The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Commentary
    • Columns
    • Water Cooler
    • Letters
    • Cartoons
    • Books
  • Sports
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Communities
  • Rebate Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • Commentary

    TURNER: Our lawbreaking Congress

  • Energy

    Obama backs plan to legalize illegals

  • World

    Gitmo suspects allowed laptops while in custody

  • Politics

    Health-vote ally Nelson to get new VA hospital for Nebraska

  • National

    Poll finds stubborn suspicion of census

  • National

    PRUDEN: Into the twilight zone

  • National

    Blockbuster chain mulls bankruptcy

Monday, July 24, 2006

Iraqi Shi'ite militia ready to join fight

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen

More Stories

  • Pakistan arrests halt U.N. contacts with Taliban
  • Diplomats urge resumption of Mideast talks
  • S.C. gov agrees to ethics fine, divorces
  • EU climate chief urges U.S. to act

By

A senior member of Muqtada al-Sadr's Iraqi Shi'ite militia, the Mahdi Army, says the group is forming a squadron of up to 1,500 elite fighters to go to Lebanon.

The plan reflects the potential of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah to strengthen radical elements in Iraq and neighboring countries and to draw other regional players into the Lebanon conflict.

"We are choosing the men right now," said Abu Mujtaba, who works in the loosely organized following of radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. "We are preparing the right men for the job."

Mr. Mujtaba, who was interviewed in Baghdad, said some of the men have had special training but did not specify what kind.

Sheik al-Sadr's black-clad armed militia numbers in the thousands, operates throughout central and southern Iraq and is thought to be responsible for numerous killings of Sunnis.

A rival Sunni cleric, Abdul Rahman al-Duleimi, said he knew about the militia's recruiting effort and that he had appealed to his own followers to fight Israel.

"We know that the Mahdi militia is on this issue since the Lebanon-Israeli crisis started," said Sheik al-Duleimi, whose house in Baghdad contains a large portrait of former ruler Saddam Hussein. The cleric is not related to Adnan al-Dulaimi, also a Sunni cleric and leader of a major faction in parliament.

Sheik al-Duleimi said that during prayers on Friday, he "called the people to volunteer, and if they cannot, they should donate anything. I called on people to donate even one bullet, because maybe this one bullet will kill one Israeli."

Government officials said they knew nothing of the Mahdi militia's plans, although Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has condemned Israel's assault on Lebanon and said he will discuss it with President Bush during a scheduled visit to the White House tomorrow.

"The hostile acts against Lebanon will have effects on the region, and we are not far from what is going on in Lebanon," Mr. al-Maliki said Saturday. "We will speak to the United Nations and American government to call for a cease-fire quickly."

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Top Stories

Most Shared

  1. EDITORIAL: Obama surrenders gulf oil to Moscow
  2. Obama backs plan to legalize illegals
  3. KUHNER: Impeach the president?
  4. KOFFMAN: A prescription for life or death?
  5. PRUDEN: Into the twilight zone
More Top Stories »
  1. EDITORIAL: Obama's medical horror stories
  2. TURNER: Our lawbreaking Congress
  3. Medical pot lights up D.C. debate
  4. RUSE: The Girl Scout Sex Guide
  5. Gitmo suspects allowed laptops while in custody

Most Commented

  1. EDITORIAL: Obama surrenders gulf oil to Moscow
  2. Obama backs plan to legalize illegals
  3. Tehran aiding al Qaeda links, Petraeus says
  4. Kucinich will vote for health care reform
  5. CBO feels crush of health care requests
More Top Stories »
  1. EDITORIAL: Obama's medical horror stories
  2. Group condemns textbooks about Islam
  3. Obama dismisses procedural tactics
  4. Price tag in hand, Dems prepare for final health care vote
  5. House Dems on track for vote on $940B health bill

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin

Blogs & Columns

  • Water Cooler

    A North Dakota payoff attempt for a health care bill 'yea'?

  • Belief Blog

    Sayonara to the president's faith-based council

  • Technology

    Ordering iPad is painless, except for the wallet hit

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.