Pentagon officials say they are preparing to confront radical Iraqi cleric

[Emillereid]

I haven't seen this, so If this is a dupe, sorry.

By Matt Kelley, Associated Press, 10/15/2003 17:17


WASHINGTON (AP) U.S.-led authorities in Iraq are preparing to confront and perhaps arrest a militant Shiite Muslim cleric whose militia has battled both American troops and moderate Shiites in recent days, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.

The officials said they are growing increasingly worried that the cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, is a threat to the U.S.-led military coalition occupying Iraq. However, the Americans also want to avoid touching off rioting or other violence by moving against al-Sadr.

Al-Sadr's followers have engaged in deadly gunbattles with other Shiite groups and American troops in the past two weeks, most recently in the holy city of Karbala south of Baghdad on Tuesday.

U.S. officials believe al-Sadr's actions require a response, said a senior defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity. What that response will be is something that will be determined over the next few days, the official said. ...

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/288/wash/Pentagon_officials_say_they_ar:.shtml

If the US arrests al-Sadr, they are going to unleash 'millions' of enraged Shia and maybe they'll rout our butts out of there -- then maybe the troops will be home for Christmas after all.

[bif]

1. Can you say "powderkeg?"

.

[hatrack]

2. Yeah, great idea, guys!!

After all, the Shiite areas of Iraq have been the "quiet" areas following the invasion.

This way, we can make sure that ALL the Iraqis are pissed off - not just the families of taxi drivers we shoot at roadblocks, or the farmers whose date groves we level with tanks.

And in doing so, we'll enable troops everywhere in the country to earn the CIB, not just those in Baghdad or Tikrit.

Wonderfuckingful.