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In an Iraqi TV interview, Watheq Al-Battat, leader of the Iraqi "Al-Mukhtar Army" Shiite militia, said: Give us the chance, and we will destroy them... I will make them rue the day they ever called themselves ISIS. By Hussein, I will make them wear their women's clothing." The interview aired on Hona Baghdad TV on February 13, 2015.
Following are excerpts:
Interviewer: What was the message that you delivered to Al-Maliki [when he was still PM]?
Watheq Al-Battat: The message was that he needed to prepare for a confrontation with ISIS, because ISIS would enter the country within a year or a year and a half. That was the message I conveyed to him. The entire Iraqi people understood this, except the prime minister.
[…]
ISIS is the enemy, and if it beats us, it can do whatever it likes with us, but… …but as the saying goes: "If you want to build a state, you must load ten bullets in your gun – nine for your friends and one for your foe."
[…]
Interviewer: Are Al-Maliki and Iran responsible for what is happening in Iraq?
Watheq Al-Battat: Of course. They bear responsibility and will be held accountable for every drop of blood shed. We cannot complain about the enemy for attacking us. Obviously, an enemy is an enemy. Its place is in the Hellfire in any case.
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Let me list all the things Al-Maliki did against [my] Al-Mukhtar Army. He carried out many arrests from among the Al-Mukhtar Army… Let me tell you about the "morality" of the arrests by the Al-Maliki forces. First of all, they are all under the influence of drugs and alcohol. When they go in, they attack the women and children. They destroy all the furniture in the house. They take all the money they find, and they arrest anybody who carries a gun. They attack all…
Interviewer: That is what the Sunnis used to say about their suffering at the hands of the security forces in these parts.
Watheq Al-Battat: They were telling the truth. Everything they said was true. I saw this myself. They arrested me and my brother, and this spectacle repeated itself. They enter the house under the influence of drugs and alcohol, with their shitty morals. They take the detainee, give him electric shocks, stick metal rods up his behind, give him electric shocks in the most sensitive parts of his body… They violate his honor and everything, even if he is a man of religion…
Interviewer: Did they torture you when you were under arrest?
Watheq Al-Battat: Not me, to be honest.
[…]
Interviewer: Has Al-Maliki handed Mosul over [to ISIS]?
Watheq Al-Battat: Absolutely. Without a doubt. It is documented. He has handed Mosul and all the provinces over to them.
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All the Sunni areas are destroyed. They are occupied by ISIS. Their homes have been destroyed – everything is in ruins. Everything has become expensive. [Al-Maliki] ended his term as prime minister with the country in ruins. By God, if I were in his place, I would have killed myself. I swear by Hussein, I would have committed suicide like Hitler. I'd rather appear like a hero who could not stand what became of his country. How can somebody possibly destroy an entire country, and then portray himself as the great leader of our times?
[…]
I challenge the prime minister to…
Interviewer: You mean Haider Al-Abadi?
Watheq Al-Battat: Yes. I challenge him to give me and Al-Mukhtar Army one month, with the existing capabilities… By Allah and the Prophet, if I did not reach our borders with Syria and Turkey, I would put a bullet through my head and die.
[…]
To date, the Al-Mukhtar Army has not received even on percent of the capabilities given to [militias] like Asai'b Ahl Al-Haq, Al-Nujaba, or… Are you referring to the Iranian weapons given to these groups? I swear by Allah that I had those weapons, I would destroy ISIS. I swear by Hussein, I would make ISIS wear women's clothing. By Allah…
Interviewer: So what's the problem? Why do these militias…
Watheq Al-Battat: The problem is that [the Iranians] make the wrong calls. The problem is that they cast pearls before swine. They place the leadership in the hands of the unworthy, to people with no understanding, who have no management skills. The victims are [the Iraqi soldiers massacred at Camp] Speicher, the cities that have been destroyed, the women, the children… Imam Mahdi and the spread of the Shiite doctrine fell victim to this too, but the greatest victim of all is the ideology of Hussein. The ideology of Hussein has been humiliated. You dare to call yourselves sons of Hussein, when you haven't managed to liberate a single province in nine months?!
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Are they incapable of liberating a single province?! Diyala is captured then liberated on a daily basis, and so are the Salah Al-Din and the Ramadi provinces. What kind of joke is this?
Interviewer: A short while ago, you mentioned an important matter…
Watheq Al-Battat: Give us the chance, and we will destroy them. By Allah and the Prophet, I will bring a calamity upon their heads. I will make them rue the day that they ever called themselves ISIS. By Hussein, I will came them wear their women's clothing, and I will make donkeys out of them. I will build them detention camps, in which I will feed them barley. I will turn them into servants for the people of Al-Amara and Al-Nasriya.
[…]
The [Iraqi] army of lions is led by a stupid mountain goat, while the [ISIS] army of goats is led by a triumphant lion. You cannot bring in someone who is unsuitable to lead… It is futile to try [Al-Maliki] who has already been tested. The man ruled for eight years, and for eight years he destroyed you. For eight years he allowed your sons' skulls to be crushed…
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Since the day I was born, I never kissed up to anybody. I despise sycophancy and consider it a sin. I never ingratiate myself upon anyone. I call it as I see it. If I call someone stupid – that's it. End of story. If I say that someone is a good reason – end of story. I pray to Allah that the day will come, when they chop off my head and throw it in the garbage. Allah loves good people and He will rid me of all this.
[…]
Interviewer: Have you met with [PM] Al-Abadi?
Watheq Al-Battat: No, I don't want to either.
Interviewer: Why not?
Watheq Al-Battat: It's not out of arrogance, but I don't want to meet with politicians. In my view, the Iraqi people are paying the price for the [politicians'] crimes, who destroy the country. All the politicians bear responsibility.
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The Al-Mukhtar Army is definitely a sectarian army. I am here to defend the Shiites against any attack. As for our Sunni brothers – we do not target them for being Sunni. There is a nice saying: Not all Sunnis are ISIS, but all ISIS members are Sunnis. Not all Sunnis are takfiris, but all takfiris are Sunnis. Not all Sunnis carry out bombings, but all those who do are Sunnis.
Interviewer: Are there no Shiites who carry out bombings?
Watheq Al-Battat: None.
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Am I half-Sunni half-Shiite? Of course not. I am 100% Shiite, from head to toe.
[…]
I say to [former] PM [Al-Maliki]: Stand up in front of your people, and admit that you are a #$@&%*! Admit your naivete, admit that you are #$@&%*, admit that you led the country to perdition, admit that you destroyed everything, and then go ahead and commit suicide, or else stand trial, which will lead to your execution, and that way perhaps you will gain some honor.
Interviewer: I'm sorry to cut you short, but our time is up.
[…]
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