"There's supposed to be a curfew" (Healing Iraq blog)

[Benbow]

Fierce streetfighting at my doorstep for the last 3 hours. Rumor in the neighbourhood is that men in black are trying to enter the area. Some armed kids defending the local mosque three blocks away are splattering bullets at everything that moves, and someone in the street was shouting for people to prepare for defending themselves.

There's supposed to be a curfew, but it doesn't look like it. My net connection is erratic, so I'll try to update again if possible. The news from other areas in Baghdad are horrible. I don't think it's being reported anywhere.

My father and uncle are agitatedly walking back and forth in the hallway, asking me what we should do if the mob or Interior ministry forces try to attack us in our homes? I have no answer for them.

http://healingiraq.blogspot.com/

Please pray for this family tonight.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Al Jazeera says it's not too bad

Baghdad meanwhile stayed relatively calm on Friday, despite reports of minor clashes between members of a Shia militia and armed men in the south of the city.

Police sources said Friday's clashes were between unidentified gunmen, possibly Sunnis, and members of the Jaish al-Mahdi (the al-Mahdi Army) loyal to Shia figure Muqtada al-Sadr.

Al-Sadr had called on his followers not to attack Sunnis or their mosques.

It was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt in the skirmishes in the Saidiya area, which undermined a day-time curfew announced by the government to stop the spread of violence.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/32CB6523-014C-4DC1-A025-78751E1A6050.htm

[Critters2]

3. Richard Perle agrees

What are the chances?

:shrug:

[Oreo]

2. Amazing site

This is chilling:
Eyewitnesses and relatives from Samarra claim that American and Iraqi Interior ministry forces blocked the main street leading to the shrine at 9 pm on the night preceding the blast. It was opened again at dawn Wednesday and the troops pulled out of the area. The two blasts occurred at 6:40 and 6:45 am according to residents, while the official statement from Interior minister, Baqir Solagh has them around 7:50 and 8 am. The details on the operation are also very vague. Some sources say there was a force of 35 guards in the shrine, but there were only 4 or 5 that morning. The number of attackers has fluctuated between 4 and 15 armed men, one of them dressed in military uniform and the rest in black. PM Ja’fari mentioned yesterday that preliminary investigations pointed to ‘infiltration’ of the police, but he has not given any further details since. No word on the 10 suspects that were supposed to have been arrested yesterday either.



Even if it wasn't Americans that blew up the mosque, the rumor is already out there. And FAUX News and Rove think that a civil war might be a good thing. Frackers