Iraq Shi'ites Take Security in Own Hands in Najaf

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030905/wl_nm/iraq_najaf_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Armed Muslim Shi'ite youths patrolled around the Imam Ali Mosque in Iraq's hold city of Najaf as thousands gathered for Friday prayers and vowed revenge for a deadly car bomb attack a week ago.

A top Shi'ite cleric, Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim, was among the 83 people killed in the bombing just outside the mosque on Friday last week, the deadliest attack in Iraq since the end of the war that ousted Saddam Hussein.

Youths from Hakim's Badr Brigade spread across the area surrounding the gold-domed mosque searching pedestrians. Some took up positions on the roof of the mosque.

Many said it was time to hunt down and kill all members of Saddam's Sunni-dominated Baath Party.

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[StandWatie]

1. This is going to be the army of Iraq

not whatever bullshit thing we are throwing together.

[Cocoa]

4. not just its army

its government, at least for the Shiite part. I wonder if we'll end up going to war against them.

[bemildred]

5. It is certainly the one to watch.

[jamesinca]

2. They got what they wanted

They have got the Iraqi people to turn on each other. They will have less of a problem getting people to turn on the Baath party people, Saddams family and possibly him.

[lumpy]

3. Bushco handed the Shiites the opportunity

to take control of Iraq ousting the more progressive Sunnis. Bushco will never bring 'democracy' to this country. Democracy had a better chance under the more progressive Baath Party. Reminiscent of the ousting of Iran's Shah that let in the more repressive government of the Ayatollahs. When religion runs a country repression is the result. The framers of the US Constitution recognized this fact. This is why we should do all in our power to prevent the Judeo/Christian zealots from converting their narrow view into political power. They have managed to get a pretty good foothold already with Bush as their religious figurehead.

[Rollins]

6. Bush does not want democracy in Iraq or America

What the Bush party represents is privatization of profits and the promotion of unchecked state controlled security forces.

[tlcandie]

7. Aye Rollins .. I agree wholeheartedly!

They only want puppets and OFUs (one fodder unit/* term for those who are expendable).