebanon where he sought medical treatment when he was detained, said Qaiser Watout, a member of al-Lami's committee.
U.S. forces were waiting for al-Lami as the plane's doors opened, said Watout, adding that al-Lami's family was allowed to proceed. "We condemn this act," Watout said. "Al-Lami was a moderate official and we are surprised by his arrest."
U.S. military officials said the man arrested at the airport is believed to be a senior leader of "special groups" - Iranian-backed militiamen in Iraq.
The military said the man, who was known to travel to Iran and Lebanon, was detained after his plane landed at the airport.
Two U.S. soldiers and two American civilians were among the 10 killed in the June 24 bombing inside a district council building in Baghdad's Shiite slum of Sadr City.
Iraqi officials have said it appeared to be an inside job and suspicion at the time fell on the headquarters' Shiite Muslim guard force.
The Iraqi Defense Ministry also said it appeared the Iraqi council members and not the Americans were the main target of the blast, which came ahead of an election to choose a new chairman of the council.
The deadly attack came as the U.S. military and civilian officials were stepping up efforts to take advantage of a sharp drop in violence to promote the local administration and restore services in Sadr City and other areas.
Meanwhile, anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr released a statement saying his largely disbanded Mahdi Army militia would extend its cease-fire "until further notice."
The statement, which was read by an aide in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, also warned that any "person who violates" the truce would no longer be considered part of the Mahdi Army.
Al-Sadr's militia battled U.S. and Iraqi forces for years, but last year, he declared a cease-fire. The truce had been extended in six-month increments, but Thursday's statement indicated it would now be considered open-ended.
Last month, al-Sadr, who lives in Iran but retains significant clout in Iraq, announced he was transforming his militia into a social welfare body with a few guerrilla cells to attack U.S. troops if Washington doesn't agree to leave Iraq. The announcement followed setbacks in battles with the U.S.-supported Iraqi army in Baghdad, Basra and Amarah.
In other developments:
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- Ahavat olam beit yisraeil amcha ahavta,
Torah umitzvot chukim umishpatim otanu limad''''ta.
Al kein Adonai Eloheinu b''''shochbeinu
uv''''kumeinu nasi-ach b-chukecha,
v'''' nis mach b''''divrei torat''''cha
uv''''mitzvotecha le-olam va-ed.
Ki heim cha-yeinu v-orach yameinu uva-heim nehgeh yomam valaila.
V-ahavatcha al tasir mimenu le-olamim,
Baruch ata Adonai, oheiv amo yisraeil.
Unending is Your love for Your people, the House of
Israel:
Torah and Mitzvot,
laws and precepts have You taught us.
Therefore, 0 God, when we lie down and
when we rise up, we will meditate on Your
laws and rejoice in Your Torah and
Mitzvot for ever. Day and night we will
reflect on them, for they are our life and
the length of our days. Then Your love
shall
never depart from our hearts! Blessed
is God, who chose Israel in love.
Oheiv Amo Yisraeil, piercethevale - Reply to this comment
- Can''t wait to see the pictures of him wearing a dog collar while some chick is holding the leash & laughing at him or on top of a group of naked men. You know, just some of that good old college frat house fun. They love that stuff!
- Reply to this comment
- After the "reduction" of US forces,an endless occupation will take place in the "permanent" bases. Iran already won the war-nothing can change that-only lies from the propaganda system will ease the pain for the brainwashed.
- Reply to this comment
- Ya know how the Twin Towers were full of the wheels and gears of America''s - and some other "coalition forces" nation''s - business and financial powers?
Ya ever ask yourself what our reaction would have been - indeed, what the world of today would be like, and whether Bush would have won in 2004 - if al-Qaeda had flown those jets into, say, New Orleans'' 9th Ward, instead?
lollll.... - Reply to this comment
- Ye olde "rock and a hard place"...can''t let somebody get away with killing Americans, but we''ve gone and put well over 100,000 Americans in harms way should somebody seek revenge.
Sigh...this incident would never have happened, had we handled al-Qaeda as we should have:
With an intensive international police effort coupled with the strategic use of American special operations teams and tactical air and sea strikes where required.
Just like hunting any kind of unusually rabid mad dogs...which is all that they are.
al-Qaeda is not now, and never was, a state "army" meriting an invasion that was subsequently transformed into an occupying force...
...which had the unfortunate - but unavoidable and clearly foreseeable - consequence of transforming our highly mobile, highly effective strike forces into so many tin ducks in a carnival shooting (and IED) gallery. - Reply to this comment
- I love US moral logic:
we kill tens of thousands and charge no one yet we spend millions of taxpayer dollars apprehending a few political suspects.
No wonder billions hate US. - Reply to this comment
- President Bush was criticized by members of his own administration for not being very interested in meddling with the middle east before 911.
911 made the American People demand he get very concerned, so he did. Posted by Latrocinor
Down!! Down!!! Stay!! Stay!! lapdog.
You really should get back on your medication. - Reply to this comment
- Americans arresting people in another country??
And we''re pointing fingers at Russia?? - Reply to this comment
- American must quit ordering the world. American must quit getting into everybody''''s business. Just take care of your own country and enjoy the life.
Posted by Good4Always
We are taking care of our country. If 911 had not happened we would not be involved.
President Bush was criticized by members of his own administration for not being very interested in meddling with the middle east before 911.
911 made the American People demand he get very concerned, so he did. - Reply to this comment
Its only a matter of time. Give Iraq 10-15 yrs and it will be bed buddies with Iran.
This is history repeating itself, Bush should have paid more attention in school.
Posted by markavelli2
He has tens of thousands of advisors who DID pay attention in school advising him.
You should have paid more attention in school as to how our government works.- Reply to this comment
- Get it over with already,slice this dune ***** throat and bury him with a pig.
- Reply to this comment
- Doubtful, given the historic enmity between Arab and Persian. An Iraqi politician who gets too cozy with Iran runs the risk of losing credibility with much of the population.
Muqtada Al Sadr has essentially been sidelined by his stay in Iran, and his movement is having to work at maintaining credibility.
Posted by oldone60 at 11:28 AM : Aug 28, 2008
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You''re deludedly grasping at straws. MOST Iraqis are Shiite and LOVE close ties with Iran. - Reply to this comment
- Iraq...will be bed buddies with Iran.
Posted by markavelli2 at 10:18 AM : Aug 28, 2008
=================================
Doubtful, given the historic enmity between Arab and Persian. An Iraqi politician who gets too cozy with Iran runs the risk of losing credibility with much of the population.
Muqtada Al Sadr has essentially been sidelined by his stay in Iran, and his movement is having to work at maintaining credibility. - Reply to this comment
- """others worried about Iranian and Shiite militia influence in the top ranks of the Iraqi leadership. """
Its only a matter of time. Give Iraq 10-15 yrs and it will be bed buddies with Iran.
This is history repeating itself, Bush should have paid more attention in school. - Reply to this comment
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
