THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS FLEEING NAJAF FIGHTING-WITNESSES ...

[still_one]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/emergency/571273.htm

[Bluebear]

1. Why are they fleeing? They're being liberated!

:sigh: The civilians must be frightened to death.

[lostnfound]

21. They are running out to get flowers...for funerals?

:cry:

[madrchsod]

2. just read aljazeera website

the whole fuck`n country is breaking apart-the southern areas are threating to succeed from iraq over the central governments failure to control the us forces..civilian deaths are mounting..the fight in the graveyard,Muhammad`s son is buried there, on going discussions about a peacefull end to the stalemate while the us is blowing the shit out of everyone and everything

[Fleshdancer]

7. Sounds like a perfect time for Iran to make its move

This thing just gets worse and worse.

[Bluebear]

3. US military: We have permission to raid the Imam Ali mosque

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3557446.stm

Mr Sadr's militia has threatened to blow up oil pipelines in the south of the country if the joint force attacked the city.
Hundreds have been reported killed or injured since the fighting began.
Mr Sadr has called on his followers to keep fighting even if he himself is captured or killed.
The US military said on Monday that Najaf's Governor, Adnan Zorfi, had given its troops permission to raid the Imam Ali mausoleum in Najaf.
The US says the insurgents are using the shrine as a refuge, but an attack could anger Shia Muslims.
It is one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, marking the spot where the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, is buried.

[Ediacara]

8. "but an attack could anger Shia Muslims."

Ya think?

This would be like.... oh..... The Saudis nuking the Vatican.....

Or the Soviets nuking Lhasa....

[cal04]

4. Thousansd of civilians are reported to be fleeing Iraq's holy city

Thousansd of civilians are reported to be fleeing Iraq's holy city of Najaf following fierce fighting between US troops and insurgents. The US warned on Wednesday it was going to launch a major offensive to flush out Shia fighters loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al Sadr and urged civilians to leave.

"To the residents of Najaf: Coalition forces are purging the city from Mehdi Army," US troops are reported to have told residents by loudspeaker.

The two sides have been battling for control of the city for more than a week. The nature of the fighting suggests that US forces, backed by Iraqi police and security forces, are mounting a pincer movement against the militiamen. Plumes of smoke were visible from the historic heart of Najf which holds the mausoleum of Imam Ali, revered by Shi'ites worldwide.

The fighting came as the deputy-governor of the region resigned in protest at continued fighting, blaming the Americans. Jawdat Kadam Najem al-Kuraishi said: "I resign from my post denouncing all the US terrorist operations that they are doing against this holy city."

Sadr's Mehdi Army has been rebelling against the US-led Coalition for months. Meanwhile, in Fallujah, a US missile has killed two people thought to be Iraqi insurgents. American forces said yesterday they were preparing for a final assault on Najaf to end the oppostion from armed militiamen.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13188118,00.html

[burrowowl]

5. Unfortunately

it will only get worse.

[DrWeird]

6. Are the US forces send the men back into Najaf...

like they did with Fallujah?

[Bluebear]

9. CNN back on with breaking news

Taking a Lacy break.

[Fleshdancer]

10. It's about damn time.

I was watching it earlier then suddenly it went to Paula Zahn. :grr:

on edit: it looks like faux news is on it too.

[Sinistrous]

11. I thought the Falujah massacre was the beginning of the end.

Hell. Maybe it was. The resistance to the US occupation certainly has grown since then. The desecration of the Majaf cemetery will certainly add to the insurgent's ranks.

[Fleshdancer]

12. AAAH!!! CNN is BACK to Larry King!!!!

It's a FUCKING RE-RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How in the hell can CNN justify cutting away from BREAKING NEWS to show a re-run of a show???!?!!

I'm emailing or calling them or something. This is pissing me off.

By the way, before cutting away, the newscaster commented that international viewers would continue the coverage. :grr:

[Bluebear]

13. Goddernit, every "news" station has F'in GLORIA ALLRED on it

[demoman123]

16. Not interested in the Peterson case? What kind of American are you?

Why do you hate America so much? :)

[Sparkly]

14. All the signs were there 18 hours ago

and all the news was as cryptic as it is now.

Who's authorizing what, who gave permission, who denied that permission, who decided something, who the HELL is supposed to be in CHARGE?!

The US is just going to blame whoever possible for attacking the mosque, and the civilians, and not exiting Najaf, and exiting Fallujah earlier, etc. etc...

This is CRAZY!

[Sparkly]

15. What they're gonna do

is send Iraqi's in to attack the sacred sites, as IF that's going to stop Al Sadr's militia, among others, from believing it has anything to do with the US...

Nice try... :/

This is so stupid, it's sick.

[demoman123]

17. If they attack the Mosque, it will really piss everybody off.

Remember what happened when Sharon went up to VISIT Al-Aqsa? It started a new intifada.

[Aidoneus]

18. Yes, but.

that in itself was but a catalyst, for a fire already burning--just as this is, for that matter.

[Fleshdancer]

19. CNN is covering it again. catch it while you can. n/t

[lebkuchen]

20. Talk about a "clusterfuck"

I feel so sorry for the Iraqi people.

CNNI just mentioned the Boston Globe article "Why are we here?" The reporter said there was a growing number of US troops who are asking that question now. Finally, the media is getting a glimmer.

http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?file=533600.html