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| Iraq-Jordan |
| U.S.-picked Najaf governor accuses cleric |
| 2004-05-30 |
| KUFA, Iraq -- The U.S.-appointed governor of Najaf accused radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Saturday of failing to honor a deal to end fighting as U.S. soldiers clashed with Shiite gunmen. Al-Sadr's fighters said they killed one Iraqi policeman and captured another during an exchange of fire in Kufa. Three Iraqis were injured in clashes, hospital officials said. There were no reports of any U.S. casualties. Gov. Adnan al-Zurufi complained al-Sadr had done little to stop his fighters from brandishing their weapons in public or to send home militiamen not from this city - key parts of the agreement he struck with Shiite leaders to end seven weeks of fierce fighting around Najaf and Kufa. "Unfortunately, there have been no positive initiatives from the office of Mr. Muqtada al-Sadr so far," al-Zurufi said. "Armed men are filling the streets and there have been number of attacks on state employees in Kufa." Ragtag fighters wielding Kalashnikovs and rocket-propelled grenade launchers exchanged fire with U.S. soldiers approaching the center of Kufa. The militia accused the Americans of shooting first. Coalition officials said U.S. soldiers were attacked by rocket propelled grenades and fired back. Neither side released any casualty figures. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 Pete, I'd agree with you if time wasn't on our side. While the mayor getting up on his hind legs is a good sign, with the handover coming in a few weeks, I fail to see where time is on our side. If we leave even 10% of Sadr's structure intact upon our departure, we'll have made a dire mistake. As much as I want to disagree with Pete, I find it increasingly difficult to do so. Remember, Sadr's militia still walks about openly "brandishing their weapons in public." This does not represent substantial progress. If Sadr's rather ample posterior remains unkicked before the handover it will represent an enormous shortcoming in our exit strategy. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-30 2:34:48 PM |
| #7 Pete, I'd agree with you if time wasn't on our side. But it is. Delays help us and hurt the enemy. There is a political process in place building momentum and the country is rapidly rebuilding its ecomony. As time goes on more people are going to want to become a part of the politcal process because they will realize that it's the only way for them to achieve some power. The population will turn further and further against the insurgents as they realize what type of leadership these insurgents provide and how far their parts of the country are falling behind the rest that has sided with the US. The clock is ticking down on our enemies and they feel it. That's why people like Sadr have been forced to play their cards... they knew if they waited any longer their cards would be worthless. Zarqawi said as much in his letter to AQ and it's the only thing he was right about. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-05-30 9:51:14 AM |
| #6 Uh huh,.... let 'em live and you've gained nothing. Is a graceful exit all we're after? Or, do we want to really make a difference in Iraq? The way to make a difference is to kill these bastards. Remove the cancer and save the body. Without an overwhelming defeat of those terrorist animals, we've gained nothing. There is no substitute for victory. Stalemate is unacceptable. 1. If their mosque means that much to them, what are they doing making war from it? 2. If their "friends and neighbors" had that much influence on them,(the "bad guys"), wouldn't they have gotten them out of their precious mosque, with said influence? 3. The old, "let's negotiate" while WE resupply trick, works every time. |
| Posted by: Halfass Pete 2004-05-30 5:14:50 AM |
| #5 Agreed! Hold your power dry. We could have taken down these cities several months ago, but we are fighting a political and military war. The governor speaking out is very positive. We may have something we can hand matters off to as we transition to the new Iraq |
| Posted by: Mike Wiley 2004-05-30 4:10:11 AM |
| #4 Hold on to your MOABs, all you armchair generals! Our guys are perfectly ready to go in if the ceasefire deal fails and you know we can wipe 'em all out, if that's what we decide to do, BUT FIRST we let the local friends and neighbors of the bad guys work on the Enemy to do it the EASY way. Look at the progess: We've got the Gov. of Najaf doing the heavy lifting now...! Yea! (Remember just a week ago when we had to take back his office by military manoeuvres? And having al-Zurufi do it doesn't involve shooting around the mosque either!) |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-05-30 3:46:39 AM |
| #3 When you get your enemy down, you hit him with everything you've got, until he's dead. You DO NOT let him up, until he's dead....PERIOD! No deals, no mercy, you kill him. That's the ONLY way to eliminate the threat for good. |
| Posted by: Halfass Pete 2004-05-30 2:43:38 AM |
| #2 Why...Why do WE have to learn the hard way!! Because there still exist those idiots who think that it is possible to negotiate with terrorists. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-30 2:00:01 AM |
| #1 Why...Why do WE have to learn the hard way!! |
| Posted by: smn 2004-05-30 1:54:54 AM |