BBC - International Terrorism (2008) Part 17 The Mahdi Army

International Terrorism: The Global War on Terror

The terrorist is by no means a new actor on the world stage. However, thanks to startling developments in military and communications technology, this perennial threat to freedom and security has taken a quantum leap forward during the past thirty years. In many cases, these vicious and determined men and women have supplanted nation states on the globe's “most wanted” list! This extraordinary 26-episode series provides a comprehensive look at these modern masters of political murder and extortion. From the I.R.A. to al-Qaeda, Global Terror runs the gamut of groups that have pledged themselves to destroy the stability that we cling to so tenuously—examining their goals, their methods and their terrifying prospects for success!

Part 17: The Mahdi Army

On 25 March 2008, some 15,000 Iraqi troops moved in Basra. Their aim was to drive out the terrorists who had held the city in a murderous grip since the fall of Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. But, even though the troops were backed up with US and British airpower, it still took them about three weeks to regain control of Basra. Fortunately, it ended in failure. The once-seemingly invincible Mahdi Army is now in complete disarray and al-Sadr has gone into hiding in neighbouring Iran. It’s been a long time coming, but for now, at least, peace of a kind is slowly returning to Iraq after years of death and destruction.

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