Iraqi cleric calls for terror against coalition

Jerusalem Post ^ | Apr. 4, 2004 | JPOST.COM STAFF

[yonif]

Radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr called upon his followers to begin terrorizing US soldiers and other forces stationed in Iraq, since demonstrations have proven to be futile, reported Israel Radio Sunday evening.

The Iraqi Shiite leader made the appeal following reports of 20 Iraqi casualties in demonstrations in the Shiite religious enclave of Najaf. Four Salvadoran coalition soldiers were killed Sunday and 200 people wounded as Spanish-led troops clashed with Sadr followers, hospital sources said.

"I ask you not to resort to demonstrations because they have become a losing card and we should seek other ways," Sadr told his followers. "Terrorise your enemy, as we cannot remain silent over its violations."

Last Sunday, American-led authorities closed down a newspaper that is considered Sadr's mouthpiece, accusing it of inciting violence. His supporters have held several major protests since then.

[WOSG]

Jail Him Now

[Maine For Bush]

Killing Sadr is going to bring the nuts out of the woodwork (if they aren't all out already). All we need now is to make this guy a martyr. He has a radical following of potential homicide bombers. I don't see a simple solution to this problem.

[WOSG]

Wrong.

Sadr is an evil guy, but he is NOT WANTED by most Iraqis, he has a small but devoted following. Jail him, put him on the sidelines and let the decent Iraqis make their country without his hateful interference. He's a wannabe Adolf hitler or Ayatollah, we cant give him any power.

[Eddie Dean]

Killing Sadr is going to bring the nuts out of the woodwork (if they aren't all out already). All we need now is to make this guy a martyr. He has a radical following of potential homicide bombers. I don't see a simple solution to this problem.

Honestly - I'm not bright enough to see all the possible implications whether we kill him, or not.

But I think we DO need to rethink where we are in Iraq. We are still very much at war in certain areas, and the "good" people in those neighborhoods, will never rise up against the bad - we need to kill the bad first.

[WOSG]

1. They want the defense ministry:
http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040319185723.3a0vzgyj.html

2. His people killed a moderate rival in April 2003 and they have tried to kill the cleric Sistani:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A15963-2004Feb5?language=printer
An attempt to kill Sistani could have far-reaching repercussions in Iraq. By far the most influential figure among Shiites, he nevertheless faces resentment within more radical Shiite currents. The most prominent among them is led by Moqtada Sadr, a junior cleric whose father vied with Sistani for influence before being assassinated in 1999. As Iraq begins devising a post-occupation government, differences between the country's major groups -- Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslim Arabs and ethnic Kurds, who are also Sunnis -- have sharpened, and some Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders have voiced worries over the implications of Sistani's growing influence.

[txrangerette]

You mean he's our Arafat???

Look, even if Bush & Co have to
rethink EVERYTHING, and move to
square one, we all should know
that this is not tolerable. He
is probably guilty of ??? against
us already, & against Iraqis too.

Now he declares WAR(Terrorism).

Somethin's gotta give...

[DHerion]

Killing him or arresting him may boomerang. We should find a way to discredit the guy in the eyes of his followers. Produce pics of the guy with a 11 year old boy and spread rumours about similar acts in the cafes/markets until no one believes him anymore.

[broadsword]

Why do Muslim clerics almost universally call for terror and bloodshed agains all non-Muslims and even some Muslims?

Am I the only one who notices that there is only one religion that does this?

Why do the PC liberals continue to call Islam the religion of peace?

Have I stepped into the twilight world?

[WOSG]

1. They want the defense ministry:
http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040319185723.3a0vzgyj.html

2. His people killed a moderate rival in April 2003 and they have tried to kill the cleric Sistani:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A15963-2004Feb5?language=printer
An attempt to kill Sistani could have far-reaching repercussions in Iraq. By far the most influential figure among Shiites, he nevertheless faces resentment within more radical Shiite currents. The most prominent among them is led by Moqtada Sadr, a junior cleric whose father vied with Sistani for influence before being assassinated in 1999. As Iraq begins devising a post-occupation government, differences between the country's major groups -- Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslim Arabs and ethnic Kurds, who are also Sunnis -- have sharpened, and some Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders have voiced worries over the implications of Sistani's growing influence.

Double-edged sword here - we have to give iraqis their freedom, but these men are the enemies of freedom.
Their power has to be deflated without making them martyrs.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Curiously enough, the term 'assassinate' comes from a corruption of 12th Century Muslim Hassan i Sabbah.
Hashish, purportedly, also got its name from him.

[Joee]

Pray tell the difference between his urging and shouting "FIRE" in a theater???

[mcshot]

I agree but am afraid our officials are trying to please to many groups and hence will please no win. We need to get back to the simple kick butt war strategy "you're either with us or against us'.
mc

[Polybius]

Killing Sadr is going to bring the nuts out of the woodwork (if they aren't all out already).

Termites do the most damages when they are in the woodwork. I would rather have the termites crawling across my floor where I can see and kill them.

Think of Sadr as the queen of the terminte colony. Unless he is eliminated, he will produce thousands more termites in the coming years.

[Quix]

Take him out POST HASTE.

Take his family out.

Take his mosque out.

IF THEY WANT TO PLAY TOUGH, WE CAN PLAY.

ENOUGH of this sort of BS