Najaf battle kills 300 al-Sadr loyalists!

[STING2]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5455104/


"Najaf battle kills 300 al-Sadr loyalists, U.S. says"
"19 Iraqis killed in Baghdad violence; 15 U.S. soldiers injured"

The Associated Press
Updated: 4:57 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2004

"BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces have killed about 300 militants loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in two days of fighting in Najaf, the U.S. military said Friday. Battles in other Shiite areas of the country have killed dozens more, according to Iraqi authorities."

"Two U.S. Marines and a U.S. soldier were killed Thursday in Najaf, and 12 other troops were wounded, the military said."

"Coalition troops have been battling al-Sadr?s Mahdi militia since Thursday morning in fighting that shattered a series of truces that had ended a widespread Shiite rebellion two months ago."

"The fighting was heaviest in Najaf, where U.S. warplanes and helicopters attacked suspected militant positions."

"?We estimate we?ve killed 300 anti-Iraqi forces in the past two days of fighting,? said Capt. Carrie Batson, a Marine spokeswoman."

"Najaf's governor, Adnan al-Zurufi, put the toll even higher, saying that 400 members of al-Sadr?s militia were killed and that more than 1,000 were arrested."

 

[Dreadsox]

When is the US going to learn that we cannot trust this guy?

 

[A_Wanderer]

I dont think we ever did, he attempted an "uprising" earlier this year (thats the type where your thugs take to the streets, burn down liquor stores and attack other Iraqis) and got put down hard. Then he tried to get the coalition to give in to his demands, they refused to deal with a thug and he went back to lick his wounds, now theres an interim Iraqi government which he is not part of and he tries to stage another "uprising" only this time he has even less support and he gets his arse kicked harder, its only a matter of time until Sistani makes this kid step aside.

 

[verte76]

Do you think he'll listen to Sistani? It's entirely possible that he's jealous of him or maybe thinks he's competition or whatever. Of course they are both Shi'ites, but I wouldn't exactly imagine that all of these guys are friends. It's a scary situation.

 

[Dreadsox]

Wanderer....we did make deals with him. He has since broken his promises. I have been following this guy for a LONG time. We have been playing his game putting our troops at risk. It is time to flatten him and his supporters, and not make deals that allow them to retreat.

Al-Sadr would love to see sistani dead verte

 

[A_Wanderer]

Thanks for correcting Dread, my fingers sometimes finish before my mind double checks the post (unless its one of those long ones ).

I think that getting rid of Sadr is something that we both agree on, there is no room for violent fanatics in the new Iraq, frankly I would go after the Iranian backers seriously, as well as the Saudi and Syrian supporters of the "Iraqi Insurgency" but taking al-Sadr out of the equation is a good start. He is loosing power every time that he tries to take a move and the people dont have any great love for seeing their neighbours killed and businesses destroyed for the sake of a murderers political ambition. A good blessing for a free and peaceful Iraq will be the disbanding the thuggish madhi army and giving those ignorant and armed to the teeth millitiamen an interest in seeing peace. Sadr on the other hand should have to see the inside of an Iraqi prison for murdering holy men.

 

[verte76]

Al-Sadr would love to see sistani dead verte

This is what I thought. It's clear that Al-Sadr wants power over the Shi'ites. Right now Sistani has it. I knew these guys would start having these power struggles. At the rate they're going they're all going to kill each other. Ugh.

 

[shart1780]

I recommend we fight back with love.

Maybe leave some brownies and a Hallmark card on his doorstep? Then we can have a group hug and smoke a joint.

 

[verte76]

Al-Sadr is quoted in the press as saying that "they will fight to the death to get the occupiers out". This is not good news. The place must be a hellhole.

 

[nbcrusader]

I hope he gets his wish quickly.....

 

[verte76]

I hope he gets his wish quickly.....

I think the government wants to bust him but they'll settle for martyrdom first if that's the way the cookie crumbles.

 

[Scarletwine]

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-08/08/article02.shtml

This is being used as another way to discredit the US intentions in Iraq. Damned if you do damned if you don't.

 

[nbcrusader]

I think the government wants to bust him but they'll settle for martyrdom first if that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Using the term "martyrdom" for this creep gives him too much credibility. He will die as a murderer.

 

[Klaus]

BBC

Iraqi Shia militants in Najaf have been instructed to lay down their arms and leave a holy shrine as part of a peace deal to end three weeks of fighting.

Loudspeakers at the Imam Ali shrine broadcast the call shortly before the fighters were due to leave, escorted by thousands of worshippers.

Some fighters loyal to radical cleric Moqtada Sadr were later seen loading weapons on a trolley to be taken away.

The agreement also stipulates that US-led forces should pull out of Najaf.

The overnight deal came after Iraq's leading Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, returned from abroad to resolve the crisis.

...

The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Najaf says the deal allows everyone to save face.

It gives Moqtada Sadr's Mehdi Army fighters an opportunity to blend into the crowds as they lay down their weapons and leave the shrine.

...

Let's see if the clerics can solve what the ocupying forces couldn't.
Anf if that will lead to a pro cleric mood in iraq

 

[A_Wanderer]

This is very bad, same old game, Sadr gets out of jail free and will be a pain in the arse in a month or two - its really one step forward, two steps back. Should have just put a bullet in his head, save everyone a lot of trouble in the long run.

 

[STING2]

BBC

Let's see if the clerics can solve what the ocupying forces couldn't.
Anf if that will lead to a pro cleric mood in iraq

Coalition forces could resolve the situation, but if Sistani can resolve it peacefully then that is good. Without the Shrine, Coalition forces can use whatever means necessary to bring Sadr to justice if he continues to cause trouble.

 

[anitram]

Shockingly enough, I do partially agree with A_Wanderer. Al-Sadr is a murderer and a thug, and it sets a bad precedent to allow him to be a shit disturber every once in a while, without consequences to him personally. He is no good for the people of Iraq and has nothing even mildly positive to contribute to a lasting peace. IMO, he needs to be removed from the equation one way or another, too many civillians are dying in the name of his stupidity.

 

[A_Wanderer]

Stupidity has nothing to do with Sadr's goals, I suspect powerlust and malice fill his heart but a big dollop of stupidity in the way he tries to go about it.