[Choose Ye This Day]

Get the MOAB's ready.

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[Betaille]

I don't know why we assume that freedom of speech must apply to any country the US occupies. Can you imagine if we had allowed Nazi's to keep spewing out hatred after WW2?
If we are going to be successful in Iraq, silencing people like this radical shiite cleric is perfectly acceptable.

[yonif]

Israel Radio reports 5 injured.

[HAL9000]

AFP update -

The demonstrators had arrived close to the base to go to Koufa, city close to Najaf, in the center of Iraq, where is the offices of Moqtada Sadr. The sirens of the ambulances were heard on the spot.

[apastron]

shootings one the demonstrators and people run in all the directions to hide

Ok. Works every time. What's the problem?

[TexKat]

Where is the American media, underneath their Iraqi hotel beds?

[Thumper1960]

One turn deserves another.

Deck the streets with parts of Sadr, fa-la-la-la a'la fallujah.

[csvset]

Profile: Moqtada Sadr

Radical Shia leader Moqtada Sadr

To his supporters, Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr is a young leader wise beyond his years.

His detractors see him as an inexperienced and impatient radical who aims to dominate Iraq's most revered Shia institutions.

The youngest son of Muhammad Sadiq Sadr - a senior Shia cleric assassinated in 1999, reportedly by agents of the Iraqi Government - Moqtada Sadr was virtually unknown outside Iraq before the US-led invasion in March 2003.

The collapse of Baathist rule revealed his power base: a network of Shia charitable institutions founded by his father. In the poor Shia suburbs of Baghdad, Moqtada Sadr's followers patrolled the streets and distributed food during the first weeks following the invasion.

He is thought to be in his late 20s or early 30s - a young leader in a society which considers age and experience essential to religious authority.

His sermons urge the application of Islamic law while appealing to Iraqi national pride.

In contrast to "quietist" clerics such as Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Moqtada Sadr calls on Shia spiritual leaders to play an active role in shaping Iraq's political future.

And unlike the former exiles who head the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri), he opposes co-operation with the US.

He greeted the formation of Iraq's new Governing Council with a call for an alternative government, chosen by the authorities of the Hawzah, or Shia seminary.

He also announced the formation of an "al-Mahdi Army", a volunteer force pledged to defend the Shia religious authorities in the holy city of Najaf.

Followers

Thousands of demonstrators claiming to represent the new army took to the streets in July 2003, after hearing reports that he had been arrested by US forces.

Just two days after the fall of Baghdad, his supporters were accused of killing Abdul Majid al-Khoei, a moderate Shia leader who had worked with the British and US Governments from exile.

And Shia clerics in Kuwait claimed Moqtada Sadr's followers had "besieged" the house of Ayatollah Sistani.

Moqtada Sadr strongly denied any role in attacks on Al-Khoei and Ayatollah Sistani.

In remarks broadcast by Al-Jazeera TV, he denounced the attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad in August 2003.

And he condemned the assassination soon afterwards in Najaf of Ayatollah Muhammad Baqr al-Hakim.

Source

[Dane]

The forces of the coalition opened fire Sunday on thousands of partisans of the head radical Shiite Moqtada Sadr who moved towards the Spanish base of the multinational force, located at 5 km of the Holy City of Najaf, noted a journalist of the AFP

The vast minority of malcontents sense the weakness of the new socialist Spanish Zapatero government.

I am not surprised they targeted the Spanish.

[Gator113]

When "thousands of protesters" try to enter/invade a coalition base, there should be thousands of dead protesters....no ifs, no ands, no buts, and no damn exceptions....KTA (kill them all)!!

[Gator113]

Also, I stand behind the Spaniard soldiers in harms way. I feel for the Conservatives of Spain and I get nightmares thinking that we might all be in the same boat...... if that Cowardice Traitor, Flip-Flop-Frenchie, wins the election.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[The forces of the coalition opened fire Sunday on thousands of partisans of the head radical Shiite Moqtada Sadr who moved towards the Spanish base...]

Looks like the terrorists in Iraq got the memo about the Spanish election. Yeah, appeasement works REAL well.

[olde north church]

Marched on Spanish Forces. Hmmm, coincidence or not coincidence?

[LaGrone]

Please arrest this cleric (Sadr) and kill all these bast@rds that protest the arrest. I for one am sick of the casualties we take for these a$$holes who take to the street and protest against our presence as we try to help them.

The gloves must come off, and quick!!!

To hell with the Arab Street!!!

[El Gato]

who moved towards the Spanish base of the multinational force,

I guess the aligator didn't take the hint, and decided to eat them first after all.

[CyberAnt]

Soooooo .. we're saving the Spanish butt!!

Hmmmmm?