A Rare Trip Into Sadr City - Lara Logan

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/04/iraq/main1472014.shtml

(CBS) When you enter the vast Shiite slum of Sadr City in northeastern Baghdad, your life is in the hands of one of the most formidable militias in the capital — the Mahdi army, reports CBS News correspondent Lara Logan.

"We couldn't move around Sadr City without the protection of the Mahdi army, so we have three cars of armed gunmen escorting us, one in front and two behind," Logan says. "They certainly seem to know their way around here and to be in control."

That control is obvious when CBS News passes through this Iraqi army checkpoint and the soldiers simply wave through the lead car of militiamen, all of whom are armed to the teeth.

CBS News went to meet Sheikh Abdel Hadi al-Daraji, the man who speaks for their leader, rebel Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr.

He blamed America for trying to create civil war in Iraq.

"I tell President Bush that the freedom you want is the freedom of blood," he says.

His armed guards agreed, and although they wouldn't talk on-camera, they made it clear they want American forces to leave Iraq.

[leftchick]

1. I watched that last night

she and her crew are very brave. It was a great report and showed the US is in control of nothing save the GZ in Iraq. NOTHING!

[Arkansas Granny]

2. From what I've seen of Lara Logan lately, I would say that she is

going to be someone to watch. Even though she works for CBS, she seems to speak pretty independently.