[Ragtime Cowgirl]

(C)ommander of the 1st Armored Division said in Baghdad today....

Army Maj. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told reporters it's up to Iraq's stakeholders — its tribal leaders, clerics and politicians — to tackle the delicate situation in one of the country's holiest cities.

"This is their holy city. It is not my holy city..."

The general said that in retrospect, the coalition "probably gave (Sadr) six more months than we should have," enabling him to train his troops, gather resources and stockpile ammunition to support his militia.

That militia consists of an estimated at 600 to 800 young men, some of whom Dempsey said "are probably decent young men who have been badly led astray."

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Line in the sand (?), ping!

[pt17]

The general said that in retrospect, the coalition "probably gave (Sadr) six more months than we should have," enabling him to train his troops, gather resources and stockpile ammunition to support his militia.

Understatement of the year by the General. There are some very weak links in the chain.

[bayourod]

Once a Muslim has tasted infidel blood he must be killed. There is no recivilitating.

[webheart]

...the Iraqi holy city of Najaf....one of the country's holiest cities....

How many holy cities do these people have? Maybe the better question would be, how many holy cities do they not have? And what are the criteria for determining whether or not a city is holy? They probably say, "Uh oh, here come the Americans! Quick, lets designate this city as a holy city!"