Mediation halted in Najaf

[dArKeR]

Najaf, Iraq - Mediation between the US-led coalition and Moqtada Sadr has been halted, the wanted Shiite cleric's spokesperson said on Saturday, expressing concern US troops were "poised to attack" the city.

"Mediations with the US side have been halted because the mediators have told us the Americans are putting obstacles towards finding solutions to the crisis and the situation is getting worse," Qais al-Khazaali, the head of Sadr's office, told reporters.

"We are expecting the Americans to attack Najaf any moment now," he said.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,6119,2-10-1460_1513782,00.html

[DAGDA56]

1. Oh oh...here it comes...

...isn't Najaf considered to be a Holy City? In other words, to the people in Iraq, it's more than just a point on the map (or a target on a grid), isn't it?

[CabalBuster]

2. This is a familiar tactic fo the administration....

Put roadblocks at the same time put a show to pretend the US is "negotiating". This is what the Bush Admin did with the UN before attacking Iraq. They can later claimed that they attempted to negotiate in good faith but that it failed and were left no recourse but to attack.

Another BIG mistake. Don't they get it? Najaf is not going to go down without a fight. I am afraid more soldiers and innocent civilians are going to die as a result of this militaristic/hegemonistic mind set. Shades of Dr. Strangelove.

[Zero Division]

3. Very, very scary news...

For an understanding of just how disastrous an American raid in Najaf, the city where this http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/an-najaf-imam-ali.htm">shrine is found, would be go here: http://www.juancole.com/

excerpt from latest entry:
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"Abdul Mahdi Karbala'i, Sistani's representative in Karbala, said that his city and Najaf are "considered a red line that the Coalition forces may not cross." He intimated that the inhabitants of Iraq could be called upon to rebel and take up arms. In his Friday sermon at Karbala, he said, "The situation has reached a serious juncture in past days, and reports indicate that the Occupation Forces will violate the sanctity of Karbala and Najaf, shedding in them much blood, and destroying what the people of those two cities have built. He said the religious leadership could forestall such a move, and that if the Coalition forces moved on the cities it would have grave consequences. He said that after so many years of state terror, every effort should now be made to find a peaceful way forward, and one that the US could not refuse. He said these peaceful methods must be used to end the occupation and return sovereignty to competent persons who represent the independent national will. He warned that if the religious leadership concluded that there was no escape from launching an armed uprising, it would not hesitate to do so. (And this is the representative of the moderate, Sistani!)"
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If American/Coalition troops start a fight inside Najaf it will be considered an a grave offense by all Shiite Muslims. Even moderate Shiites would consider it a justification for violence against Coalition forces. An uprising by nearly all of Iraq's Shiites and new threats of violence from Shiites from other parts of the region (just thinking about how Iran might react is frightening enough) would be the likely result, which would be devastating.

Hopefully there are enough sane voices from the other Coalition member governments, the State Dept., and some of our more intelligent Military leaders to prevent this. :scared: