| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq-Jordan |
| Najaf residents turning on al-Sadr |
| 2004-04-27 |
| ...In another development the Americans were watching, reports from inside Najaf said that the growing anger of residents there against al-Sadr and his men, who have sown a pattern of lawlessness since their uprising in the city began earlier this month, had taken a startling new turn, with a shadowy group killing at least five militiamen on Sunday and Monday. These reports, from residents who reached relatives in Baghdad by telephone, said that the killers called themselves the Thulfiqar Army, after a two-bladed sword that Shiite tradition says was used by the patron saint of Shiism, Imam Ali, the martyred son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed. The group distributed leaflets in Najaf threatening to kill members of al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army unless they fled Najaf immediately, according to accounts. One Najaf resident said that some of al-Sadr’s militiamen were shedding the black clothing that has been their signature. The same resident said he knew of two killings of Mahdi Army members on Sunday and that three others had been killed later on Sunday or Monday. If reports of violence against al-Sadr’s followers suggested that the American occupiers might be seeing the beginnings of Iraqis taking action of their own to curb the cleric -- as L. Paul Bremer, the chief American administrator, has urged -- events in Baghdad on Monday underscored how potent a force al-Sadr remains, at least among many volatile young Shiites who have found a release from their impoverishment in the cleric’s anti-American oratory... |
| Posted by:Lux |
| #26 Reap what you sow. I am going to watch my Saddam(directed by Joel Soler ) dvd now. |
| Posted by: Antiwar 2004-04-27 11:22:29 AM |
| #25 D&D turned 30 yesterday. By the way. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-04-27 9:00:03 PM |
| #24 Flame Strike is usable by Ayatollah ali-Sistani, who at last report was 9th level. But, he is waiting until after June 30 to decide what he wants to do. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 4:34:38 PM |
| #23 Wait.... isn't 'burning hands' a magic-user (i.e. Infidil) spell? As I recall it was a 1st level MU spell. Now a Flame Strike is a cool Cleric spell (much like a mini-MOAB). But is way out of Tater's reach (8th. level Cleric as I recall)... /Ahh.... my wasted youth...... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-04-27 4:16:52 PM |
| #22 Sadr sez: Don't these people understand "the struggle" don't they realize they are lackeys for infidel invaders. Why, why it's an outrage. An outrage! My men should be able to pillage and destroy for the greater good of ancient Mesopotamia! By the way you guys, I AM A LEVEL 6 CLERIC! D-O N-O-T I-N-S-U-L-T M-E! |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-27 3:01:03 PM |
| #21 "1...2...3...4...5 - a real power stroke, you're lookin' for his backbone...6 - very good. Next..." |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-04-27 2:28:53 PM |
| #20 Level 4 cleric. Well we ARE sending in L33t guys with ranged weapons, should keep him from getting a spell off no?? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-04-27 12:56:40 PM |
| #19 The death squads are prolly from Sistanis' Holy Islamic Temple Brigade. AKA the Dragon Slayers. Release the counter terrorist Iraq. Then it really will be your victory and your glory. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-04-27 12:01:12 PM |
| #18 THREE ANGELS OF DEATH. I've noticed that there have been reports from all over Iraq, since the fall, of "Three Guys Wearing Motorcycle Helmets", who by some reports have assassinated as many as 1,000(!) former Baathists and other rude boys. Gee, are these guys prolific. But it started me thinking: I wonder what their names are?: "Manny, Moe and Jack?" "Larry, Moe and Curly Joe?" "Hinkle, Dinkle and Nod?" "Groucho, Chico and Harpo?" "Nick, Mike and Mustard?" or "Captain, Sergeant and Sergeant?" |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-04-27 11:46:00 AM |
| #17 #7 Sadr just needs 250 more experience points to become a Level 4 Cleric, then he can learn the Burning Hands spell (1-8 hit points damage per round). Aieeee! Coffee alert! |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-04-27 11:24:16 AM |
| #16 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: Antiwar TROLL 2004-04-27 11:22:29 AM |
| #15 The same resident said he knew of two killings of Mahdi Army members on Sunday and that three others had been killed later on Sunday or Monday. If reports of violence against al-Sadr’s followers suggested that the American occupiers might be seeing the beginnings of Iraqis taking action of their own to curb the cleric -- as L. Paul Bremer, the chief American administrator, has urged Sounds like the plan is working - let the IRAQIS take down Sadr. A win politically as well as militarily. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-04-27 11:14:05 AM |
| #14 I think the Gameboy idea has a lot of merit. ( #6) "Yes. Just a minute Ahmed! zing, zing I'm coming to fight the jihad, just as soon as zing, zing, bloop, just as soon as . . . Uh, Ahmed, you go on ahead, I'll catch up later . . . zing, blap-blap . . . " |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2004-04-27 10:58:09 AM |
| #13 young Shiites who have found a release from their impoverishment in the cleric’s anti-American oratory Yep, listening to that "anti-American oratory" will magically put food in a person's stomach and money in their pocket all right. Yessirree..... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-27 10:32:40 AM |
| #12 . . . the growing anger of residents there against al-Sadr and his men . . . had taken a startling new turn, with a shadowy group killing at least five militiamen . . . Home-cooked Tater Tots . . . what a pleasant thought! |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-04-27 10:05:33 AM |
| #11 young Shiites who have found a release from their impoverishment in the cleric’s anti-American oratory Yeah.... Death is sometimes called 'release'..... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-04-27 9:35:54 AM |
| #10 Isn't there a hadith in there somewhere that says RPG's (role playing games) are un-Islamic? |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-04-27 9:23:49 AM |
| #9 It wouldn't surprize me if the Thulfiqar Army that is bumping of Sadr's goons has had some help from our intel people or from a Ranger or two or three. |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-04-27 8:42:02 AM |
| #8 They do act a bit like Sims gone bad. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-27 8:36:33 AM |
| #7 Sadr just needs 250 more experience points to become a Level 4 Cleric, then he can learn the Burning Hands spell (1-8 hit points damage per round). |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-04-27 8:20:36 AM |
| #6 All the colorful names these groups take unto themselves, Thulfiqar Army, al-Mahdi Army, Badr Brigades, al-Quaeda etc., seem to spew forth from some fanciful random name generator designed for fantasy role-playing games. Actually, fantasy role playing games may be closer to the truth than religious fervor for understanding these murderous mideastern dolts. Maybe if we gave them all Gameboys and an unlimited supply of batteries they'd just fade away. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-04-27 7:55:17 AM |
| #5 Anonymous3964, No the Haitians are equal opportunity murderers. They'll kill anyone available. No ideology involved other than "thugs just want to have fun." |
| Posted by: Random thoughts 2004-04-27 7:46:21 AM |
| #4 young Shiites who have found a release from their impoverishment in the cleric’s anti-American oratory They haven't been released from their impoverishment. |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-04-27 7:23:08 AM |
| #3 RTFA The article is a NY Times sydicated story. Which means it is replete with blatant lies and distortions, unattributed sources, the reporter's leftist opinion and the NY Times very own tweaking of the story to make it even less true than when originally submitted. The New York Times: When agenda is all that matters. Kindly look at how cause and effect is framed by the writer. Impoverishment of young Iraqis? After 20 plus years of Marxist economic management? The writer would have told the truth had he atrributed young Iraq's violence against American as being inspired by Sadr, but no. It is poverty which causes violence. The next thing we will hear from this writer is that Sadr is a charasmatic moderate Shiite moslem who has a message of hope from poverty for young Iraqis. Incredibley bad journalism. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-04-27 7:16:58 AM |
| #2 "how potent a force al-Sadr remains, at least among many volatile young Shiites who have found a release from their impoverishment in the cleric’s anti-American oratory..." Why must Westeners always make excuses for muslim's barbarism? Do impoverished South Americans strap bombs to their bodies? Do they kill Americans everywhere they are? Take Haiti, for example, you cannot get a group of people more empoverished than that. Are Hatians killing their own people to get to an American? America has intervened plenty in Latin America, why do we not hear about them blowing themselves up and plotting to carry out terror attacks on America soil or on American Interests anywhere in the world? Islamic terrorism has nothing to do with poverty. It has everything to do with institutionalized hatred from birth to death. |
| Posted by: Anonymous3964 2004-04-27 6:21:35 AM |
| #1 the American occupiers might be seeing the beginnings of Iraqis taking action of their own to curb the cleric Hold on, this guy speaks in the name of Islaaaaam* - he can't be wrong. What are you people doing? - back in your houses and cower in the presence of Allah!! Such apostasy! Tut! Too good to be true methinks. (*Al Muhajiroun pron. - esp. Anjem Choudhury) |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-04-27 4:21:42 AM |