US to Release Iranian-Backed Militants

US to Release Iranian-Backed Militants
August 19, 2009
Long War Journal|by Bill Roggio

As the violence spikes in Baghdad, the US military is planning on turning over the remaining members of the Asaib al Haq (League of the Righteous) -- an Iranian-backed terror group with ties to the Mahdi Army -- to the Iraqi government, which will then release the fighters. The release is being conducted as part of a reconciliation effort with the group, which led the violent uprising in Baghdad, Basrah, and in central and southern Iraq in 2008.

So far, nearly 100 members, including several senior members of the group as well as senior Iranian Qods Force officers, have been released from US custody.

"About 100 members have been released so far and we are committed to stick to our promises and to support the political process in Iraq as long as the government continues to honor its promises and the foreign forces continue to withdraw," Salam al Maliki, a spokesman for the League of the Righteous, told The Associated Press.

General Raymond Odierno, the commander of US forces in Iraq, said the members of the League of the Righteous are being let go because the group "appeared to be respecting the cease-fire and have begun to turn in heavy weapons or at least to consolidate the heavy weapons that they have."

"This is about reconciliation," Odierno told AP. "We believe Asaib al-Haq has taken initial steps to reconcile with the government of Iraq."

Odierno admitted that members of the group who are known to have killed US soldiers are being released and said they were unlikely to be tried in Iraqi courts.

So far, the US has released Laith al Qazali, the brother of Qais, the former leader of League of the Righteous. Laith and Qais, who is still in custody, are said to have planned and ordered the assault on the Karbala Provincial Coordination Center that resulted in the kidnapping and execution five US soldiers.

The US has also released Ali al Lami, a senior member of the terror group who is accused of ordering the bombing at a municipal building in Sadr City. Eight people, including two US soldiers and two US diplomats, were killed in the attack.

Also released was Mahmud Farhadi, the leader of the Zafr Command, one of three units subordinate to the Qods Force's Ramazan Corps, the unit assigned to direct attacks against US forces and the Iraqi government. Farhadi is considered one of the three most dangerous Iranian operatives to have been captured in Iraq since the US began targeting the Iranian-backed Shia terror networks. His role as one of the three theater commanders in the Ramazan Corps means he is directly responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing attacks against US forces.

Several US military and intelligence officials are very concerned that the release of the League of the Righteous members, particularly some of the leaders, may stoke the violence in Baghdad.

"The last thing the Iraqis need right now is for the wholesale release of members of this group just when the Iraqi security forces are trying to learn to walk," one official told The Long War Journal. "I see no indication the Asaib al Haq (League of the Righteous) is sincere about reconciliation; US troops are still being attacked by these Iranian surrogates."

One military officer said the release is being conducted too quickly and may undo efforts to contain the worst of Iran's terror proxies.

"Two years of hard work and sacrifices paid in blood is going down the tubes," a US military officer said. "Even if we have to let them go, why let them go now? Why not wait until the last possible minute?"

Another official was particularly horrified by the release of Farhadi, the senior Qods Force officer.

"Even if we are backing reconciliation [between the Iraqi government and the League of the Righteous], why let Farhadi go?" the official said. "While the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) requires the US to turn over all prisoners captured in Iraq, we all know exceptions will be made."

"We captured Abd al Hadi al Iraqi as he entered Iraq," the official said, referring to the senior al Qaeda paramilitary commander who was sent by Osama bin Laden to direct operations during 2007.

"Do you think he will be turned over to the Iraqis? the official continued. Guess again. He's in Gitmo and isn't going anywhere. We should have made the same exception for Farhadi; he is far too dangerous to have been released."


http://www.military.com/news/article/August-2009/us-to-release-iranian-backed-militants.html?ESRC=eb.nl




Provost

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States 1924-1929