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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Muqtada al-Sadr brand Merchadise in Najaf (could be sad for Sadr) |
| 2004-04-26 |
| EFL - If this report is right Sadr may be on the road to perdition - Iraqi style IF HIS merchandising sales are any indication of his popularity, the United States army may have its work cut out removing Muqtada al-Sadr... No shop, business or street corner is without a poster of him in classic finger-wagging pose. And across the markets around town, a thriving trade is being done in Sadr memorabilia for all occasions. "The watches with his face are $10 (£5.64) each, and the keyrings and the medallions 1,000 dinars (£1,891) - we’ve sold lots of them since [Sadr] started his uprising," said stall-holder Hamid Jassem, holding up what looked at first glance like a Sadr beer mat. "These circular photos do well, too - you can put them on your desk, your mantelpiece or your television." The only drawback to having one’s face displayed everywhere is that in Iraq it is generally no guarantee of affection. Saddam Hussein appeared on posters, watches and even the money, yet in Najaf, like just about everywhere else, he was universally despised. ..[an intimidated local says] "If you complain about him, you will get his men coming round to your house to question you. That is why everybody puts his picture in their shops." Another flashback to the old days comes in the form of the al-Mehdi army "minders" who now chaperone all journalists. [where does Sadr get the $ to fund all these lackeys - Iran, local shakedowns?] They are not officially compulsory, but going without one carries the risk of being held at gunpoint by Sadr’s militia and questioned as a spy. this might imply that Sadr (aka Badr) will self destruct soon or might imply that he will torture the Najafites for quite a while - depending on how the $ flow in and how the locals react-- suppose for example Sadr had one of his lackeys bump off a local non cooperative Iman or two. |
| Posted by:mhw |
| #10 Maybe we should put out some merchandise of our own, like Muqtada al Sadr's "Prophet's Best" Blended Bourbon, or Muqtada al Sadr Netted Slingshot Briefs or a music video, "Janet Jackson Grinds out Muqtada al Sadr's Favorite Make-Out Tunes" (or maybe just those Mohammed and Ali Spice Racks, as used by Muqtada al Sadr). |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2004-04-26 7:38:35 PM |
| #9 There is no reason we can't all get rich in Fallujah. I have some excellent tapes to show you. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-26 7:24:50 PM |
| #8 Great a geography lesson. Like that means anything? You seriously dont think that the two areas are independant, incommunicado, etc? Overwhelming violence would have solved the problem before it started. |
| Posted by: flash91 2004-04-26 4:21:50 PM |
| #7 Just thought of this. Do you suppose that Muqtada al Sadr (or Qusay Sadr to his friends) has a multilevel sales organization like Amway going on down there in Najaf? They could have those flip charts with boxes joining other boxes and testimonials, etc. |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-04-26 3:24:57 PM |
| #6 Actually, RWV, they could practice on the ones already hanging around in the streets. Save our Marines some money. They are SNIPERS, after all |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-26 2:49:30 PM |
| #5 Do you think that the Marines should buy some of the circular posters for the Marine snipers to practice on? |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-04-26 2:35:10 PM |
| #4 Before democracy, or even order, comes geography. Above article is about Najaf, in south central Iraq (Shia shrine city) The Contractors on the bridge was in Fallujah, in Western Iraq, in the Sunni Triangle. Cheesh. What use is war if people dont even learn geography from it??? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-04-26 2:11:09 PM |
| #3 Automatic year in jail if you have a picture or sadr item. Two sadr items gets you hung in the street. I really think we made a mistake when we didnt moab the place when the contractors were shown on the bridge. It's important to remember that order comes first, then democracy. |
| Posted by: flash91 2004-04-26 1:43:01 PM |
| #2 a short scene from my screenplay "Sadr Knows Best": Exterior of a small Iraqi shop. A band of grim men armed with AK47s confront a frightened shopkeeper. Thug 1: Perhaps you would like to display a poster of our beloved Sadr? Shopkeeper: Oh, yes. I'll take two. He is very much beloved here. Very much, indeed. Thug 2: Better make it three posters. And you also want some watches, yes? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2004-04-26 1:42:07 PM |
| #1 I should have also pointed out the oddity of an exchange rate that varies from about a half pound sterling per dinar to two pounds sterling per dinar depending on the type of merchandise. Oh well. |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-04-26 1:19:10 PM |