Al-Sadr delivers firm message to Washington

The leader of the National Shia Current, Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr, addressed a message on Wednesday to the United States of America. Sayyid al-Sadr stated in a post, "I, the Iraqi citizen Muqtada al-Sadr, direct this message to (America) as a message of resistance when you imposed your occupation on my country, and as a message of a citizen when you withdrew from my country. Yes, we resisted you just as we will resist anyone who occupies our country. We are not hostile to anyone.. but the country's independence is above all considerations. Yes, we confronted you while shielding ourselves with the love of the homeland, unpolluted by the love of the world and gains, and we were neither terrorist adversaries nor were you Daesh adversaries." He added, "If you wish to turn a page.. let us turn it with justice and equity, without arrogance and without pride. If you claim that you liberated Iraq from the criminal and his henchmen.. then you must not deal with us according to his method.. otherwise the Iraqi people might rightfully believe that he replaced a mouse with a cat. We want to build our country with complete freedom and independence, far from all external interventions—be they eastern or western, northern or southern—and without corruption or subservience." Sayyid al-Sadr stressed, "We refuse for you to make Iraq an arena for your political and economic conflicts.. for we are not obligated to defend anyone or to fight on behalf of anyone. However, after your positive step of withdrawal from Iraq.. you are called upon to beautify the image of (America) in the eyes of the oppressed in the Middle East so that your flag is not trampled once again, and that can only happen if (America) takes a stance of moderation with everyone without bias toward the spoiled daughter or anyone else. It behooves the (superpower) to be conscious and a patron of peace, not an instigator of sedition and wars." He continued, "We Iraqis want to live with our neighbors in security, safety, and peace... and to nurture the interests of those who nurture our interests with all affection and harmony. Nor should he who claims to be a (superpower) impose his control over countries.. nor should his sole wish be his own elevation even if at the expense of oppressed countries, destitute peoples, and the control over their governments, livelihoods, and destiny." He proceeded, "Know that we are the followers of Imam Ali, peace be upon him... who said: My companions and I are neither eastern nor western. We are, as he said: (the youth of the pole). Iraq is the capital of the doctrine, the capital of Ali, peace be upon him, who was famously known for saying: People are of two kinds—either your brother in religion or your equal in creation. We are not among those who say: Muhammad or Ali came with slaughter. We shall not be followers neither to you nor to anyone else... We are the followers of Muhammad and Ali, and the followers of the prophets, especially those of resolute will among them, peace and blessings be upon them all." Sayyid al-Sadr completed, "We will not accept from (America), nor from anyone else, patronizing treatment... but rather fair diplomatic dealings.. so let not your flag be trampled, nor do you trample our dignity and independence. It is shameful of your judgment.. that you wanted to liberate a country and then you want to subjugate, humiliate, and make it an arena for war, conflict, and external interference. We are not Venezuela, and we will not be with moral decay nor with extremism." He interjected, "If all of this is for the sake of normalization with your friend.. then let your friend normalize with the entire world.. for her reputation has been tarnished, and the hall of the United Nations is empty of anyone listening to your friend!!! She has become isolated, having turned away from all human and international values despite claiming democracy and freedom. Realize what I say: Many have lost their authority and influence due to the evil of their proxies and the evil deeds of their proxies in any region whatsoever. And if your spoiled daughter in the Middle East is your proxy.. you reap nothing but the loss of sympathy and grandeur.. rather, the spoiled daughter will be a cause of annoyance to you internally and externally. Grandeur and good conduct do not come from a multitude of bad proxies, nor from weapons and military arsenals.. but from justice and equity.. for justice is the foundation of governance.. otherwise your globalization will not endure." Sayyid al-Sadr concluded by saying: "Finally, I say: I hope that the peace-loving American people will enjoy a peace-loving government. Peace be upon the lovers of peace, and the mercy and blessings of God."