If the Sadrists live up to their leader's nine point statement, the Shi'ite resistance will once again enter the shadows. That means any U.S. troops movements in Southern Iraq would have less official cover. They couldn't auspiciously be there to contain those called off militants (while setting up to attack Iran). The chess moves are getting very interesting. Muqtada's official statement is below:
Due to our responsibility to protect Iraqi blood, to protect the reputation of Iraq and its unity, in preparation for its independence and freedom from the armies of darkness, and in order to put down the fire of sedition that the occupiers want to light between the brothers of the Iraqi people, we call upon the Iraqi people to be responsible and stop shedding Iraqi blood and to protect the country's stability and independence. Therefore, we have decided the following:
Number one, ending all JAM (Mahdi Army) military presence in Basra and the rest of the provinces
Number two, stopping all random and illegal detention and arrests
Number three, calling on the government to implement the general amnesty law and releasing all detainees not convicted, especially the Sadr Trend detainees
Number four, whoever raises arms and targets the government and state offices, organizations and the services and the political party offices is not one of us
Number five, cooperation with the government in preserving security and targeting criminals through legal procedures
Number six, we confirm that the Sadr Trend does not possess any heavy weapons
Number seven, efforts should be made to return the displaced people to their original homes which they left because of the security situation
Number eight, we call on the government to take into consideration the human rights and all its security measures and procedures
Number nine, the effort should be focused on reconstruction and services projects in all provinces of Iraq
Due to our responsibility to protect Iraqi blood, to protect the reputation of Iraq and its unity, in preparation for its independence and freedom from the armies of darkness, and in order to put down the fire of sedition that the occupiers want to light between the brothers of the Iraqi people, we call upon the Iraqi people to be responsible and stop shedding Iraqi blood and to protect the country's stability and independence. Therefore, we have decided the following:
Number one, ending all JAM (Mahdi Army) military presence in Basra and the rest of the provinces
Number two, stopping all random and illegal detention and arrests
Number three, calling on the government to implement the general amnesty law and releasing all detainees not convicted, especially the Sadr Trend detainees
Number four, whoever raises arms and targets the government and state offices, organizations and the services and the political party offices is not one of us
Number five, cooperation with the government in preserving security and targeting criminals through legal procedures
Number six, we confirm that the Sadr Trend does not possess any heavy weapons
Number seven, efforts should be made to return the displaced people to their original homes which they left because of the security situation
Number eight, we call on the government to take into consideration the human rights and all its security measures and procedures
Number nine, the effort should be focused on reconstruction and services projects in all provinces of Iraq
