I could not believe the sight.... I watched the hundreds of thousands chanting in unison against US and Israel

The new and improved Muqtada As-Sadr

I could not believe the sight of Muqtada As-Sadr today. The rally was massive: hundreds of thousands of people attended in a scene reminiscent of rallies of Party of God in Lebanon. But what was most astonishing was the performance of As-Sadr himself. Here was this petulant and ill-tempered man of 5 years ago who used to speak in short and hesitant sentences now appearing as a forceful and capable public speaker who knew who to handle a crowd.

It was quite remarkable how much he has grown as a public speaker. This formerly consistently bad-tempered man now was able to sprinkle humor into the speech and to lead the crowd in a chant against the US and Israel.

When I watched the hundreds of thousands chanting in unison against US and Israel, I remembered the promises made by the London-based Iraqi puppet opposition that the "new" US-occupied Iraq would lead the country toward peace with Israel. Fat chance.
Posted by As'ad at 1:20 PM

"We will shake the ground under the Americans, if they will not withdraw,"

"... Sadr's return to Iraq has jolted the country as it prepares for the full U.S. withdrawal at the end of the year,  Some minority Sunnis are apprehensive of a revival in Sadr's militia, but most Iraqis appear to hope Sadr's return at this juncture will help solidify Iraq's fragile stability as overall violence falls, despite continuing attacks by insurgents. Sadr said occupiers should be resisted "by all means" but added that arms were for "people of weapons only," a comment that seemed to endorse the authority of the army and the police and could calm fears of a return of the Mehdi Army..."

Posted by G, Z, or B at 5:57 PM

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian