Roads to Iraq

Strange is that the media stressed on “fight the U.S. occupation” part of Al-Sadr statement while they dropped out the main reason of the announcement.

Reading the Arabic version of Muqtada’s statement [see the translation below], he didn’t said “new armed group to fight US forces“, he used: “a selective group [from within Mahdi Army] to fight the U.S. occupation” and this part was very brief and shadowy, in the rest of the announcement he repeated “neutralize the Mahdi Army masses” many times. Prevents them from carrying arms against Iraqis or even against the occupation, ordering them to carry on the social and cultural work.

While this is the same tactics used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, Al-Sadr insisted on the secrecy among his “selective group”, but there is a reason behind this “surprise” statement.

A week ago, two secret Badr Brigades documents leaked and published by newspapers, read the following:

First message:

Today, after we taught our first enemy in the Sadr Trend a bitter lesson and add to this the lost of popularity of their leader Muqtada Al-Sadr. We noticed that the public opinion of the Nawasib [Sunnis] and Ba’athists sympathize with them.

Therefore, we give the instructions to use the “Yellow Phase” in all procedures and directions that you already know, to ensure that our enemy can never unite again.

Please, redirect to the “yellow Cells” “Turath” immediately to take action a.s.a.p.

Second message:

To: Badr Organization

Subject: confidential

We ask you to be alert in your movement from your resident places to our headquarters, especially our secret headquarters of the “Yellow Cells”.

After the arrest of the spy B. K. Jawad who is a member of one the hostile powers of Al Sadr Trend, and after we questioned him with the “Yellow procedures”. He revealed a plan to assassinate our leaders and symbols to create havoc among our objectives which we are progressing for thirty years.

Yellow Phase and Yellow Cells

Formed in 2006, secret Badr Brigades sleeping cells, first time activated and used in April 2008. It’s main tasks are to infiltrate hostile Shiite parties, organizations and the government to assassinate the people who are opposing Badr Brigades, short name “Turath”. The period of these cells activations called “Yellow Phase”.

Muqtada Al-Sadr knows that his internal enemies are much more powerful than the U.S. forces, in his statement he wants to creates a “firewall” from Badr and Maliki’s infiltration. this message had nothing to do with the Americans.

Al-Sadr statement

An appeal from the humble Muqtada Al Sadr to the loved one of Mahdi Army, appeal from a heart filled with love for you and all honorable Iraqis who reject and resist the occupation in all kinds of resistance. My appeal comes from a heart filled with worries, eyes filled with tears and mournful tired soul.

Everyone knows that we will not give up resisting the occupiers until liberation or martyrdom but it must be clear and this is obligatory upon you members of Mahdi Army. The resistance will be exclusively on a selective group that will be authorized by us soon, people of expertise and management, awareness and sacrifice of those who have first- prior authorization from the legitimate religious leader ship and second- specific permission from their high commands, with special procedures and total discreet. Their weapons directed against the occupier only, any other targets are totally forbidden.

The second section of the army with it’s thousands or millions, will form a ideological, religious, cultural and social struggle against the western thoughts, secularism to liberates the minds and the hearts of hegemony and globalization, with it’s faith, awareness and to share experience. They will be prevented from carry or use arms.

The army will generate several cultural points, far from the political and military struggle making every effort to apply it’s best, and will follow their leadership, who must in their turn activate the cultural and intellectual spirit and encourage the faith of sacrifice. And you, my brothers in the Mahdi Army must obey them in these directions and they do not have the right to issue any military orders.
He, who will object these two divisions, is not part of me [my Mahdi Army]. Stay away from political parties and politics and stay away from hypocrisy. The best choice is to stay in the middle, and with your behavior you can be a good example for the others.

Don’t attack anybody, not even with words. With this the reputation of the ideological Army can stay clean, don’t do anything or say anything that can harm the resistance or the Army’s reputation. Any person who interferes with the resistance work without experience or evidence is an enemy of the resistance.
I call on all parties to cooperate with this decision for the interest of Iraq and the Iraqis and away from any political or secular desire. I am only a reformer and you are all brothers.