Anti-U.S. Uprising Spreads in Iraq; Marines Push Deeper Into Fallujah

[kskiska]

(snip)

Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, issued his first official comments about the violence Wednesday evening, condemning the U.S. approach to dealing with the Shiite uprising. In a written statement bearing his seal, Sistani called for both sides to pursue a peaceful resolution and "refrain from escalating steps that will lead to more chaos and bloodshed."

But across Baghdad, Sistani's moderate message appeared to have been drowned out by an increasingly vocal cry from mosque minarets for people to resist the occupation and to donate money and blood to help resistance fighters in Fallujah. In perhaps the clearest sign yet of the convergence of Sunni and Shiite uprisings, announcements from Shiite mosques called on people to help Sunnis in Fallujah, while residents of Sunni neighborhoods lauded Sadr and his followers.

Portraits of Sadr and graffiti praising him have appeared on mosques and government buildings in Sunni towns west of Baghdad, according to Arab media reports. On Monday night, gunmen loyal to Sadr joined with Sunni insurgents in Baghdad in attacking U.S. soldiers on patrol in the first reported act of collaborative Sunni-Shiite resistance activity.

"The Sunnis and Shiites are now together," said Fatah Abdel-Razzaq, 31, the owner of a falafel stand in Sadr City, a sprawling slum of 2 million that has long served as Sadr's stronghold.

"America came and destroyed the country," he said. "What's America doing?"

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56942-2004Apr7.html

[alcuno]

1. What do you think? Split screen while Condi is testifying?

9/11 Commission hearing/Baghdad burning? You know that some clever Iraqi will know that it's live on the networks.

The administration forgot about the power of the internet when they decided to invade; information was much more tightly held during Gulf War I.

[ex_jew]

2. Time's running out for Sistani

Will he make soothing noises while we blow up mosques ? Why would anyone want to hear this.

[fishnfla]

3. He is being drowned out

by the sound of gunfire. If the Sunni and Shia unite, our troops are in for hell. This is the worst possible news, I fear

[wtmusic]

4. It's a done deal

We're already the common enemy. No surprise there.

[whatelseisnew]

5. Sistani and Sadr = Good Cop / Bad Cop?

just a thought

[primavera]

6. "Violent resistance to the American occupation of Iraq..."

What?! Not "renegade resistance to the coalition's liberation of Iraq and creation of a free democracy"? How did this one ever slip past the censors?

I just about gagged yesterday watching Rumsferatu's press briefing in which he kept droning on about how this is just a bunch of thugs and terrorists who hate freedom. Yeah, that's it Rummy, God knows everyone loves slavery and hates freedom, that's real plausible... :eyes:

Incidentally, have you ever noticed that, although we're supposedly just bystanders in a predominantly Iraqi effort to free themselves from tyranny, you never seem to hear any actual Iraqis on the news describing their joyous campaign to liberate themselves? Nor, for that matter, does one ever seem to hear interviews with any of the officials from the vast international coalition, of which the US is ostensibly but a minor part, discussing their efforts in Iraq. Odd, it always seems to be US military spokespeople telling us how happy the Iraqi people are, but you never hear a single Iraqi say that for themselves. Go figure, huh?