Najaf Fighting Worst Since Saddam's Fall

[hang a left]

Najaf Fighting Worst Since Saddam's Fall

By ABDUL HUSSEIN AL-OBEIDI
Associated Press Writer





NAJAF, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. helicopter gunships and fighter jets pounded Shiite Muslim insurgents hiding in a sprawling cemetery Friday in the most intense fighting in this holy city since the fall of Saddam Hussein. The U.S. military said 300 militants were killed in the past two days.

The clashes between coalition forces and militant Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army flared in Shiite communities across the country, killing dozens of other Iraqis, according to Iraqi officials and the militants.

The fighting, which began early Thursday, threatened to reignite the bloody, two-month Shiite insurrection that broke out in April - and the heavy U.S. response appeared designed to quash militia activity quickly and prevent a repeat.

Al-Sadr on Friday blamed all the violence in Iraq on the United States, which he called "our enemy and the enemy of the people," in a sermon read on his behalf at the Kufa Mosque near Najaf.



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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=HOME

[saigon68]

1. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

And " Bring It On " did the Iraqi Resistance Forces.

[dbt]

2. I see we've turned another corner.

bu$h belongs in the dock at The Hague. This whole Iraq Nam debacle is one HUGE war crime.

:freak:
dbt

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Interesting quote from Iraqi PM in BBC story

"Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has described the situation in Najaf as pitiful.

He said about 1,200 criminals and Saddam Hussein loyalists had been detained in Najaf and were being interrogated.

He expressed doubt that those responsible for the violence were connected with Mr Sadr. Mr Allawi said he had received positive messages from the cleric and was still inviting him to take part in elections next year. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3543874.stm

So Allawi apparently wants to be friendly with Sadr.

[rfkrocks]

4. Exactly-Sadr is making his move because Sistani is ill

We will have made Iraq safe for a leader who wants to kill Americans-Kerry should ask Bush what his feelings are about Sadr in the government!-We fought a war and spent blood and treasure for this? Bush wouldn't be able to answer it because the rank foolishness of his policy will be so obvious-How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?