"It's absurd," say some experts, except for the fact that it might be true.

The Bush Administration has made the claim that, should we establish a "date certain" for withdrawing US troops from Iraq, the militias will simply move underground and wait until we're gone to reassert themselves. I've read essays, in more than a few places, saying what an absurd idea this is.

So imagine my surprise when I heard this story on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday afternoon. At about 3:35 into the piece, a resident of Sadr City, discussing the probable tactics of the Mahdi Army should the US launch a campaign against them, says this:

Yesterday, the Mahdi Army decided that, when the Americans enter, we will not shoot at them; because if we do, the Americans will shoot the houses and carry out raids. The Mahdi Army will hide its weapons until the Americans are gone. [emphasis and transcription are mine]

A very interesting feature of this story is that the speaker is identified more or less as a "man on the street"; this despite the fact that he appears to be speaking on the militia's behalf.

Technorati Tags:Muqtada al-Sadr, Sadr, Sadr City, Surge, Troop Surge, Baghdad, Iraq, Militia, Withdrawal