Coalition Massing in Najaf, Ready to Capture Sadr..Cleric Sistani Begs for Refrain (Debkafile)

DEBKAfile Anti Terrorism Global Security Bulletin ^ | April 13, 2004 | Gioria Shamis-Economist Magazine (retired)

[threat matrix]

US forces around Najaf seem ready to go in and overcome radical Sadr jihadi militia.

Senior Shiite Ayatollah Sistani appeals to Americans to refrain from sending troops into holy city and capturing Sadr.

Fighting resumes in Fallujah.

Shite Radical leader Sadr told Lebanese Hizballah al Manar television that he is still ready to die to drive Americans out of Iraq.

US authorities release top Sadr aide Sheikh Hajem al -Araji shortly after detaining him at news conference he was giving at Baghdad hotel.

Portugal tells its citizens to leave Iraq immediately.

[threat matrix]

http://www.mehrnews.com/wfNewsDetails_en.aspx?NewsID=70058&t=Political

[Semper Paratus]

Hope this one falls into the 10% accuracy bucket for DEBKA.

[petercooper]

notice how every city is a "holy" city.

fry 'em

[wvnavyvet]

Seems they could lay out some rat bait to draw many of those fighting the coalition forces into a trap and wipe them out by hyping the fact they're going to capture or kill this Sadr dude within a specific time frame.

[techphyguy]

the government really does need to step back and look at what it is we're really fighting here. The countries and tribes of the Middle East have been fighting for thousands of years over things more trivial than oil and dictators. Does the government really think it can heal the problems in the region by continuing the violent trend?

[ErnBatavia]

US forces around Najaf seem ready to go in and overcome radical Sadr jihadi militia.

From Debka's lips to God's ear...

[DB]

Implant a tracking device in the guy they just released and let the rat go back to the pack.

[BossLady]

"he is still ready to die to drive Americans out of Iraq"

Say your prayers, dude.....

[1Old Pro]

Shite Radical leader Sadr told Lebanese Hizballah al Manar television that he is still ready to die to drive Americans out of Iraq.

Good, let's make him happy.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Would be nice if Bush says tonight that Sadr is now in American hands, around his neck.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

notice how every city is a "holy" city.

fry 'em


LOL. Great point. Probably like saying "the holy city of Newark" or the "holy city of Scranton".

[threat matrix]

Sounds like there is not a lot left in Najaf of Sadr's forces..

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Shhh...

[1Old Pro]

Does the government really think it can heal the problems in the region by continuing the violent trend?

As this is one of your first posts as a new sign up as of 4/13/04 (today), I think we need to get even MORE VIOLENT.

[threat matrix]

As he wishes..

[DB]

This is the civilized approach.

If it fails there is only one other approach - And then it can be justified.

[numberonepal]

Imam Muktada al-Sadr arrested in Baghdad
13.04.2004, 12.18

CAIRO, April 13 (Itar-Tass) - The U.S. troops arrested radical Shiite Imam Muktada al-Sadr in Baghdad on Tuesday. The report came from Hazem al-Araj, his closest associate, who is the head of the Baghdad bureau of the "Mahdi army"; group.

I know it's TASS, but it may also fall into that 10%.

[techphyguy]

"Good, let's make him happy."

And make him a martyr for his troops? YES! Give them more reason to kill Americans.

Once again, the military needs to look at the culture and see what it is exactly they are doing by emulating the zealot behavior of the radicals.

[threat matrix]

Wow!

[MEG33]

Should that be restraint instead of refrain?

[zarf]

The world is becoming very small and societies are bumping into each other-somethings gotta give.

This ancient concoction of religion, tribal violence and ignorance cannot coexist with 21st century societies.

It is guaranteed we will be meeting these religious zealots today or at a future date. The only difference is if these religious wackos will have a nuclear weapon.

[1Old Pro]

the military needs to look at the culture

The military breaks things and kills people, they don't look at the culture and figure out why the enemy feels the way they do.

We need to step up the violence to win.

[Frank_Discussion]

"Does the government really think it can heal the problems in the region by continuing the violent trend?"

A subtlety you miss: The word "trend" implies direction. Will we continue to use violence? You bet. Will we follow the terrorists and their petty "trend"? No way. We will go the direction of dominance and realignment, and they will go the same direction. Or they will go away.

We will not bow to them anymore.

[Peter J. Huss]

Oil, my young grasshopper, is not 'trivial'.

To quote Three Days of the Condor, "Go ask people who have never known hunger what they want when the food runs out." (paraphrase)

[ping jockey]

Here kitty kitty kitty

[Semper Paratus]

Would be nice if Bush says tonight that Sadr is now in American hands, around his neck.

Better yet that all we found of Sadr was his hands and neck.

[techphyguy]

the threat of the iminant nuclear war aside, I suppose instead of poking about like we are, we should simply wipe out the culture and religion? :) it'd be a lot easier than trying to covnert them like some sort of new-age missionaries.

That'd sorta be genocide, though, wouldn't it? hehehe

[Frank_Discussion]

Tenterhooks!!

[ubaldus]

Unfortunately, this info was declared false a couple of hours ago. Sadr is still in Najaf, and we cannot go in after him.
The only way US forces can move into Najaf is if Sistani privately assures Bremer that he approves of it.
I don't see him doing that. Morevor, it seems that he is getting pissed off.

[ping jockey]

techguy, you might wish to review the site a little before your minitor begins to melt.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Works for me -- and in these hands a long list of names.

[BurbankKarl]

I think the reason for the pause this week was to ship in more ammo.

If we have dropped 800 bad dudes up north, the pajamaboys in the south are going to have a heck of a time....especially if they are all lined up marching down main street

[techphyguy]

however, we have only been dominating and re-aligning on a global scale for a hundred years. Compare that to the 7000 years since Mesopotamia... the oak tree is strong, but a weed tree bends. it may not be as pretty, but when the wind blows, guess which one breaks?

[dennisw]

I can't see us going into this so called "holy city". But I sure hope so.

[Maceman]

And make him a martyr for his troops? YES! Give them more reason to kill Americans.

I think at this point it doesn't matter if they have more reasons to want to kill us or not. Once lit, a candle cannot be made more lit by applying a second match. What's needed at this point is to melt the candle of Islamic fanaticism once and for all with a blow torch.

History shows that nothing makes our Arab fanatic enemies want to kill us more than a show of compassion, restraint and humanity on our part.

We need to kill Sadr and as many of his followers as possible. So far, everything I have seen about the Arab world has me persuaded that the only thing that stops them is wretched, unrelenting fear of superior power. We need to inspire that emotion in the ones who survive our wrath.

[princess leah]

....Hmm, man has no car, no wheels, no authority at all and yet he is going to drive us out? Someone should send him a model car filled with explosives and a note saying "here drive this out -KABOOM!"

[Logic n' Reason]

The "holy" city becomes a "holy" town.

The "holy" town becomes a "holy" village.

The "holy" village becomes a "holy" hamlet.

The "holy" hamlet becomes a "holy" campsite.

The "holy" campsite becomes a "holy" hole in the ground.

And the "holy" hole in the ground becomes a "holy" hell.

"Let's Roll!"

[Frank_Discussion]

Your herbalistic analogy aside, it sure seems that the bulk of the citizenry seems to like being out from under a dictator, so stopping Sadr and similar morons is in their interest and ours. If it requires violence, and it seems to, then that is our task.

I forget who said this, but:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things."

[Lady Heron]

techphyguy

Since Apr 13, 2004

Once again someone needs to study a little history and figure out the only thing that works when dealing with muslims, because it is very clear historically. Weakness and negotiation never works with islam.

[Logic n' Reason]

bttt

[techphyguy]

it take more than water to sunder the embers in a big fire--you may not see the flames, but the embers still glow at the bottom, waiting for more oxygen. Human nature and history has shown us that relentless power and absolution only solve the "here and now" and make the "what happens in 20 years" only that much worse. That's all I'm saying.

[pt17]

And make him a martyr for his troops? YES! Give them more reason to kill Americans.

He's just the reason du jour for the hard core who'll always find something to jihad about. Better to remove him, by whatever means.

[dead]

Human nature and history has shown us that relentless power and absolution only solve the "here and now" and make the "what happens in 20 years" only that much worse.

The returns of imperial Japan and nazi Germany are long overdue…

That’s all I’m saying (tapping my watch...)

[BurbankKarl]

I think it is time to boot all thesse Iranians out of Iraq....they are creating all this mess because they know that they are next to be dealt with.

You can have your religion, fine. But once you incite your followers to attack our troops, the free pass is revoked.

Really, Bush only has 9 month to clean the region up. If J F-ing Kerry wins, all the gains will be lost.

[monday]

"Does the government really think it can heal the problems in the region by continuing the violent trend?"

The only thing these people understand is force. The problem is the US isn't violent enough. If Bush wants to subdue the Iraqis he needs to step it up to Saddam style violence. It is the only way to govern these animals. If he isn't willing to do that then he needs to bring the troops home. Playing pattycake with them only makes them bolder.

[ZULU]

The U.S. should surround Najaf, meet with Sistani, tell him one way or the other Sadr has to die, and give him a time frame to allow the other Shiites to do it - to spare Shiite blood and keep the alliance going.

[Stopislamnow]

You're absolutely right.

Force. Lots of it. Targeted assassinations.

Arabs/moslems understand death, fear, and power. We can supply all three in spades.

[sgtbono2002]

Thissyupid bassturd isnt smart enough to figure out he doesnt have to die to drive out the Americans, just get on the side of peace and we will gladly leave.Take these buttheads you have fighting and bring out the Al Quaeda supporters and we will be put of there so fast Sadr would have a heart attack.

[RSmithOpt]

Very prudent point. Everyone needs to ask themselves as to why Saddam was able to stay in power for so long? The only thing most of the uneducated 3rd world of islam understands up front is brute force. The whole Arab culture (at least 80%) focuses on power and control. That's it. Compassion has never been their strong suit.

BUMP!