The Mahdi Army
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032803882.html
The Mahdi Army
Saturday, March 29, 2008; A10 [-ir] [hydra] [insurgency] [bush administration’s “surge option” or “new way forward” underway] [some positive indicators of improvement] [nevertheless, violence while surge unfolds] [pentagon’s recent status report—pretty awful but also predictable] [followup] [“surge” continues amid mixed indicators] [a recent pickup in suicide bombers] [on-again-off-again political reconciliation] [recent offensive begun whereby –Iraqi forces are to demonstrate their ability to defense themselves] [oops!] [this “offensive” may be remembered as particularly poor turning point] [***]
Iraq's largest Shiite militia is fighting to keep control of its stronghold in Baghdad and competing with other Shiite militias for control of Basra. [sic]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032803882.html
The Mahdi Army
Saturday, March 29, 2008; A10 [-ir] [hydra] [insurgency] [bush administration’s “surge option” or “new way forward” underway] [some positive indicators of improvement] [nevertheless, violence while surge unfolds] [pentagon’s recent status report—pretty awful but also predictable] [followup] [“surge” continues amid mixed indicators] [a recent pickup in suicide bombers] [on-again-off-again political reconciliation] [recent offensive begun whereby –Iraqi forces are to demonstrate their ability to defense themselves] [oops!] [this “offensive” may be remembered as particularly poor turning point] [***]
Iraq's largest Shiite militia is fighting to keep control of its stronghold in Baghdad and competing with other Shiite militias for control of Basra. [sic]
¿ Leader:[sic] Moqtada al-Sadr, a radical junior cleric.
¿ Estimated members:[sic]10,000.
Its stronghold is Sadr City, named for the cleric's assassinated father. The Mahdi Army launched two uprisings against U.S. troops in 2004, in Karbala, Najaf and Sadr City. Mahdi fighters were involved in retaliatory attacks on Sunnis following the 2006 bombing of the Shiite mosque in Samarra. In August, Sadr declared a cease-fire, which has not officially been lifted. Sadr's relations with Iran have improved since 2005.
SOURCE: jamestown.org, news services
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