Sadrists Seek To End Cease Fire in Iraq

Influential members of Mookie Sadr's militia apparently want to meet their package of virgins and are asking the leader to break off the cease-fire in Iraq.
It's almost hard to believe it's been this long but Sadr signed off on the cease fire order way back in August and it is set to expire in a month. At this stage of the game, it's my feelings that these gangs of clowns have never been out of U.S. sight and if, IF they decide to start it up again, the first day would be a blood bath.
I lot has changed since August and while back then, Sadr's militia had some support from the community to keep their mouths shut, that is not the case now - Iraqis have been open about turning in the scourge in their neighborhoods. I think Sadr's militia would find they were an open book to U.S. and IA forces.
Besides, Sadr is probably smart enough to know that if he calls off the cease fire this time, he's a dead man. The U.S. will finally put this guy on their hit list and unless he flees back to Iran, he'd be wormfood by the end of the first week.

Here's the full story.

Sadrists Seek to End Cease-Fire
Jan 28 05:41 AM US/Eastern
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) - Influential members of Muqtada al-Sadr's movement have urged the anti- U.S. Shiite cleric not to extend a cease-fire when it expires next month, officials said Monday, a move that could jeopardize recent security gains.
The Iraqi Red Crescent Organization, meanwhile, gave a higher death toll than Iraqi officials from last week's devastating house explosion in the northern city of Mosul.
The relief organization said more than 60 people were killed and 280 wounded based on estimates from relatives who buried victims without officially registering them. Iraqi officials in Mosul maintain that nearly 40 were killed and more than 200 wounded.
Al-Sadr's August order for his feared Mahdi Army militia to freeze activities for six months was seen by U.S. commanders as a major factor in a nationwide reduction of violence.
But U.S. and Iraqi forces insisted they would continue to hunt down so-called rogue fighters who ignored the order. That has led to persistent friction inside the organization.
The maverick cleric has threatened not to renew the cease-fire unless the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki purges "criminal gangs" operating within security forces he claims are targeting his followers.
That was a reference to rival Shiite militiamen from the Badr Brigade who have infiltrated security forces participating in the ongoing crackdown against breakaway militia cells the U.S. has said were linked to Iran.
The political commission of al-Sadr's movement and some lawmakers and senior officials said they were urging him to follow through with his threat, pointing to recent raids against the movement in the southern Shiite cities of Diwaniyah, Basra and Karbala.

Nearly 70 Al Qaeda in Iraq Captured, Special Groups Leader Nabbed

A VERY good day to bring al Qaeda in Iraq peons in for interrogation. U.S., Coalition and IA forces captured close to 70 al Qaeda in Iraq jihadists across Iraq and also, more importantly, a Special Groups leader in Al-Husayniyah was captured.
The story below details the capture of the Special Groups leader - the term "Special Groups" typically refers to the militias that either are or were aligned to Sadr's militias, however often Special Groups leaders are facilitators of the transfer of knowledge, training and/or weapons with the Iranian Qods forces. Any time we can nab one of these guys it is way good - it further builds intel as to how some of the contraband artillery and training is filtering into Iraq from Iran.
One other thing to notice here. This is a LOT of al Qaeda in Iraq to be captured. Notice the word captured. These al Qaeda fighters did not fight to the death, they gave up...they surrendered. This is a very good sign that their will is weakening.

Here's the full story from MNF.

Coalition forces capture Special Groups leader; disrupt criminal element network (Al-Husayniyah)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected Special Groups leader during operations to disrupt criminal element networks today in the Al-Husayniyah area. The targeted individual was reportedly the Special Groups recruiter for the Karbala Province. He allegedly helped facilitate the training of numerous criminals in activities including explosively formed penetrators, improvised explosive devices, operational security and computer security training. He is assessed as an associate of several other senior-level criminal element leaders who were involved in attacks on Coalition forces.
When Coalition forces approached the target area, an unidentified man exited a building and displayed hostile intent. The unidentified man ignored verbal and visual warnings to cease movement. Responding in self defense, ground forces engaged the unidentified man, wounding him. The Coalition forces medical team administered on-site treatment to the individual. Ground forces continued on to the target area and captured the targeted individual without further incident. During the operation, Coalition forces also discovered a large amount of American currency.
“Coalition and Iraqi security forces are disrupting and dismantling the networks that threaten the ability to provide safety and security for the Iraqi people,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, MNF-I spokesperson. “The actions by criminal elements that continue to dishonor the ceasefire pledge of al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr will not be tolerated.”