Iraqi Militia to Disarm in Sadr City Peace Deal

[TheMojoPin]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Details of a breakthrough peace initiative to end battles in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City were announced Saturday by Iraq's interim government and militia loyal to rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/09/iraq.main/index.html)

Alright, given everything that's happened in the last year, this reeks WAY too much of being too good to be true...but here's hoping.

Under the plan, al-Sadr's Mehdi militia will hand over medium and heavy weapons during a five-day grace period beginning on Monday.

Thousands of weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and mortars will be handed in at various centers controlled by police, the National Guard and City Council officials, according to Iraq's interim government.

And in the process, Iraqi security forces, backed up by U.S. forces, will take control of the area.

They would be allowed to conduct weapons searches and operations against those who oppose to the initiative.

Fingers most definitely crossed.

On a side note...anyone else thinks the official Iraqi National Guard looks scary as fuck? Well, EXCEPT for the guy with the jaunty blue scarf...

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2004/WORLD/meast/10/09/iraq.main/story.sadrcity.ap.jpg

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1979 << I love my drug buddy... >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

[keithy_19]

God I hope this is true.

Blue scarf guy:Guys, can I be in your crew?
Black Mask guy:Sure, but we get to pistol whip you every day for your horrible taste in clothing accesories.

http://64.177.177.182/katylina/tarasig.jpg

[WRESTLINGFAN]

Agreed, lets hope this works.

On a lighter note maybe the Iraqi Nat'l Guard might need a queer eye makeover

FIRE SATHER!!!!!!!

[HBox]

How many times have we heard this same exact story?

http://www.myimgs.com/random/hbox/sig

[Melrapuo]

This just in: Mount St. Helens is going to erupt ANY MINUTE NOW.

<img src="http://img40.photobucket.com/albums/v124/Canofsoup15/Sigs/MelChor3.gif">
Thanks COS
YANKEES FAN SINCE BIRTH!

I'm allowed to mod here (http://phoenixflame221.proboards34.com/index.cgi).

[FUNKMAN]

tough to believe there wasn't large sums of money promised or already given to Sadr and the militia...

<img src="http://www.grandfunkrailroad.com/covers/closer100.gif">

[spoon]

I heard we're opening a Disney World there by 2008 (construction starting after this deal goes through).

<img src="http://members.aol.com/dxixrxt/spoon2.jpg">
And you may not like it! But you will learn to love it!

[spoon]

......St. Helens is going to erupt ANY MINUTE NOW.


Great! Another clergy member on the prowl huh.

<img src="http://members.aol.com/dxixrxt/spoon2.jpg">
And you may not like it! But you will learn to love it!

[NewYorkDragons80]

tough to believe there wasn't large sums of money promised or already given to Sadr and the militia...
Ah yes, the idea that training and funding Iraqis or Afghanis to defend their own country is tantamount to bribery. Shut off the O'Franken Factor and think for yourself.

<marquee>
"To insist on strength is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering." -Senator Barry M. Goldwater "If gold should rust, what will iron do?" -Geoffrey Chaucer "Worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings.-Romans 12:1</marquee>
<img src=http://members.aol.com/cityhawk80/images/nydragonssig.bmp?mtbrand=AOL_US>

[FUNKMAN]

Shut off the O'Franken Factor and think for yourself.


just read the article where they are paying the militia to hand in their guns... some are receiving 1,000 bucks for a machine gun which could very well have been used to kill Iraqi citizens and US Soldiers...

on the surface it looks like 'negotiating' with terrorists...

so if they are willing to give cash for weapons then it wouldn't be suprising that they gave cash to the militia leaders in order for them to move in this direction...

<img src="http://www.grandfunkrailroad.com/covers/closer100.gif">

[Melrapuo]

$1000? Couldn't they just buy more guns with that?

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Thanks COS
YANKEES FAN SINCE BIRTH!

I'm allowed to mod here (http://phoenixflame221.proboards34.com/index.cgi).

[FUNKMAN]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/11/iraq.main/index.html



Rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) - $175 each


BKC medium machine gun - $1,000


Sniper rifle - $650


AK-47 rifle - $150


RPK rifle - $160


Mortar, 60mm - $252


Mortar, 120mm - $275


Hand grenades - $5





<img src="http://www.grandfunkrailroad.com/covers/closer100.gif">

[mdr55]

on the surface it looks like 'negotiating' with terrorists...


The US doesn't negotiate with terrorist. Will you Bush bashers stop giving us spin.

Go Bush Go.

[spoon]

Bush basher? It's a valid point. Along with the whole "buy more later" point. Stop letting Hannity rule your thoughts. This is a conversation about our love of bush. I for one can't get enough. Dammit, Amy's gonna read this and kick my asssss!

<img src="http://members.aol.com/dxixrxt/spoon2.jpg">
And you may not like it! But you will learn to love it!

[GodsFavoriteMan]

The US doesn't negotiate with terrorist. Will you Bush bashers stop giving us spin.

What about during the Iran Contra?



Go Bush Go.



Straight to Hell.

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~stan_ferguson/GFMSIG_copy.jpg" width="300" height="107"></p>
"All I wanted was a Pepsi!"

[mdr55]

The US doesn't negotiate with terrorist. Will you Bush bashers stop giving us spin.

What about during the Iran Contra?


[/quote]

Those are "Freedom Fighters". The difference is that we support "terrorists" when it's in our best interest.

Don't forget to Rock the Vote.

Let's go Kerry!!

This message was edited by mdr55 on 10-11-04 @ 6:10 PM

[Yerdaddy]

update:

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/16/international/middleeast/16sadr.html" target="_blank">A Guns-for-Dollars Swap in a Militant Stronghold Misses Its Target</a>

Apparently, since we 1) have failed to properly train and equip the Iraqi police and military, and 2) don't have enough of our own troops to supervise this thing, the corrupt Iraqi National Guard troops are requiring bribes to be able to turn in weapons. Super.

Mr. Hassan and a group of men standing around him also said Iraqi troops were demanding money to be let in to the weapons-exchange area.

When a reporter, a photographer and an interpreter approached the exchange area, behind a long wall in front of the stadium, a masked Iraqi guardsman ordered them to leave. Another guardsman approached, clicking the safety off his automatic weapon.


As for the overall goal of the program, it's mixed results:
Indeed, an American military spokesman said the "quality" of the weapons turned over had improved markedly on Friday, and that Sadr militia fighters - as opposed to residents - had finally started to take part. Both factors, he said, prompted the Iraqi government to extend the program by two days. But the spokesman, Capt. Brian O'Malley, said the number of weapons had fallen short of expectations and that Mr. Sadr's forces need to turn in far more arms to "prove how committed they really are to disarming."

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Fuck it from behind.