Powell Praises Najaf Peace Agreement

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Colin Powell praised the peace deal that ended fighting in Iraq's holy city, Najaf, and said Friday that the presence of U.S. forces in the area helped make it possible.

Powell, speaking on Fox News Radio's "Tony Snow Show," said the agreement led to an improved situation in the city and demonstrated good cooperation between U.S. and Iraqi forces in their confrontation with Muqtada al-Sadr, a radical cleric from Islam's Shiite sect.

The deal was cut Thursday largely through the intervention of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shiite cleric.

Powell's comments were somewhat more upbeat than the State Department's initial response Thursday night.

At the White House, spokesman Scott McClellan welcomed the agreement but said the administration had not learned all the details.

"We welcome these steps to resolve the situation surrounding the shrine of Ali without further violence, and we support the efforts of the Iraqi government to make sure that the rule of law applies throughout the country," McClellan said.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040827/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_iraq&cid=540&ncid=1480

[hadrons]

1. sure, a-hole ... anything you say ....

:eyes:

[Nambe]

2. Oh boy! The war is over. Oh wait, it just moved.

At least he wasn't in a flight suit on a carrier.

[4morewars]

3. Mission Accomplished !!!!!!!

:wtf:

[Malva Zebrina]

4. Powell?

Who is Powell?

[KDLarsen]

5. Yeah..

.. praised them with another round of bombs on the house :eyes:

[jmcgowanjm]

6. # of war crimes committed by US in Najaf

Napalm, poison gas, cluster bombs, firing on Mosque.
Firing on civilians gathered to march into Najaf.
Keeping relief supplies out of Najaf.

And then having alSadr appearing as if out of nowhere
to broker agree ment w/ Sistani.

And then having to leave Najaf.

US is just counting dead mercs, greencards, and
American bodies until Army evacs to
Kuwait. and don't think that 100's didn't die in Najaf.

It looks like we're going to have to "Grozny" Ramadi
and Fallujah.

[Tempest]

7. Najaf peace plan a FAILURE for Bush

Al-Sadr and his followers are allowed to walk away as a free members of Iraq, and Sistani has solidified his standing with all Iraqi citizens.

Can someone tell me how this is a good thing for the U.S.?

[jmcgowanjm]

8. #1 Good Thing-Reality has come that much closer to AvgUSCitizen