VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT FOR SADR'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002488

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2023
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT FOR SADR'S
STEAMROLLERS

REF: A. BAGHDAD 2448 (SADR STATEMENTS)

B. BAGHDAD 666 (FREEZE EXTENSION)

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Brian Shukan for reasons 1.4
(b, d).



1. (C) As reported in Ref A, Muqtada al-Sadr's July 28 public
statement divided his Jaysh al-Mehdi (JAM) militia into two
groups: an unarmed group that performs "thought jihad" and an
armed resistance cell to battle "the Occupation." On August
5, the Sadrist movement issued a six-page pamphlet that
purports to explain the purpose and function of the unarmed
group that goes by the name of "al-Mumahidoon" which, in the
JAM context, can best be translated as "The Steamrollers" or
"Ones Who Pave the Way." According to prominent Shia
religious scholar Sheikh Fateh Kashif al-Ghita, Sadr's choice
of the term "al-Mumahidoon" - used traditionally to describe
those who prepare the Shia masses for the return of the
"Hidden Imam" Mehdi and used more recently by Iran's Khomeini
as code for those who support the "Wilayat al-Faqih" concept
of a theological state - fits in neatly with Sadr's attempt
to re-brand the JAM as a "social and religious" entity
instead of a glorified death squad, and to re-cast himself as
a religious leader rather than a rabble-rouser. Indeed, just
as he did in his July 28 statement, Sadr uses the title of
Hujjat al-Islam which identifies him as a senior Shia scholar
who has achieved an advanced state of theological learning.



2. (C) Issued under "the educational auspices of Jaysh
al-Mehdi" and entitled "al-Mumahidoon," the pamphlet features
a cover portrait of Muqtada's father and Sadrist Trend icon
Muhammed Sadiq al-Sadr as well as the following mission
statement-style quote from Muqtada: "They are the
ideological, cultural, religious, and social ARMY responsible
for the intellectual and scientific jihad and the liberation
of minds, hearts, and bodies from the spread of Western
globalization, and they are totally forbidden from using
weapons." The pamphlet goes on to outline the goals of the
group that include establishing an Islamic state; spreading
true Islamic values; and eliminating wrongdoing in a "moral,
humanitarian, and heartfelt manner." The organization will
be formed from "brothers in Jaysh al-Mahdi" and divided into
eight sections: ideological, religious, cultural, social,
media, public relations, administrative, and 'follow-up.'"
The work of 'al-Mumahidoon' will include: establishing
literacy programs; proselytizing at mosques; producing plays,
films, and documentaries; providing care for wounded JAM
members and the relatives of JAM martyrs; and organizing
protests and celebrations. In a separate media interview,
Sadrist Trend CoR member MP Ahmed al-Mosa'odi said that Sadr
initially imposed a "freeze" on Jaysh al-Mehdi activity to
"pull the rug from under the feet of other political parties"
and subsequently limited JAM's mission to one of cultural and
social resistance as embodied by "al-Mumahidoon."

Comment
--------------


3. (C) The establishment of "al-Mumahidoon" is the latest
episode in Sadr's purported campaign to transform Jaysh
al-Mahdi from an armed rabble/mafia-style criminal enterprise
into a social and religious organization. The campaign began
February 22 when Sadr extended his August 2007 "freeze" on
offensive JAM operations for an additional six months with a
pronouncement that JAM would begin a period of "doctrinal and
psychological transformation" and Sadr's subsequent
"corporeal separation" from the hurly-burly that passes for
Iraqi politics (Ref B). The extended "freeze" is set to
expire on August 16, just a few days before the sacred Shia
Shabaaniyah festival in Karbala: last year's festival
witnessed a bloody JAM attempt to seize control of Karbala's
holy shrines, the event that turned much of the Shia street
against the Sadrist Trend and compelled Muqtada to rein in
his militia with the "freeze" order. While "al-Mumahidoon"
members go about "thought jihad" activities like producing
plays and establishing literacy programs, it is worth
remembering that Sadr has explicitly stated that he intends
to retain an armed resistance cell to wage war against "the
Occupation."
CROCKER