Mahdi Army Biggest Western Baghdad Problem, Say Commanders

The westernBaghdad district of West Rashid proves that al-Qaeda is not the biggest problem facing U.S. troops in Iraq.Mahdi Army Biggest Western Baghdad Problem, Say CommandersBy Cliff Montgomery – Aug. 1st, 2007Bush Administration officials are aching to make Americans believe that the Sunni terror group al-Qaeda in Iraq is the real problem confronting U.S. forces in Baghdad, as well as in the rest of Iraq. The western Baghdad district of West Rashid proves the fallacy of such arguments.Throughout the 10-square-mile district of West Rashid, the Mahdi Army–or Jaish al-Mahdi (JAM), to use its Arabic name–controls the power distribution, the gas stations, the housing market and the utter devotion of many residents, say soldiers from the 28th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, 1st Battalion.JAM is the Shi’ite militia commanded by the Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. It possesses a regimented structure of brigades, battalions and commanders. These militarized units are quite able to attack U.S. troops with mortars, machine guns, armor-piercing bombs and grenades. All the while, Sadr’s political block plays a large role in Iraq’s national government.Gen. David Petraeus, the top American military commander in Iraq, has said that West Rashid currently is “one of the three or four most challenging areas in all of Baghdad.”Until recently, Shi’ite militias had based themselves around eastern Baghdad, in such places as Sadr City; areas south and west of the Iraq capitol had been large Sunni enclaves.American troops estimate that as late as last year, Sunnis made up around 80 percent of Baghdad’s western neighborhoods, and Shi’ites a mere 20 percent.But the Shi’ite militias have steadily reversed these numbers, say U.S. military officials. Such armed militias as the Mahdi Army have transformed the population of West Rashid by the ruthless murder and intimidation of Sunnis, even denying the most basic services to those who remain.Recent graffiti sprayed over neighborhood walls reveal the result of such violence: “Every land is Karbala, and every day is Ashura,” declared one slogan, arrogantly trumpeting the Shi’ite holy city located in southern Iraq and a top Shi’ite religious holiday.U.S. troops who patrol West Rashid–a Baghdad district of approximately 700,000 people which includes the al-Jihad, al-Amil and Bayaa neighborhoods–say that the Mahdi Army is a disciplined, well-financed Shi’ite militia that ruthlessly intimidates Sunni groups and distributes its battle spoils to poor Shi’ites in the area.But there may be some cracks in the militia’s regimen. In recent months, American commanders have come to believe that JAM has cleaved into a loosely connected private army which tenuously holds Sadr as leader of all factions.To stem a possible genocide of Sunni residents in western Baghdad, the battalion has begun a number of raids in the hopes of capturing Mahdi Army leaders.In the now-predominately Shi’ite neighborhoods–particularly those of Bayaa and al-Amil–JAM has taken on the functions of the local government, say U.S. troops. In West Rashid, Sadr’s militia controls access to basic services, and often targets Sunni residents.”The Mahdi Army kind of shorts them out of power,” Capt. Charles Turner, who manages the  battalion’s reconstruction projects, told The Washington Post.”You drive down the roads, you look over here, it’s light. And you look over there, it’s dark,” he added.”From what I’ve seen, it’s kind of a Tony Soprano thing: ‘I outnumber you, so I’m going to do what I want.’ “Along certain neighborhood blocks controlled by JAM, “the curbs are painted, the streets are cleaner, they have beautification projects,” said Turner.”It would be cool if it was a positive thing, but it’s not,” he added.To finance its various operations, Shi’ite militias like JAM operate mafia-like enterprises which include weapons trafficking, kidnapping, stolen car rings and “selling insurance” to local businesses, say U.S. troops. The militias have even taken to forcing Sunni families from their homes, then renting the houses–complete with furniture and cars–to Shi’ite families at cut-rate prices.U.S. troops also believe that JAM controls local gas stations, and charges Shi’ite supporters a fixed price–however large the amount bought–while rejecting Sunni customers. One of the projects of the Iraqi army in West Rashid is to oversee gas stations, in the hopes of ending such unfairness. In some situations, the stations have temporarily been shut down.”Of all of these, that’s the [Mahdi Army’s] cash cow,” Lt. Col. Patrick Frank, the battalion commander, told the Post.”It’s common sense,” he added. “We’re shutting down the cash flow.”But other battalion men do not seem as sure about such methods.”[The Mahdi Army’s actions are] hard for us to combat. We can, and we’ve been trying since we’ve been here, but we’re not giving away homes, whereas JAM is,”  Capt. Jay Wink, the battalion’s intelligence officer, told the Post.”Who are you going to go with–somebody who just gave you a house or U.S. forces saying you shouldn’t follow insurgents?”Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? 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