Posted on 08/26/2004 2:11:20 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Iraqi government OKs al-Sistani peace deal for Najaf By August Cole SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Iraq's ruling government has signed off on a peace pact that will bring an end to the showdown in Najaf between Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and American and Iraqi forces, according to the Associated Press. The approval comes a short time after the country's top Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani got al-Sadr to agree to a deal that includes foreign troops leaving the holy city.
This aint good.
lather, rinse, repeat...
No, this is good!
Plus shows the Terri Kerris of the world we are as ruthless as the ones who drop the big one in 45.
I'm reading Shaara's "Rise to Rebellion" historical fiction of the American Revolution. The ham-handedness of the King is really obvious in hindsight, as the colonists would have probably gone along easy-does it under the crown if London had just let Americans handle their own affairs.
I know, I know. Allawi aint no Jefferson, and Sistani ain't no Sam Adams......
Methinks there's some folks in Washington and London that are applying some historical lessons and hoping for the best outcome.
That's that. Sadr is now protected by Sistani. No way we'll take him out now. Sadr will remain a troublemaker, while Sistani will use him in a goodcopbadcop routine.
Tehran will spin this as a victory for Sadr, he held off the US for weeks, ala Falluja. Not the reality, but that's what the propaganda value will be.
If the above bold is a typo, then ok. Else, the only place that foreign troops should be leaving the 'h' city to, is jail.
Agreed. It's progress. Just like cleaning out a plugged sewer. It's dirty and it stinks, but it enables a cleaner future!
Another quote from CNN:
"The grand ayatollah's spokesman said the men have agreed on several points, among them: multinational forces are to leave Najaf and nearby Kufa. "Muqtada al-Sadr is free to go anywhere he likes. He is as free as any Iraqi citizen," Daoud said."
Yikes!
A "weapon-free" city. What a sick joke.
Don't bet against Sadr going scott free, getting more recruits and plunging Iraq into a state of total civil war. He's already demonstrated that (a) ultimatums and warrants by the governing council are meaningless and (b) he can hold us and the governing council at bay anytime and every time he chooses.
>>foreign troops should be leaving the 'h' city to, is jail.
You want US troops jailed?
Sadr is free.
I think he means that if the deal includes the troops, Sadr and the govt. They're not supposed to negotiate with the enemy, or they'd be violating the same law John Kerry violated when he went to Paris to negotiate with the enemy--punishable by DEATH.
If the above bold is a typo, then ok. Else, the only place that foreign troops should be leaving the 'h' city to, is jail.
"Foreign troops" means us. It refers to American troops. That's fine by me as long as the Iraqi National Guard and police are in control in Najaf (with U.S. troops at bases outside the city ready to provide backup if needed), not Sadr's men. If Sadr's men still want to fight, it's at least good to get them away from the shrine. Without the "holy shrine" restraining us, the a**-kicking can continue unabated.
If we could keep him out of mosques, that'd be OK. But that's not likely to be doable.
I must admit though, I'm happy if the most highly regarded mosque escapes damage and more bloodshed.
The city is small. Sadr has to stop attacking Americans and whoever else outside the city or he will continue to be at war.
We need this to sort itself out now. If you guys really want a SHIA uprising worse than what we have seen as it is, go ahead and piss off Sistani and then you will.
Sadr can't outshine Sistani no matter how much CNN covers him.
Yet another "truce," eh?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.