Imam Ali Mosque

[JohnDoe1]

Is it just me, or should everyone (regardless of religion or lack thereof) be outraged by the fact that the Imam Ali Mosque was "sustained damage" in the Marine's firefight against Al Sadr? It is one of the holiest places in the Shiite branch of Islam. I don't care if Osama's holed up in there, you don't hit a place of that magnitude. You use diplomacy and brains (this administration lacks to be missing both of them). But, since we have damaged it, we just pissed off a ton of the Arab world (as if they liked us in the first place).

Let's make a comparison though, shall we? Catholicism is a branch of Christianity just like Shiitism (sp?) is a branch of Islam. The Vatican is one of the holiest Catholic sites. Could you even imagine the reaction if US forces accidentally damaged the Vatican? Well guess what, that reaction is probably occurring in the Muslim world right now. Therefore, let me give a whole-hearted thanks to Dubya.

[DrWeird]

1. Kind of like blowing up the vatican...

because the Pope won't hand himself over to authorities.

[David Dunham]

2. This uprising is likely to get worse and kill many, including US troops

[displacedtexan]

3. Even Nazis tried to avoid bombing churches and hospitals.

This mosque bombing just makes me sick!

[jdonaldball]

4. Even more simply, here's a secular American example:

Imagine how we would feel if foreign tanks blew a few windows out of Independence Hall and destroyed Ben Franklin's grave. Or blew a chunk out of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

[DaveFL99]

5. Actually I'd get over it. I wouldn't die for it

[Jacobin]

6. Would that apply if foreign invaders occupied the U.S.?

And you were fighting to oust the invaders?

[DaveFL99]

7. But this is about inflaming passions in the arab world outside of Iraq

If the Britsih were to somehow blow up the vatican I'd say 'Isn't that a shame'. That's all.

[BillZBubb]

8. The blowback from this will last decades.

Many Americans will pay dearly for this stupidity.