Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has a yellow streak in him a mile wide, it appears. The PM announced today that he will grant amnesty to the Sadr militias taking part if the past week's fighting if they lay down their weapons and he basically stopped the raids on the militias that he promised just yesterday. From the breaking article at Reuters:
So there you have it. When it came down to the nitty gritty, when al-Sadr and al-Maliki stood eye to eye, Maliki blinked. Al-Sadr comes out with a hint that he may order new retaliations if his militias are harassed and al-Maliki caves in like a wet paper bag. You know, I've had a problem with the military leadership of this Prime Minister ever since he opened his big mouth about going into Mosul and cleaning out that area - he consistently puts his foot in his mouth and makes huge emotional statements with nothing to back them up. And now this...on Thursday he acts all tough about cleaning up Baghdad of the Mahdi militia and in less than 24 hours he has done a complete reversal. This shows to me very questionable leadership skills on his part.
Just how long is al-Sadr going to retain control over parts of Iraq? At what point is the Iraqi government going to tell this chump that he has two choices: disband the Mahdi militia permanently or die.
Here's the full story at Reuters.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Friday his security forces would stop arresting militiamen if they give up their weapons, apparently seeking to defuse tensions with Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
In a statement, Maliki said he would grant amnesty from prosecution to anyone who took part in clashes in southern Iraq and Baghdad last week if they handed in their guns.
So there you have it. When it came down to the nitty gritty, when al-Sadr and al-Maliki stood eye to eye, Maliki blinked. Al-Sadr comes out with a hint that he may order new retaliations if his militias are harassed and al-Maliki caves in like a wet paper bag. You know, I've had a problem with the military leadership of this Prime Minister ever since he opened his big mouth about going into Mosul and cleaning out that area - he consistently puts his foot in his mouth and makes huge emotional statements with nothing to back them up. And now this...on Thursday he acts all tough about cleaning up Baghdad of the Mahdi militia and in less than 24 hours he has done a complete reversal. This shows to me very questionable leadership skills on his part.
Just how long is al-Sadr going to retain control over parts of Iraq? At what point is the Iraqi government going to tell this chump that he has two choices: disband the Mahdi militia permanently or die.
Here's the full story at Reuters.
Iraq PM seeks to ease tensions with militia
The statement appeared to soften Maliki's position from Thursday, when at a news conference he threatened a crackdown on Sadr's strongholds in Baghdad.
It was released just before Muslim midday prayers in Baghdad. Sadr has called for a "peaceful sit-in" after the prayers to protest against bombings, arrests and vehicle bans that continue to seal off parts of the capital.
"To give space and an opportunity for those who are remorseful and are willing to give up their weapons, all pursuits and raids in all areas will be stopped. Those who take up arms will face the law," Maliki said.
Maliki ordered a crackdown on militia in the southern city of Basra last week but his army faced stiff resistance from the Mehdi fighters. U.S. and British forces had to launch air and artillery strikes to support Iraqi troops.
Sadr's movement has already told the Mehdi Army to ignore previous Maliki orders for members to hand in their weapons.
Maliki had been increasingly uncompromising toward the Sadrists, fellow Shi'ites who backed Maliki's rise to power in 2006 but split with him a year ago, partly over Maliki's refusal to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
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