Mahdi Army gets unwitting aid from U.S.

[Dracos]

The U.S. military drive to train and equip Iraq's security forces has unwittingly strengthened anti-American
Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, which has been battling to take over much of
the capital city as American forces are trying to secure it.

U.S. Army commanders and enlisted men who patrol east Baghdad, said al-Sadr's militias had heavily
infiltrated the Iraqi police and army units that they've trained and armed.

"Half of them are JAM. They'll wave at us during the day and shoot at us during the night," said Lt. Dan Quinn,
a platoon leader in the Army's 1st Infantry Division, using the initials of the militia's Arabic name, Jaish al Mahdi.
"People (in America) think it's bad, but that we control the city. That's not the way it is. They control it, and they
let us drive around. It's hostile territory."
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/16600612.htm

[Dhalgren]

1. Jesus. So plain and direct. Honesty usually is, I suppose...

"They control it, and they let us drive around. It's hostile territory." Bring the troops home NOW!