Iraq Protests Turn Bloody -Al Jazeera

[robertpaulsen]

I'm posting a story I found in GD that I couldn't find here. In it, there's a paragraph that got my attention.

"Al-Sadr's office has issued a statement calling on supporters to end their protests but to declare jihad and take up arms against occupation forces".

Jihad. I knew it was only a matter of time. Granted al-Sadr doesn't have the following that al-Sistani does. We'll see what his stance is on this soon, I'm sure.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DFE045E8-ABA4-411F-89D7-78EE1403052F.htm

[saigon68]

1. This is not good

An Iraqi man armed with a Kalashnikov rifle takes cover after clashes broke out with U.S. forces in the impoverished Baghdad suburb of Al Sadr City April 4, 2004.



Al-Sadr's self-styled militiamen from the al-Mahdi Army, speed away from clashes with coalition forces to take a wounded man to the hospital in Kufa, Iraq (news - web sites), Sunday April 4, 2004. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed





Crowds of protesters, including members of the Mehdi Army, a banned Iraqi militia that supports radical anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, march on a Spanish garrison near Kufa April 4, 2004. At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in clashes between Spanish-led forces and Iraqi protesters and militiamen near the city of Najaf Sunday, hospital officials said. REUTERS/Ali Abu Shish

[theHandpuppet]

2. Yes, I've been wondering...

... if there has been any reaction from Al-Sistani.

Perhaps he's playing a waiting game so he can sidle up to the winning side no matter how things turn out. That's a risky game, especially if he ends up looking like a vichy in the eyes of his fellow Iraqis.

[aneerkoinos]

7. Humpty Dumpty?

""The Ayatollah has called on the Shia demonstrators to remain calm, to keep a cool head and allow the problem to be resolved through negotiation," the source said. "Ali Sistani also called on the demonstrators not to retaliate against the occupation forces in the event of an aggression," he said.

Nevertheless, the revered cleric believes "the demonstrators’ demands are legitimate," and "condemns acts waged by the occupation forces and pledges his support to the families of the victims", the source said."

http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=60690

[molok555]

3. One wonders why now?

al Sadr had been keeping his militia in check and even, at times, saying nice things about the Americans and democracy. Why now?

My own belief is that he's decided this is the time to try and flex some muscle to get more influence prior to the transfer.

[rfkrocks]

4. your right

he is of the my army of followers is bigger and badder than your army of followers-it will be hell up to 6/30 and beyond

[Aidoneus]

5. if I were to guess?--the massacres in Kufa, Madinat al-Sadr, and al-Basrah

Occupation forces all over Iraq fired on demonstrations earlier. There have been stupid provocations made by the occupyers before, and demonstrations against them--this time the invaders fired on them and murdered many people. Besides the well-covered events near Kufa/Najaf--in Madinat al-Sadr people were crushed under US tanks; in al-Basrah, British occupation forces fired on other demonstrators. Sayyid Muqtada had thought demonstrations, and not armed resistance, would put enough pressure on the occupyers to suffice.. but they now know that such just makes it easier for the invaders to shoot them down without a struggle and that the hands of the occupyers cannot be anything but forced.

[Name removed]

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[Aidoneus]

8. Only partly..

also from various reporters, Riverbend's blog, and an account from my friend who lives near Najaf. Where did you get your spin?