Posted on 08/24/2004 5:25:03 PM PDT by blam
Battle for Najaf shrine 'enters its last hours'
By Toby Harnden in Najaf
(Filed: 25/08/2004)
American forces, newly supplemented by Iraqi National Guard troops, tightened the screw on the insurgents occupying Shia Islam's holiest site yesterday as the Baghdad government said the battle for Najaf was entering its "last hours".
There were strong signs that the Americans were preparing for a final assault that would see a swift penetration of the Old City that encircles the shrine so that the Iraqi National Guard, almost certainly supported by US special forces soldiers in Arab dress, could enter the holy site.
Iraqi National Guards on patrol near the Imam Ali shrine
The rebels' leader, the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, dispatched one of his deputies to tell the press: "Despite all that's happened we are ready to negotiate now to end the suffering."
Hazim al-Shalaan, the Iraqi defence minister, said: "We are in the last hours. This evening, Iraqi forces will reach the doors of the shrine and control it and appeal to the Mahdi army to throw down their weapons. If they do not, we will wipe them out."
US marine snipers have edged closer to the shrine and yesterday were laying down fire along the streets outside. Adnan al-Zorfi, Najaf's governor and a bitter opponent of the Mahdi army, said: "We are going to cleanse the city and the shrine from the militia if they do not leave soon on their own."
The number of militiamen appeared to have reduced, because of a high casualty rate and due to a drifting away of those not prepared to fight to the death.
Early yesterday, US AC130 gunships, Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles mounted one of the most sustained and intense barrages of fire since the crisis over the Mahdi army's presence at the Imam Ali shrine began nearly three weeks ago.
A Shia militiaman at a defensive position within the Imam Ali shrine
A Telegraph correspondent and translator were among five journalists forced to take cover in an empty house for the night when they were caught between American and militia snipers some 300 yards from the shrine.
Mortars fired by the militia whistled overhead, machineguns rattled and the sky was lit up by exploding ordnance. Shortly before midnight, a wailing voice broadcast from the mosque announced: "God is great. By God's force, our brave mujahideen have destroyed a tank." At 2.30am it was declared that an American aircraft had been brought down. Sleep was virtually impossible. By dawn, the street outside was devastated, with windows shot through, power lines brought down and debris strewn around.
There were no reports of American losses but the Mahdi army apparently took heavy casualties.
Sadr, who is wanted for the murder of a fellow cleric last year, appears to be increasingly unpopular in Najaf with local people increasingly willing to criticise him publicly. "It's Moqtada's fault and nobody wants him because he has destroyed the whole city," said Qusay Mohammed, 27. "I don't understand what the Americans are waiting for. They should go into the shrine and kill the Mahdi army."
Mustafa Hussein, 40, said Sadr's forces were responsible for killing more civilians than the Americans and had also abused the bodies of their victims.
"When they captured the police station they slaughtered the officers, gouged out their eyes and cut off their penises. This is against Islam, which tells us that the prisoner should be respected and looked after.
"Also, the police are upholding the law. We need law and a state and a government if we are ever going to have stability."
More Holy City of New York justice.
I'll believe it when its over
..."...said Qusay Mohammed, 27. "I don't understand what the Americans are waiting for."...
For one thing, the Americans are waiting for 27-yr old Iraqi men to show some leadership in saving their own cities and their own country. Seems like the only courageous Iraqi men that ever get mentioned are those that are trying to kill us.
Prayers for those brave soldiers in this battle, angels overhead.
Uh Huh...........................
"When they captured the police station they slaughtered the officers, gouged out their eyes and cut off their penises. This is against Islam, which tells us that the prisoner should be respected and looked after.
"Also, the police are upholding the law. We need law and a state and a government if we are ever going to have stability."
Good thing Mustafa chose to tell this to the Telegraph. Had he made the same statement to the New York Times, et al, it never would've seen the light of day.
Yes!
Since this appears to be civil unrest, why don't they use teargas to get them out?
After finishing the article, my first reaction was to scroll up to see if a U.S. major newspaper had published this. ............. Nope.
L
My instinct, as well.
Should've known better...
Hazim al-Shalaan, the Iraqi defence minister, said: "We are in the last hours. This evening, Iraqi forces will reach the doors of the shrine and control it and appeal to the Mahdi army to throw down their weapons. If they do not, we will wipe them out."
Translation: "Holy shi'ite! I had no idea they were going to kick our asses this hard! I wonder if they'll be nice to us if we surrender now?"
Is it just me or do Mookie's statements, and those of his henchmen (love that word) remind me of a Monty Python sketch? "Come back here and fight, you pansy!"
Semper Fi
"There were no reports of American losses but the Mahdi army apparently took heavy casualties."
Says it all ...
Just a matter of time.
Actually, I walked from Saks down to Soho this afternoon, and it was interesting.
I passed through Union Square, which is now to known as Red Square. All sorts of anti-Bush, anti-America, anti-Free World demonstrators. Just for giggles, I stopped by the Socialist Workers Party table and tried to peruse some of the books they were selling, especially the anti-Israel ones. One earnest and remarkably non-smelly kid was trying to sell me a copy of their newspaper. Somehow, militant socialist news from around the world didn't entice me. He also didn't seem too happy when I asked if they're a bunch of commies -- he started to explain the difference between socialists and commies, but I walked away.
I'll tell you, those people are definitely not voting for Bush, but I seriously doubt they're voting for Jacques Kerry either. We're looking at hardcore leftist third party voters there.
That was almost as fun as when I stopped in a Starbucks in the East Village, sat down with my drink and pulled out my copy of National Review. Got a lot of double takes. :)
And that concludes my in-depth report from the Holy City of New York!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.