Marines weren't trying to arrest radical cleric, officer says

[Rose Siding]

NAJAF, Iraq - U.S. Marines accidentally strayed down a road near a house where Muqtada al-Sadr was visiting and weren't trying to arrest the radical cleric when they got into an hours-long firefight with his supporters Monday, a Marine officer said Tuesday.


"Until we learn the side streets, we won't know where Sadr lives. And until we do, we'll run into things," said 1st Lt. Mike Wyrsch of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit took command of the area only on Saturday.


Najaf appeared to have returned to what passes for normalcy here Tuesday, with al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia members toting AK-47 assault rifles as they walked the streets, but with no sign of conflict between them and the Marines. Neither side seemed willing to break the fragile truce that stopped fighting that had raged since April through much of southern Iraq and parts of Baghdad.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9311661.htm

[maxsolomon]

1. sounds like a succinct summary of our foreign policy:

"Until we learn the side streets, we won't know where Sadr lives. And until we do, we'll run into things,"

sounds like a succinct summary of our foreign policy.

[lostnfound]

3. Or a flashback to Fisk's article about Sadr truce..wandered off safe roads

Remember the Fisk article that talked about how Sadr's lieutenants showed him a US map that was marked up with which roads the US military was 'allowed' to travel on?

Wonder if these guys stumbled onto the wrong road.

[DulceDecorum]

2. For sure,

Gomer Pyle was simply trying to convert to Islam.

[KeepItReal]

4. Why the hell are MARINES apologizing for going down the wrong street?

*They* are supposed to be "the Law" out there, not a band of self-proclaimed militia.

Oh, wait, I forgot: Bush & Co. didn't send enough troops to actually be able to disarm the civilans and ex-military types. They also did not provide enough support to create a real Iraqi police force and army to *prevent* those civilians and ex-military types from taking the law into their own hands.

In light of those facts, Marines, carry on...Stay safe and out of the way. You shouldn't be there in the first place.

[Aidoneus]

5. A few points

Hard lessons will continue to be taught, the Marines and their fellow orders will realize one day (now I'm just dreaming..) that they are just not wanted. The Marines are not the fucking law down there, and have no right to pretend. The Jaysh-i al-Mahdi has far more a right to do so, and also does so far more effectively. That you only complain about NOT ENOUGH invaders being sent to play fascist colonialist occupyer is distressing, or that the creation of a Vichyite puppet regime is not done effectively enough, but hardly surprising for this place or the party anymore. It reveals much about a mindset. The last line is the only in this that is true.