In yet another sign of weakness by the fledgling Iraqi government, radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his outlaw Mahdi Army will not have to turn in their weapons as part of the latest cease fire in Basra.

Followers of Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will not hand over their weapons as part of a move to end a week of fighting in Iraq, a top Sadr aide said.

The aide, Hazem al-Araji, also said that Sadr’s followers had received a guarantee from the government that it would end “random arrests” of Sadr followers.

“The weapons of the resistance will not be delivered to the Iraqi government,” he told journalists at Sadr’s office in the holy city of Najaf after distributing a statement from Sadr calling on followers to stop fighting.

“We confirm that there were guarantees taken from the Iraqi government to fulfill all the points in this statement. Thus, no more random arrests,” he said.

Sadr’s statement also called for the government to halt arrests of his followers and implement an amnesty law to free prisoners.

So basically the latest battle with Al-Sadr’s militia was just another dog and pony show by the Iraqi government, since they clearly have no intention of actually defeating Muqtada al-Sadr. It’s absolutely stunning that a terrorist like al-Sadr is allowed to continue running wild with his own army of thugs.

President Nouri al-Maliki needs to appreciate the sacrifice that the U.S. has made and is continuing to make to ensure that Iraq has a stable future, by actually trying to win a battle.

The U.S. military should just go around al-Maliki and drop a 2,000 lb. bomb right on al-Sadr’s head next time he holds a press conference. Al-Sadr’s militia has captured Humvees and other vehicles from the cowardly Iraqi police and committed atrocities across the city of Basra.

Unfortunately, the Iraqi President lacks the courage to do what’s necessary to win and act like a leader. Over the last two weeks another handful of U.S. soldiers are dead and the Iraqi’s are just as weak and corrupt as they’ve ever been.

I have been a supporter of this conflict from day one and firmly believe it’s in our country’s best interest to make Iraq a success. However, if the Iraqi’s aren’t going to be as committed to victory as we are then there’s no point in sacrificing anymore American lives.

It’s a disgrace for the U.S. military to participate in dog and pony shows put on by the Iraqi government that end in a stalemate. Al-Maliki claims he wants to rid Basra of the Mahdi Army and bring it under control of the government, but then he plays games with al-Sadr and lets him keep his weapons.

The Iraqi government needs to get it together and act like they give a sh*t about that pile of dirt in the desert they call home.

-Chris Jones

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said today that he was pulling his fighters off the streets nationwide and called on the government to stop raids against his followers and free them from prison.

Al-Sadr’s nine-point statement was issued by his headquarters in the holy city of Najaf and broadcast through loudspeakers on Shiite mosques. It said the first point was: “taking gunmen off the streets in Basra and elsewhere.”

He also demanded that the Iraqi government stop “haphazard raids” and release security detainees who haven’t been charged, two issues cited by his movement as reasons for fighting the government.

Iraqi President Nouri Al-Maliki welcomed Sadr’s move to prevent the conflict from widening, but warned that anyone who doesn’t heed Sadr’s call will be treated as an outlaw.

The prime minister, himself a Shiite, has called the fight “a decisive and final battle” and vowed to remain in Basra until government forces wrest control from militias, including the Mahdi Army that is loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

But al-Maliki also acknowledged Saturday that he may have miscalculated by failing to foresee the strong backlash the offensive would provoke in Baghdad and other cities where Shiite militias wield power.

Unfortunately, the Iraqi President has allowed politics to get in the way once again when attempting to deal with Al-Sadr. He should take advantage of the U.S. forces while they’re still in the country to rid Iraq of Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army.

Each time Iraqi forces deal a blow to al-Sadr, they pull back and allow him to regroup and rearm under another so-called “cease fire”. President Al-Maliki needs to stop playing politics and finish the job once and for all or Iraq will never have a chance at becoming a stable country.

-Chris Jones