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Crossfire War - Al Mahdi Militia Positioned in Baghdad Green Zone

By Willard Payne

Crossfire War - TEHRAN WATCH - West Asia Theatre: Tehran - Baghdad - Riyadh/London - Washington; Elements of Al-Mahdi Militia Have Infiltrated Green Zone in Baghdad - Western Diplomats - Embassies At RiskNight Watch: BAGHDAD - As President George W. Bush makes his speech tonight on orders from the House of Saud to send more troops into the trap of Iraq, an Iraqi judge of the Higher Criminal Court has stated elements of the Al-Mahdi Army militia have infiltrated into the Green Zone in Baghdad. The Green Zone is the area where the highest security has been maintained to protect Western diplomats and their embassies, especially the embassies of the lost alliance London-Washington. It is also the area of the city where most of the senior Iraqi officials live. All of them are now at extreme risk. The Al-Mahdi Army has been trained and financed by Tehran and it is led by the radical Shi'ite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The Al-Mahdi Army is just as much an extension of Iran's military as is Hezbollah in Lebanon. [ASHARQALAWSAT]

Speaking on condition of anonymity, to Asharq al-Awsat in a telephone interview, the judge stated, "elements of the Al-Mahdi Army have settled in the Green Zone as part of the force guarding former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari. They therefore institute part of the force protecting some officials in the Unified Iraqi Coalition which is led by Abdulaziz al - Hakim." Obviously, they are protecting political groups connected to Tehran but I cannot imagine the Al-Mahdi Army is there just for the personal security of Iran's political agents.

Tehran wants to take the "Battle for Baghdad" into the Green Zone, which would be a massive embarrassment to the lost alliance of the UK/US. And, as mentioned earlier, President Bush will be announcing an increase of troops mostly deployed in the Baghdad area. This is almost like a circling of the wagons in the old West. It was just a few weeks ago, Vice-President Dick Cheney visited Riyadh and was told to send more troops into Iraq or else the House of Saud will support the Sunni militia groups. Riyadh and Tehran have been working in tandem since both governments want to see the West defeated and less influential in the region after the Jihad runs its course this year. So occasionally the House of Saud will put on it's frighten of Iran act, but in reality they support the Jihad just as much as Tehran and acknowledge Tehran's leadership.

Neither Tehran-Riyadh want to see American-British forces fighting effectively on other strategic fronts like the Balkans-Caucasus-India.

Night Watch Information Service
www.crossfirewar.com