Multinational Forces Iraq has dramatically changed it's messaging concerning the Mahdi Army and attacks in Baghdad. While MNF-I continues to refer to the Shia militias as "criminals" or Special Groups in their press releases, there are no longer any calls for the Mahdi Army to obey Muqtada al Sadr's cease-fire order.This is occurring as the Iraqi government and MNF-I are pressing the fight against the Mahdi Army in Baghdad, Basra, and elsewhere in the South.
In the past, MNF-I press releases would refer to Sadr with the honorific "al-Sayyid" and appeal to the Mahdi Army to adhere to the ceasefire. Here is an example of a typical press release from late December 2007, which leaves an opening for Sadr and his Mahdi Army to end the violence:
"We commend all those who honor al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr's ceasefire pledge… Significant progress has been made in the fight for a secure and stable Iraq, but dangerous criminal elements still exist."
Now, MNF-I is explicitly stating the goal is to "capture or kill these criminals" while dropping any pretenses about the neutrality of the Mahdi Army. Here is an example from a press release today:
"Iranian-backed Special Groups and other criminal elements who refuse to honor the rule of law are directly responsible for the current violence in Baghdad, as well as the deaths of countless innocent civilians," said Lt. Col. Steven Stover, a spokesman for MND-B. "We will continue to work with Iraqi civilians and Iraqi Security Forces to identify, capture or kill these criminals who are terrorizing the people of Baghdad."
A press release from April 20 actually noted that "criminal" fighters "retreated to building that contained the local Sadr Trend office" after a clash with Iraqi soldiers and special police. In the past, MNF-I would not directly link the "criminals" and "Special Groups" to Sadr's political movement.
The change is significant. Just a few weeks ago, General David Petraeus was giving Sadr an out by saying he had a place in Iraq's political process. Last week, Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sadr could either participate in the political process or not, the choice is his. This weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice openly insulted Sadr by calling him a coward for hiding in Iran while he instructed the Mahdi Army to fight U.S. and Iraqi forces. "I know he's sitting in Iran," Rice said. "I guess its all-out war for anybody but him. I guess that's the message; his followers can go to their deaths and he's in Iran." Now MNF-I drops its friendly titles for Sadr and references to the cease-fire, while killing or capturing Mahdi Army fighters on a daily basis. MNF-I is withdrawing the carrot and applying the stick.
