Sadrist Movement claims US, Al Qaeda links

A spokesman for the Sadrist Movement claims to have documents that show a connection between Al Qaeda and the US Forces in Iraq. The spokesman also accused US security consultants of failing to adequately train the Iraqi military. Jawad Al Hisnawi said in a press conference on Thursday in Karbala that the documents indicated that Al Qaeda has been carrying out a US agenda. Al Hisnawi expressed sadness that these agendas have been carried out by Iraqi men. The Sadrist Movement also accused the US in April of equipping the Iraqi army with weapons too weak to stand up to Al Qaeda and other armed groups. US troops are slated to leave Iraq by the end of December in accordance with the security agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington in 2008. The US departure has caused fresh conflict in Iraq between those who support the withdrawal and those who want a US presence The Sadrist movement has been one of the most vehement opponents of the US presence, although the group has suspended attacks on US targets in recent days in order to avoid slowing the US withdrawal.