Kill imam at your peril, Shiites warn US

[rooboy]

As more foreigners become pawns in the hostage crisis, Iraq's tribal and religious leaders and the US are trying to defuse the next imminent threat: a backlash should the Americans press ahead with plans to "capture or kill" the radical Shiite imam Moqtada al-Sadr.

About 3000 US soldiers were massed outside the southern city of Najaf in an attempt to force Sadr's surrender. Their commander, General Ricardo Sanchez, talked tough on Tuesday, saying "our mission is to capture or kill".

But while little is known about the secret negotiations between the Iraqis and the US, he did hint at a compromise, saying: "I think it will be a uniquely Iraqi solution."

This seemed to be a reference to the new role in the south of the religious and tribal leaders as well as members of the Iraqi Governing Council - all of whom understand that killing Sadr could be a risky gamble for the US.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/13/1081838728525.html

[CabalBuster]

1. The Israeli solution is being applied

It seems like the U.S. is trying to applying the Israeli solution to the situation in Iraq: collective punishment, escalating military force, targetted killings of opposition leaders. They have to learn (like the zionists have refused to learn) that there is no military solution to middle east conflicts. This is not going to end well, I'm afraid. You cannot forcibly convert 3 billion muslims. No wonder some Iraqis and Arabs are calling this the "Iraqi Intifada".

[trumad]

2. Buttttt,,,,but I didn't think we negotiated with terrorists?

:shrug:

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. It's worked so well for the Israeli's.

What are they thinking?

[xchrom]

3. the u.s. might get what it wants for a minute

but the minute kimmitt looks away -- the insurgents will step up their resistance again.
unless of course our experience there thus far can be interpreted as a love fest.
the iraqis will do what they need to do in order to get u.s. boot out of their ass.

[hang a left]

5. If they do kill al-Sadr

it will be at our soldiers peril. Can someone please stop the madness. God, are you listening?

[ramapo]

6. Holy hell will break lose

Killing or even capturing al-Sadr would likely be the worst thing that the "coalition" could do.

I don't know what the solution is but this macho pronouncement by our General will not calm the situation.