Shiites show determined new face at Hakim funeral march

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030831/wl_afp/iraq_blast_najaf_hakim&cid=1512&ncid=1480

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The crowd bayed for revenge as men brandished black pistols and Kalashnikov rifles at the funeral procession for assassinated Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim, the leading political figure among Iraq's 15 million Shiites.

Quiet for months, Shiites boiled over in anger, yelling "Revenge, revenge" on Sunday and vowing to take matters into their own hands, no longer prepared to wait for the Americans to restore order in the country, shattered by months of crime and guerrilla war.

As tens of thousands flooded the streets of Baghdad's Kadhimiyah district, Hakim's private militia, the Badr Brigades, reasserted their presence at the funeral for their slain leader who retired the group upon his return to Iraq in May after 23 years of exile.

"The Americans cannot give us security. It is the Iraqis who must do this and the Badr Brigades are Iraqi. This is their right," said Brigade leader Sayed Ali, who tucked a small nine-millimeter handgun in his pants as five of his men wielded Kalashnikov assault rifles and guarded veiled women mourners.

more

[4dsc]

1. Bagdad burning while dubya played

GOLF!!! Don't they know that dubya's on VACATION and these kind of distractions are not needed????

[NNN0LHI]

2. We are in trouble here 4dsc. More trouble than even I ever imagined

I bet little boots changes his quote from "I don't think about bin Laden much anymore" to "I don't think about Saddam much anymore" very soon.

Don

[mmm]

3. Angry Iraqis everywhere

I fear a massacre of US troops

[Rowdyboy]

4. You're the first person I've heard...

calling Caligula Jr by his correct name. "Little boots" indeed!

I'm afraid we've bitten off far more than we can chew in this case. Iraq is about to explode.

[mrsteve]

5. Nice reference Don

"Little Boots" - Caligu;a indeed...

[grasswire]

6. what's the ratio?

140,000 GIs, 28 million Iraqis?

Do something, Congress. For God's sake.

[rook1]

7. They already did

...they voted for use of force against IRAQ...remember?