U.S. raid on Shiite shrine served as a warning

By Kevin Whitelaw

Posted 3/30/06
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The U.S. military was trying to send a "little reality jab" to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr when American and Iraqi troops raided a Shiite community center and shrine over the weekend, says a top U.S. military official.

The joint assault killed at least 16 people, most of them believed to be tied to Sadr's militia, the Mahdi Army. U.S. officials insist the center was being used as a base for insurgent activities and was not a mosque. But many Iraqis say the complex did indeed include the Shiite equivalent of a mosque, and the raid has drawn harsh condemnation from Shiite politicians and prompted Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, to launch an investigation.

The mayor of Baghdad promptly cut off cooperation with the U.S. Embassy, and Shiite politicians suspended their negotiations to form a new government. The U.S. military has long contemplated taking tougher steps against Sadr and his troublesome militia but has held off in the past because it did not want to antagonize his many fervent supporters. This raid, officials say, was intended as a reminder to Sadr of the U.S. military's reach in Iraq.

U.S. officials had been quietly praising Sadr's group in recent weeks because of its calls for calm in the wake of the bombing of a Sunni mosque in Samarra that sparked a wave of sectarian violence.


http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060330/30natsec.htm


Glad to see we aren't doing anything to complicate matters over there further.  ::)

U.S. raid on Shiite shrine served as a warning

By Kevin Whitelaw

Posted 3/30/06
Related Links

    * More from Nation & World

The U.S. military was trying to send a "little reality jab" to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr when American and Iraqi troops raided a Shiite community center and shrine over the weekend, says a top U.S. military official.

The joint assault killed at least 16 people, most of them believed to be tied to Sadr's militia, the Mahdi Army. U.S. officials insist the center was being used as a base for insurgent activities and was not a mosque. But many Iraqis say the complex did indeed include the Shiite equivalent of a mosque, and the raid has drawn harsh condemnation from Shiite politicians and prompted Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, to launch an investigation.

The mayor of Baghdad promptly cut off cooperation with the U.S. Embassy, and Shiite politicians suspended their negotiations to form a new government. The U.S. military has long contemplated taking tougher steps against Sadr and his troublesome militia but has held off in the past because it did not want to antagonize his many fervent supporters. This raid, officials say, was intended as a reminder to Sadr of the U.S. military's reach in Iraq.

U.S. officials had been quietly praising Sadr's group in recent weeks because of its calls for calm in the wake of the bombing of a Sunni mosque in Samarra that sparked a wave of sectarian violence.


http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060330/30natsec.htm


Glad to see we aren't doing anything to complicate matters over there further.  ::)


Oh well, they're with their eight dozen virgins or whatever that childish little relgion claims they'll get  ::)

I'm sorry but this man was an enemy of the United States.. he and his militia have carried out numerous attacks to TRY! and complicate the process there. I fail to see your point here..

Oh well, they're with their eight dozen virgins or whatever that childish little relgion claims they'll get  ::)

I'm sorry but this man was an enemy of the United States.. he and his militia have carried out numerous attacks to TRY! and complicate the process there. I fail to see your point here..


Then why isn't he sitting in a jail? Answer: He has his supporters in the Shia community.

And that is my point.  Its these types of operations that have helped much of the Iraqi population grow to mistrust, and hate the United States.  I fail to see how raiding this place did any good.  Al Sadr actually helped things out not long ago by issuing a statement calling for calm.  I think hes a little nutty, but you know what? A LOT of people are a little nutty over there. 

My point is this raid accomplished very little and only serves to create more resentment for the United States in this country.

And the fact that he did so(tried to call people to a little sense) shows to me what you say is not correct, the guy isn't all about complicating everything there as much as he can.  You just say that because he doesn't serve U.S interests. 

Then why isn't he sitting in a jail? Answer: He has his supporters in the Shia community.

And that is my point.  Its these types of operations that have helped much of the Iraqi population grow to mistrust, and hate the United States.  I fail to see how raiding this place did any good.  Al Sadr actually helped things out not long ago by issuing a statement calling for calm.  I think hes a little nutty, but you know what? A LOT of people are a little nutty over there. 

My point is this raid accomplished very little and only serves to create more resentment for the United States in this country.


Well, to be honest. My opinions on Iraq are as follows..

You can't reason with children.. and that's all that anybody following Islam is, a child. We don't live in the fourteenth century anymore folks.

Well, to be honest. My opinions on Iraq are as follows..

You can't reason with children.. and that's all that anybody following Islam is, a child. We don't live in the fourteenth century anymore folks.


What about Roman Catholocism?

What about Roman Catholocism?


Still living in the past but at least the Church has accepted many ideas in recent times.