From CNN:
Supporters of maverick Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr controlled government, religious and security buildings in the holy city of Najaf early Tuesday evening, according to a coalition source in southern Iraq. The source said al-Sadr's followers controlled the governor's office, police stations and the Imam Ali mosque, one of Shia Muslim's holiest shrines. Iraqi police were negotiating to regain their stations, the source said. The source also said al-Sadr was busing followers into Najaf from Sadr City in Baghdad and that many members of his outlawed militia, Mehdi's Army, were from surrounding provinces.But don't worry, be happy:
Despite the rising death toll, Paul Bremer, the top U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, said "there is no question we have control over the country." "I know if you just report on those few places, it does look chaotic," Bremer said on CNN's "American Morning." "But if you travel around the country, what you find is a bustling economy, people opening businesses right and left, unemployment has dropped. "The story of the house that doesn't burn down is not much of a story in the news," he said. "The story of the house that does burn down is news."Lord. Hey, Mr. Bremer, you've been in-country for a while now, so you should know that when Baghdad, Fallujah, Basra, Amarah, Nasiriyah and now Najaf are seeing heavy fighting, you should know that _that's most of the country._ (There has been underreported fighting and assassination attempts in Mosul, and Tikrit is probably locked down tight by the American military.) Iraq is heavily urbanized, with the west and south of the country largely uninhabited. Almost 77 percent of the population lives in those cities. So when Bremer refers to those "few places" he's actually talking about the majority of the Iraqi population (with the exception of the Kurdish area.) But more important, where the hell is Sistani? He's being awfully quiet after an earlier announcement calling for calm, but saying al-Sadr's grievances were "legitimate." There is some suspicion that al-Sadr is working for the Iranians. His _marji'ya_ -- religious advisors -- are based in Qom, Iran, and I've heard from Iraqis that he's getting instruction from them. Speculation is that he's deliberately trying to open up a second front, as that would suit Tehran just fine. Having America bogged down just as Iran is making concessions -- maybe -- on nuclear programs could be the working plan. Perhaps it's just a coincidence. Or maybe al-Sadr is just greedy. Back in October, he tried a similar tactic in Karbala by taking eight hostages in the al-Mukhaiyam mosque. People in Karbala thought al-Sadr's militants were really after the money in the mosques left by worshippers. At the time, he failed, but this time, he has control of Imam Ali's mosque, one of the holiest shrines in Shi'a Islam -- and one that is considerably richer. The amount of wealth in the mosque is unknown, but it would be considerable. If he does attempt to take the mosque's wealth, he will cause a split among the Iraqi Shi'a between his followers and Sistani's. And if the Americans go into the mosque to get him, they will unite _all_ the world's Shi'a against them. One interesting aspect of all of this is al-Sadr's tactics. If he leaves Najaf after a short period, he's probably "taking coup." Taking coup was a Native American tactic in warfare that involved touching the enemy with a blunt stick but not killing him. It was the equivalent of saying, "I could have snuffed you ... But I didn't." Sadr may be doing the same thing by coming into a city, taking it over for a day or so and then leaving it. He gets all the PR benefits of taking over a city, but doesn't actually have to expend resources on dealing with it. If he leaves Najaf like he did Kufa, this may be what he's doing. But regardless of his tactics, he is fated to be a prisoner or a martyr. Either way makes this is a no-win game now. Nothing I see coming looks good.
Bremer sounds more and more like Former Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf - dubbed “Comical Ali” with his insistance of stability and calm while all hell is breaking loose. Maybe Bremer should look out the window of Saddam Hussein’s former palace once in a while.
Let me remind again that nothing you say sounds or looks good. So, shut your damn mouth. We don’t want to hear you cry every day about what is going on. You over opinionated idiot.
Bremer may be an opinionated idiot..
but overly so?
636 Americans dead so far.
As of April 1st, it breaks down like this:
US…UK…Other…Total…Date
13…00………01……14…04.06.04
07…00………00……07…04.05.04
13…00………01……14…04.04.04
02…00………00……02…04.03.04
01…00………00……01…04.02.04
01…00………00……01…04.01.04
37…00………02……39…April Coalition deaths
from http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx
No matter how you spin this, things are sucking for the “democracy” that Shrub has promised us.
Oh, look! The White House and their supporters are spreading democracy to the blogosphere, just like they did to al-Sard’s newspaper. With luck, they can get yet another country lined up solidly against them: the US.
Christopher, the money story sounds like disinformation. I don’t know whether you got the story directly from the people of Karbala, but such disinformation is put out by the US against every leader that we take down. It would be political suicide for a would-be religious leader to rob a mosque.
The coverage over at Juan Cole leads me to believe that al-Sadr is an inexperienced leader, more taken with the thrill of fame than with anything else. I think his major worry will be what the people of Fallujah will be saying about him since he must have captured some heavy equipment and other materiel and could be helping them out.
Given his father’s position, I think he’s more likely to be in Najaf because of the symbolism, daring the US to attack and damage one of Shia’s key shrines. If he succeeds, it would unite most of the Arab and Moslem world against the US.
On the other hard, it has been suggested by more than one writer that the US instigated this round of violence by closing his newspaper and pressing his arrest. Perhaps the goal is to burn out resistance early in the year so that the handover can look peaceful. But presumably al-Sadr knows this and is playing a counter-game, forcing the US to ratchet up to levels of violence that will lead to full-fledged insurrection.
And, as we know, once blood feuds get going in that part of the world, they never end.
Some other data points: Asia Times reports that jihadis are returning to Afghanistan.
“With the onset of summer and the ice now melting in the mountains of Afghanistan, the most organized global struggle yet of the International Islamic Front partners has begun to defeat the United States and coalition forces at their hub in Afghanistan. The early manifestations of this can already be seen in Uzbekistan, where a series of terror attacks over the past few days have left more than 40 people dead, and in the foiled terror attacks in Britain and the Philippines. But the real battlefield is Afghanistan, where Pakistan, already the world’s backyard of radical Islam, will play an important role. ” http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/FD01Ag02.html
The US has also committed troops to Haiti, has troops in four African nations (Mauritania, Mali, Chad and Niger), and is threatening (with various levels of seriousness) Venezuela, Cuba, Syria and Jamaica and is otherwise showing signs of being heavily overcommitted.
Not to mention the fact that returning soldiers are being treated like dogs at Ft. Stewart, discovering that they have uranium poisoning, are being stop-lossed and are being shoved back into second tours even when suffering physical and mental deficits.
I know only one big idiot and this guy was once seen on a carrier with a banner “Mission accomplished” behind him.
This is true for his own pure interest, however for the rest of the world it means nothing good. Creating massiv support for terrorism in a country that before the invasion was no topic is truely a big accomplishment.
I’m wondering where al-Sistani is too.
came across another journalist in Iraq: Blackrat:
http://www.20six.co.uk/BLACKRAT/
Has lots of photos from British zone taken yesterday…
Someone said: “Let me remind again that nothing you say sounds or looks good. So, shut your damn mouth. We don’t want to hear you cry every day about what is going on. You over opinionated idiot.”
This is the kind of thing that Bush says to anyone in his administration who isn’t a “yes” man and is what got us into this mess in the first place. He doesn’t want to hear any opposing views and only wants bright and sunny reports. This is the same tragic flaw Saddam had which caused his downfall as it will cause Bush’s. Sometimes it is good to listen to apposing views and it is even good to change strategies when things aren’t going so well.
Guys, this is Saddam here.
I’ll give you some free advice:
1st, kill and arrest all who disagree. Fill up my secret underground prisons. Drop the surplus people into paper shredders. If you’ll believe anything no matter how stupid and preposterous, my sons had some of these.
2nd, have sex with some of the women…they all have rape fantasies anyway so why not?
3rd, steal the oil revenue and build big palaces in the suburbs of Dallas and Houston. Sort of wish I had gone that route…god dam Coldwell Banker, gaghbad office - very bad real estate advice.
4th, kill all who disagree. Sand graveyards are cheap and an easy dig. Enforce your vision of their country onto them at the barrell of your M16s. You go guys….bring extra clips.
5th, some more rape. It really shrinks the old prostate.
6th, kill some more.
Live long and prosper,
Saddam
PS Enforce they will - liberate your vision through their death - whalah: COMPASSIONATE LIBERATION!!!! I likey.
Saddam this is Bush here. I like your style, but you are a bit crude about it. Here are some more pointers you may want to consider.
1) When getting elected, fix the elections, but do so in a way that the people still think they are free to choose their own leader. It will help to keep them at ease.
2) Spread disinformation, and lie to your people, yes - but do so with a spin factory that will make your lies seam like the truth to the people. That way when they get self righteous about it the other people in the country (the weak minded sheep) will take care of the rebellious nature for you. In the meantime, pass laws that will give you the right to invade their privacy so you can arrest exactly the people you will need to if and when that time comes (always be prepared). Saddam, I like what you were doing here with the killing of your insurgents, but you were doing it without any style…
3) When you go to war, say like when the Kuwaiti’s were slant drilling in your oil fields, remember - it’s all about perception. And speaking of that, it’s all about the money too! How much did you make on the Iran war? Ha! You really do a diservice to yourself Saddam. Now take a look at the Carlyle Group, and then you will see the way! You see, Saddam, if you can make the people beleive that the war is about them, their eyes will be so shut that you can really make some mad cash with their tax money. Your stealing of the Oil money was the right idea, to be sure, it’s just that you weren’t taking it as far as you could.
4) Lie more
5) Destroy the Environment
6) Give tax breaks to the Rich
7) Make fake news ads
8) Show yourself with Halo’s behind your head for the religious types
9) Lie some more
Bush
PS Your greatest ally in this campaign will be THE RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVES, they have a lot of anger in them, and not much in the brain…
Bushy,
You talk too much. Just shut up and shoot. You way behind me on score.
I likey your blowing up the Mosque full of women and children.
Holy cow, that good one…you make amazin’ butcher. When you take on pinko Democrats likey that? Rata tat tat, rata tat tat, liberal slime dead. Why bother with election crap?
Get some sack, killa! You go guy. I likey. I live vicariiously through my new man: Bushy the Butcher! Kill all who disagree. It not take long.
Saddam
PS Lose that pussy Blair.
I think we should all give a big ‘CONGRATS’ to Chris and is interview in Time Out NY this week. (Which he hasn’t mentioned yet!!)
And if you’re in NY, go pick up a copy.
Hey, I read today in the tabloids that they shipped Saddam out of the country yesterday.
Say, you must be glad to get out of that mare’s nest, eh, Saddam? It’s good to have friends in high places.
Guys, diggin’ my new digs.
But I hate these silly monkeys here in Qatar. They BP lackys from grandpa’s time. I cornhole them if given 1/2 chance.
Out,
Saddam
Saddam,
As always, you speak candidly. As far as my being behind in score, remember that I’ve only been in offive for 4 years, while you were in office for 24 years. Give me time and you will find yourself quite jealous of my accomplishments.
Bushy you crybaby.
2.5 million gooks were killed in Nam and you too chicken to go and run up your score.
You piker. Me, I never miss turkey shoot like that. That why me ahead; you eat my dust.
But I like you. You a killa, too.
Out,
Saddam
PS You can my use my secret underground prisons that you said were full of Shiites and fill them full of your Shiites, but one big secret: first you will have to build them!! get to work Bushy!
Sadam
If we keep averaging body counts in the 10,000 range annually, the occupation will match Hussein’s average during his dictatorship. What would have happened, I wonder, if in the 1850s Europe would have decided that our adherance to slavery was beyond the pale and an affront to civilized ideals and they would have sought to impose a new constitution on us by force?
As much as some folks like to trot out Saddam’s atrocities as a casus belli along with the inevitable comparison to Hitler, it should be noted that the Allies did not advance to crush Hitler because of his policy towards Jews. In fact, the truth had yet to fully emerge when we entered the war. We went to war because we had been attacked by an Axis power and Germany had invaded Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Ukraine, France, and was heavily bombing Britain. Had Germany stayed within its borders, it is debatable whether there would have been a decisive call to action.
The Iraq war is neither another Vietnam, which was fielding a nationalist Communist army to thwart any further colonial aims from the West, or a humanitarian mission. It is a pre-emptive strike predicated on an illegitamate threat that, if successful, would strengthen the hand of the U.S. in cementing power across the Mideast. As the Mideast may not desire to kneel to our authority, we can only assume that more and more Muslims will accept Jihad as an unavoidable duty. Just as Saddam had to impose a pan-Arab, secular government by force and repression, so shall we.
It is odd, finally, that in attempting to instruct Iraqi Arabs in the benefits of democratic constitutions, what precipitated the latest violence was the forced shut down of a newspaper that was utilizing the power of a free press to agitate against the Americans. I suppose we only want them to act democratically when it conforms to our will.
You use too many words.
He hate me.
Out,
Saddam
PS Why not weapons hunters find my sons’ paper shredders? Why Diane Sawyer not do report next to paper shredder? Oh, me know: me hide paper shredder!!! Like I waste day hiding paper shredder. Simple thing in building in Gaghbad prove me Hitler…not even go find. Of course, the fact that it never happened wouldn’t get in the way. What else didn’t happen?
I killa people who insurge against the governement of Iraq. Bushy killa people who insurge against the government of Iraq. Me validated by him. Bushy completes me. He my Tom Cruz Mizzle; me Renee…oh baby, go deep.
Mister Bush: Sir, you are obviously quite naive about the proper employment of lies. As I advise in my own book:
“… in the BIG lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes.”
A. Hitler
I think Bush should not be president and I do not trust Cheney and Rumsfeld. I don’t know about Kerry, but I think i will vote against bush. These people give me a really bad feeling
I think Bush should not be president and I do not trust Cheney and Rumsfeld. I don’t know about Kerry, but I think i will vote against bush. These people give me a really bad feeling