Posted on 08/20/2004 6:42:42 AM PDT by Smogger
BREAKING: Iraqi police reportedly enter Najaf shrine; Shiite militiamen have left
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Foiled again! </sarcasm>
Any chance of someone in Washington growing a set and attacking the tumor (Sadr) head-on?
From Reutors:
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi police took control of the Imam Ali Mosque in the holy city of Najaf on Friday, after entering the shrine to find that rebel Shi'ite militia loyal to a radical cleric had left, the Interior Ministry said.
"The Iraqi police are now in control of the shrine, along with the religious authorities," said a senior ministry spokesman.
Well gee, warn them for 2 weeks that you are coming in and, surprise, surprise, they are gone.
Just like the WMDs.
It's not Washington's choice.
Of course they've left the mosque. That's what ceasefires are for, aren't they...or is it "negotiations" that set the stage for Sadr & Co. to regroup somewhere else?
You know I don't think we know where he is.
Anyhow two things:
1. Establish a heavy guard of the most loyal IP/National Guard we can find around the shrine.
2. Mop up the rest of the bad guys.
"Njaf"
I understand Islamic topic journalism now. once the terrorists leave it's no longer the "Holy City of Njaf".
It's the terrorists that make it "Holy."
Put a sign on the mosque that says "Waco Texas" and ask Janet Reno what to do.
How does 2000 dudes and 1 fat guy just up and leave a mosque without being detected. I can't even leave the house to get a beer without my wife intercepting me.
bump..
They're all in the cemetary?
Um, no one was watching the back door?
is the fat boy singing?
One other thing - disarm the explosives Sadr's group reportedly rigged up around the structure.
Somebody said there were tunnels underneath it.
Shouldn't someone look for the tunnels and clog
them up? I guess we're going to have to go thru
this operation again. I am inclined to think that
the wacky iraqis just deserve the mad mullahs and
other backward 'leaders' that seem to float to the
top of the latriene that is the middle east. (Isreal
excluded)
It wasn't about killing him or not killing him: it was about doing so without blowing the mosque.
Yes, do establish the guard. The problem is that the Iraqi Police haven't shown the ability to stand & defend any installation -- including their own police stations. Just like this Al Sadr, they fight some, then cut a deal. It's a cultural thing.
One reason -- I am convinced -- that this thing dragged on so long is that the US Commander made it clear that US troops were not going to enter the shrine, and that it was the Iraqi Government's responsibility to take out Al Sadr. The Iraqi troops were either refusing to take point, were not up to the job, or both.
How much you want to bet that next month Al Sadr's gang will be back in that shrine?
tunnels. i read somewhere that the place is honey-combed with tunnels underneath it, undoubtedly there are many that lead out into the cemetary. remember, even though we've taken the cemetary last week, for the past few days there have been reports of sporadic continuing fighting ther. my guess is that represents fighters sneaking out, some of whom were caught at it and shot up.
Ha, and we scoff at Kerry saying he wants to fight a more sensitive war...
How much more sensitive can we get?
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