Page 2 of 3 The Sadr movement 'will eventually
triumph'
movement. Sayed
Muqtada is a high political figure. He visited
many countries before and he can visit Iran or
other countries at any time he likes. That does
not mean he is abandoning his country and his
people. Remember, Sayed Muqtada stayed in Iraq
throughout the tyranny of Saddam [Hussein], unlike
many others who fled to the safety of Iran and the
West.
MA: How would you
describe the relationship between Iran and
the
Sadrist movement?
MK: The
Sadr movement is Iraqi through and through. It
will establish relationships with foreign entities
as long as these do not clash with the best
interests of the Iraqi people. But the Sadr
movement is also a liberation party, and as such
it seeks close ties with other liberation
movements, particularly people who challenge
American hegemony. The Islamic Republic of Iran is
of full of such people.
MA:
What do you make of allegations that Iran is
meddling in Iraqi affairs?
MK: At the moment many
countries - big and small - are meddling in Iraqi
affairs. The occupation is the source of all this
interference. Recently, Saudi Arabia declared
bluntly that it was going to support some sections
among Iraqis to stand against other sections in
the event of a civil war. In the region, Iran is
the only democracy with sophisticated and powerful
institutions.
Other countries are still
essentially tribal in nature, their modern facade
notwithstanding. Given Iran's development and its
impressive resources, it would be very strange if
it ignored the situation in Iraq. After all, what
happens in Iraq could potentially affect Iran, and
the Iranians are naturally worried about
developments on their western border.
What
would anyone expect from Iran other than
supporting people and parties in Iraq who are
friends with Iran and share the same ideology and
interests? It is the American media machine that
tries to manipulate the Arabs into forgetting
about Israel and America and to think of Iran as
the real threat.
The facts speak for
themselves. Israel - with the unconditional
support of America - occupies Palestine and does
everything in its power to frustrate the
legitimate aspirations of the Arabs and Muslims.
It is America and not Iran that occupies Iraq and
is trying to spark off a civil war. Unlike
America, Iran is a friend of Iraq.
MA: Do you envisage this
being the last major American military operation
in Iraq?
MK: I hope the
Americans just pull their troops out of Iraq. This
war is not going to be won by anyone. Even if the
Americans leave tomorrow, the Iraqi people will
not be able to declare victory. The Iraqis have
lost too many people to declare any form of
victory.
MA: You want an
immediate American withdrawal?
MK: Yes!
MA: But isn't this going to
exacerbate the situation, at least in the short
term?
MK: This is what the
Americans and some people in the Iraqi government
- who are fearful of losing their positions - want
you to believe. The reality is there might be a
conflict for a few days ...
MA: Days?!
MK: I don't envisage the
conflict lasting more than two weeks.
MA: Given the intensity of
the sectarian war in the past two years, will all
the deaths, displacement, misery, resentment and
thirst for revenge that go with it; you really
think all this can be settled in a two-week war?
MK: Yes, all of this can be
sorted out in a week, maximum two weeks.
MA: This is an extraordinary
claim! Please explain how.
MK: The American and British
militaries are responsible for the sectarian
conflict. The respectable leaders on both sides
are not calling for this war. You are right, there
are bad feelings, but the respectful and popular
leaders do not want conflict.
I am not
talking about the key people in government; nobody
follows them and they don't matter. They will be
swept away within hours once the occupiers leave
Iraq. But take popular leaders like Grand
Ayatollah [Ali] Sistani and Sayed Muqtada al-Sadr;
they speak for all Iraqis, not just the Shi'ites.
MA: But many Sunnis
intensely dislike Muqtada al-Sadr.
MK: Some Sunnis dislike him,
but the great majority recognize him as an Iraqi
nationalist leader fighting against occupation
and
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