Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Wall Street Journal
June 24, 2008
Pg. 13
Cleric's Supporters Will Press Agenda In Iraq's Fall Vote
By Gina Chon and Zaineb Naji
BAGHDAD -- As the Iraqi government continues a military campaign against Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, the cleric's followers are looking ahead to provincial elections for a chance at political retribution -- and a shift in the balance of power between U.S.-backed and anti-American Shiites.
Mr. Sadr's followers didn't participate in the last provincial election, in 2005, and the coming vote will provide the first real challenge to the mainstream Shiite political parties that rose to power after the U.S. invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
The provincial elections are seen as a crucial step in decentralizing power and shifting it toward provincial governments, which have gained influence since 2005.
The elections are scheduled for October, but because Parliament has yet to work out the details, the vote is likely to be delayed.
Politicians in the central government tied to Mr. Sadr have been weakened since a crackdown on his Mahdi Army that began at the end of March. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shia, sent thousands of troops to Basra and the Sadr City area of Baghdad to eliminate Shiite militias. After weeks of fighting, a truce was established in mid-May. Many militia members were killed or fled to Iran.
Mr. Maliki's gains have put Mr. Sadr's militant and political followers on the defensive regarding the question of why it is necessary to fight a government that says it is trying to restore law and order.
But Sadrists still enjoy grass-roots support in rural, southern Iraq, where the population is mostly Shiite. That could hurt their rivals, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq -- which dominates the provincial governments in the area and is one of the main Shiite parties in the national government -- and the smaller Dawa Party, of which Mr. Maliki is a member. That rivalry played out in the recent fighting in Sadr City, where the Mahdi Army attacked some political parties' offices.
The government has launched a similar crackdown on the Mahdi Army in the southern city of Amara, which is seen as a hub for weapons smuggling by the group. Mr. Maliki was in Amara Monday, just as he went to Basra for military operations there. He said Iraqi security forces wouldn't withdraw from Amara until it is assured that "criminals and murderers" couldn't return.
Thousands of Iraqi troops deployed to the area Thursday in what has so far largely been a conflict-free operation. Mr. Sadr warned his men to cooperate, and Mr. Maliki ordered security forces not to make arbitrary arrests. Iraqi security forces arrested the province's deputy governor and city mayor along with other Sadr followers, heightening tensions.
Ali Hassan, who lives outside Amara, said he is one of many local residents who would sacrifice their lives for Mr. Sadr. "We will work to elect whoever Sayed Muqtada says is good, and we will not let him down," Mr. Hassan said.
Mr. Sadr draws his supporters with anti-American rhetoric and nationalist speeches that have resonated with many Iraqis, and with a widespread network of social services helping the poor in rural areas.
In the rural towns outside the city of Karbala, many residents display pictures of Mr. Sadr in their homes, and slogans supporting the Sadrists can be seen in public areas. "The Sadr people defend our rights and help us to afford life expenses by making things cheaper for us," said Mohammed al-Yasseri, who lives on the outskirts of Karbala.
But many Karbala residents say they don't support the Sadrists, because of the destruction caused by the Mahdi Army. Sadr followers and Iraqi security forces clashed in Karbala and Baghdad in August, leaving dozens dead and prompting Mr. Sadr to call for a cease-fire by the Mahdi Army.
Outside the southern city of Kut, where fighting also broke out in the wake of the Basra military operation a few months ago, supporters of Mr. Sadr were defiant. "The government has tried to stop us, but they will never succeed," said merchant Jawad Mohammed Ali.
A U.S. official in Baghdad said Sadrists have become more isolated as a political group and have been put on the defensive. But he said that in the south, Sadrists are a "significant grass-roots political force."
For those in power in the national and provincial governments, "the provincial elections will likely loosen their grip," the official said.
Followers of Mr. Sadr said they wouldn't have candidates from their own movement -- which has never had its own political party -- but would support independents and people from other party lists.
Jalal al-Deen al-Sagheer, a lawmaker and senior member of the Islamic Supreme Council, said his party has a lot of support in the south and is working hard to show Iraqis why its candidates should be backed. In past elections, citizens could only vote for political parties or blocs and not individual candidates. One proposal in Parliament would allow voters to choose individual candidates, which would mean public officials will be held directly accountable to voters for the first time.
June 24, 2008
Pg. 13
Cleric's Supporters Will Press Agenda In Iraq's Fall Vote
By Gina Chon and Zaineb Naji
BAGHDAD -- As the Iraqi government continues a military campaign against Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, the cleric's followers are looking ahead to provincial elections for a chance at political retribution -- and a shift in the balance of power between U.S.-backed and anti-American Shiites.
Mr. Sadr's followers didn't participate in the last provincial election, in 2005, and the coming vote will provide the first real challenge to the mainstream Shiite political parties that rose to power after the U.S. invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
The provincial elections are seen as a crucial step in decentralizing power and shifting it toward provincial governments, which have gained influence since 2005.
The elections are scheduled for October, but because Parliament has yet to work out the details, the vote is likely to be delayed.
Politicians in the central government tied to Mr. Sadr have been weakened since a crackdown on his Mahdi Army that began at the end of March. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shia, sent thousands of troops to Basra and the Sadr City area of Baghdad to eliminate Shiite militias. After weeks of fighting, a truce was established in mid-May. Many militia members were killed or fled to Iran.
Mr. Maliki's gains have put Mr. Sadr's militant and political followers on the defensive regarding the question of why it is necessary to fight a government that says it is trying to restore law and order.
But Sadrists still enjoy grass-roots support in rural, southern Iraq, where the population is mostly Shiite. That could hurt their rivals, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq -- which dominates the provincial governments in the area and is one of the main Shiite parties in the national government -- and the smaller Dawa Party, of which Mr. Maliki is a member. That rivalry played out in the recent fighting in Sadr City, where the Mahdi Army attacked some political parties' offices.
The government has launched a similar crackdown on the Mahdi Army in the southern city of Amara, which is seen as a hub for weapons smuggling by the group. Mr. Maliki was in Amara Monday, just as he went to Basra for military operations there. He said Iraqi security forces wouldn't withdraw from Amara until it is assured that "criminals and murderers" couldn't return.
Thousands of Iraqi troops deployed to the area Thursday in what has so far largely been a conflict-free operation. Mr. Sadr warned his men to cooperate, and Mr. Maliki ordered security forces not to make arbitrary arrests. Iraqi security forces arrested the province's deputy governor and city mayor along with other Sadr followers, heightening tensions.
Ali Hassan, who lives outside Amara, said he is one of many local residents who would sacrifice their lives for Mr. Sadr. "We will work to elect whoever Sayed Muqtada says is good, and we will not let him down," Mr. Hassan said.
Mr. Sadr draws his supporters with anti-American rhetoric and nationalist speeches that have resonated with many Iraqis, and with a widespread network of social services helping the poor in rural areas.
In the rural towns outside the city of Karbala, many residents display pictures of Mr. Sadr in their homes, and slogans supporting the Sadrists can be seen in public areas. "The Sadr people defend our rights and help us to afford life expenses by making things cheaper for us," said Mohammed al-Yasseri, who lives on the outskirts of Karbala.
But many Karbala residents say they don't support the Sadrists, because of the destruction caused by the Mahdi Army. Sadr followers and Iraqi security forces clashed in Karbala and Baghdad in August, leaving dozens dead and prompting Mr. Sadr to call for a cease-fire by the Mahdi Army.
Outside the southern city of Kut, where fighting also broke out in the wake of the Basra military operation a few months ago, supporters of Mr. Sadr were defiant. "The government has tried to stop us, but they will never succeed," said merchant Jawad Mohammed Ali.
A U.S. official in Baghdad said Sadrists have become more isolated as a political group and have been put on the defensive. But he said that in the south, Sadrists are a "significant grass-roots political force."
For those in power in the national and provincial governments, "the provincial elections will likely loosen their grip," the official said.
Followers of Mr. Sadr said they wouldn't have candidates from their own movement -- which has never had its own political party -- but would support independents and people from other party lists.
Jalal al-Deen al-Sagheer, a lawmaker and senior member of the Islamic Supreme Council, said his party has a lot of support in the south and is working hard to show Iraqis why its candidates should be backed. In past elections, citizens could only vote for political parties or blocs and not individual candidates. One proposal in Parliament would allow voters to choose individual candidates, which would mean public officials will be held directly accountable to voters for the first time.