Crack Down on Iraqi Dissidents

by soccerdad

There appears to be a crack down on Iraqi dissidents (for lack of a better term).

US occupation forces in Iraq have arrested Dr Muthana Harith al-Dhari the editor of al-Basaer newspaper (Insight) and media officer for the influential Association of Muslim Scholars. Link

Dr Muthana Harith al-Dhari has been critical of the US invasion/occupation. He was one of the people who tried to mediate the Fallujah standoff back in April Link he was identified in the article as a spokesman for the Muslim's cleric association.

In this article he was identified as the head of one of the most influential Sunni groups opposed to the US invasion of Iraq. He was quoted as saying "We do not accept the legitimacy of this government because they are still under the control of the occupation," said Muthana Harith al-Dhari, head of the Association of Muslim Scholars. "We do not accept what they call the handing over of sovereignty." Link

In a second development US troops surround Najaf home of Shiite militia leader

Sadr was a lower level cleric until Bremer closed his newspaper and sought to arrest him for murder. Subsequent actions by the US ended up elevating Sadr to the secon most popular man behind Sistani and the leading anti US Iraqi leader. Its not clear what the effect of arresting Sadr at this point will be. He has lots of followers and this may enrage them. The hope by the US would be that without their leader they may be less effective. For a profile on Sadr

These actions by the Allwai-US government will send a strong signal to the insurgents that a crack down is on the way. This may energized them to increase their attacks before the governement can inprove their security forces. The other wild card in all of this is Sistani. If he feels that the uS is not leaving anytime soon then he may come off the sidelines. Juan Cole will be a must read tomorrow.