Shiite Militia Leader Issues Death Threats to U.S. Consul-General in Basrah, Who Visited Wounded PMU Members

On March 12, U.S. Consul-General in Basrah Steve Walker visited Iraqis at the Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital who had been wounded in the fight against ISIS . A statement by the consulate (http://basrah.usconsulate.gov/pr031216.html) quoted CG Walker as saying: "Da'esh is losing, thanks to the courage and tenacity of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) – including the Popular Mobilization Forces – which have liberated approximately 40% of Iraqi territory once controlled by Da'esh. The United States stands shoulder to shoulder with its Iraqi partners in the fight against Da'esh." In response, Shiite militia leader Sheikh Aws Al-Khafaji, the commander of the Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas Forces, threatened Walker never to come near PMU members again. Brandishing an AK-47, Sheikh Khafaji said that "the blood vengeance is still pending against you and your U.S. administration" for cases of friendly fire in which PMU members had been harmed. Sheikh Khafaji reminded CG Walker that he is "still an enemy," saying: "your praises mean nothing to us." The video was posted on the YouTube account of the Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas Forces on March 14, 2016.

Following are excerpts:

Aws Al-Khafaji: In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. This is a message to the evil American consul in Basrah, who visited yesterday wounded members of the security forces, and of the Popular Mobilization Units. I say to him: This game of yours is clear to all. It won't work with us. We are the sons of the Iraqi people, and especially of the Islamic resistance. We are the sons of the martyr Al-Sadr, who said: "No, no to America!" We are the sons of Khomeini, who said that if America is pleased with us, we must conduct soul-searching.

Your praises mean nothing to us. What the enemies say about us increases our credit, and you are an enemy. You are still an enemy. You cannot fool us, and you cannot court us. We are the sons of the resistance that has driven you in humiliation out of Iraq. We are the sons of the resistance that has let you taste the bitterness of defeat. The presents you threw here and there yesterday defiled our wounded members, because they had reached us before in the form of bombs and missiles, under the false title of "friendly fire" in Baiji, in Tikrit, in Hawija, in Fallujah, and with the 25th Brigade of the 17th Division.

The blood vengeance is still pending against you and your U.S. administration for those who were martyred or wounded by your fire. Indeed, your presents have found their way to ISIS in Baiji and elsewhere. You provided ISIS with aid, weapons, plans, and aerial cover. Now, after ISIS has breathed its last breath, you come to be among the PMU?! Now, after your ISIS plots in Iraq have failed, you try to be among us?!

We don't want you. You are a persona non grata. We will not be used as a pretext for sending election messages to the American people, or to court the American people. We are not a party to your conflict with Saudi Arabia. I warn you, Steve Walker: Beware not to repeat this ugly act. I warn you not to visit any hospital and not to praise the PMU, because we cannot guarantee your safety.

[Stay away] from any place where PMU members are to be found, because there is no place for devils where the angles of the PMU are to be found.