:: The Rational Radical Blog ::

Friday, April 16, 2004

U.S. troops, cleric's militia battle outside Najaf

Some 2,500 U.S. soldiers are deployed outside Najaf, under orders to kill or capture al-Sadr and dismantle his al-Mahdi Army militia.

Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, warned of a strong Shiite response if U.S. forces entered Najaf or Karbala to capture al-Sadr.

The holy cities are a “red line,” Mahdi al-Karbala’i, al-Sistani’s representative in Karbala, said during a sermon. “We are calling for peaceful solutions, but if the coalition forces are to cross the red line, then we'll take a different stronger position.”

Al-Sistani, a moderate who has opposed anti-U.S. violence, has enormousinfluence among Iraq’s Shiite majority.

Will this deter the Bushian forces of empire? I doubt it?

Jack Clark 11:27 AM [+]   
Post #108214003817872893