http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040405/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716
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OK, guys, here is the next slaughter coming up...
If I read this story right, a guy named Al-Sadr, a 30-year-old Shiite cleric, is going to stage a "sit in" at a mosque in Kufa, where he has delivered fiery weekly anti-US sermons for months.
Why is this the next slaughter site? Glad you asked.
It is because US forces in Iraq want to arrest him. Why does arresting this man pose a sure clash/slaughter?
Because al-Sadr is considered by many in Iraq to be clergy of yet another of their beliefs, with many followers.
"I am happy to die for al-Sayed [a Shiite clergy]," 21-year-old Ali Hussein said after being shot in the arm during fighting with troops in Najaf. "Take me to see my mother first then let me die."
An example sentiment of one of his students, a Shiite.
This "sit in" will most likely happen within the week.
Such influence does Shiite have within Iraq that the arrest of Muqtada al-Sadr, a cleric, sparked 4 different riots that left many US soldiers and Iraqi faithful dead and wounded (not necessarily in that order).
He may be staging a sit in for a couple reasons: 1) he knows insurgents will appear and blow themselves up in the crowds - this may be blamed on the US occupation; 2) he knows that the US may try to arrest him, thus be able to use himself as a trap to lure in US troops to be taken on by both the faithful Shiites and insurgents.
If enough "faithful" Shiites get body bagged "by US troops" this may ignite a mushroom cloud explosion within the religious ranks of Islam, turning more and more of their "clergy" into having anti-US occupation sentiment, thus influencing additional followers, and so on.
This also may be... bad... for the US's standing in the world's sight - there may even be a direct condemnation of the US actions thus increasing pressure to withdraw.
Here's the kicker: If the US does NOT act, this "sit in" could be the catalyst for strengthening anti-US sentiment among Iraqis.
Thoughts?
Sam
___
OK, guys, here is the next slaughter coming up...
If I read this story right, a guy named Al-Sadr, a 30-year-old Shiite cleric, is going to stage a "sit in" at a mosque in Kufa, where he has delivered fiery weekly anti-US sermons for months.
Why is this the next slaughter site? Glad you asked.
It is because US forces in Iraq want to arrest him. Why does arresting this man pose a sure clash/slaughter?
Because al-Sadr is considered by many in Iraq to be clergy of yet another of their beliefs, with many followers.
"I am happy to die for al-Sayed [a Shiite clergy]," 21-year-old Ali Hussein said after being shot in the arm during fighting with troops in Najaf. "Take me to see my mother first then let me die."
An example sentiment of one of his students, a Shiite.
This "sit in" will most likely happen within the week.
Such influence does Shiite have within Iraq that the arrest of Muqtada al-Sadr, a cleric, sparked 4 different riots that left many US soldiers and Iraqi faithful dead and wounded (not necessarily in that order).
He may be staging a sit in for a couple reasons: 1) he knows insurgents will appear and blow themselves up in the crowds - this may be blamed on the US occupation; 2) he knows that the US may try to arrest him, thus be able to use himself as a trap to lure in US troops to be taken on by both the faithful Shiites and insurgents.
If enough "faithful" Shiites get body bagged "by US troops" this may ignite a mushroom cloud explosion within the religious ranks of Islam, turning more and more of their "clergy" into having anti-US occupation sentiment, thus influencing additional followers, and so on.
This also may be... bad... for the US's standing in the world's sight - there may even be a direct condemnation of the US actions thus increasing pressure to withdraw.
Here's the kicker: If the US does NOT act, this "sit in" could be the catalyst for strengthening anti-US sentiment among Iraqis.
Thoughts?
Sam
