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Iraq
Gunmen Kill Senior Al-Sadr Aide in Najaf
2008-04-11
Iraqi officials say gunmen have killed a senior aide to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.
hmmm, mysterious "gunmen"
The officials say Riyadh al-Nouri was the director of al-Sadr's office in Najaf. He was shot to death as he drove home after attending Friday prayers in the nearby city of Kufa. A policeman and an official in al-Sadr's Najaf office confirmed the killing but spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information.
"I can say no more"
The anti-U.S. cleric has his headquarters in Najaf, but the shrines in that city are dominated by a rival Shiite group and most of his followers are concentrated in Kufa.
Posted by:Frank G

#13  Dunno, LH. Khoei's death did nothing to change the key dynamics for the early years, which reduce to: Sunni rejectionism and terrorism. Even the JAM, to the extent it's something deserving of a single name, and the extent it's more than a constellation of local gangs and militias, owes its now-dimmed prominence to the Sunni terror war (a continuation of their decades of abuse and crimes against the Shi'a). The US folks - in and out of uniform - no longer in office erred in never really dealing seriously with that. Betcha looking back in a year or two, the JAM's importance will not look like much, especially compared to the damage done by the Sunnis in 04-07. And the current US folks in office, in and out of uniform, have also chosen mostly not to deal with the Sunni problem. They've been able to avoid the question as the Sunnis for their own various reasons (including our first show of will in years, represented by the surge) have decided to play along for now.
Posted by: Verlaine   2008-04-11 20:40  

#12  The list is shorter by one Tater. Hey, Tater you have the distinction of being on top of the list.
Posted by: JohnQC   2008-04-11 16:46  

#11  revenge for the killing of Al Khoei, an Ayatollah the JAM knocked off in June 2003. Khoei was like Sistani, a moderate, but younger and more dynamic. If hed lived a LOT would be different in Iraq. Failure to adequately protect him was - well Im not going to get into what it was, to avoid another flamewar. June 2003 is a long time ago, and the folks responsible arent in office any more - mostly.

But anyone connected with SCIRI would have plenty of reason to want Al-Nouri dead. As would some folks in the Iraqi govt. As would some Iraqi Sunnis.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-04-11 16:15  

#10  The cleric's office issued a statement in which al-Sadr promises he won't "forget this precious blood" but he urges his followers to "be patient."

Yeah, don't start anything until I'm under a bed and behind a locked door in the cellar of my place in Qom.
And make sure ya do a good job because I'll be watching it all on Qom Action News. So I'll know.
To the last drop of blood, Brave Jihadi Warrriors...
Posted by: tu3031   2008-04-11 15:48  

#9  Brilliant idea Iblis.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2008-04-11 15:23  

#8  It's named after Fatso's dad, Sistani's predecessor.
Posted by: Chief Running Gag   2008-04-11 15:19  

#7  the Iraqi Government should really consider changing the name of that city.

Name it after the guy who smokes Tater. Announce beforehand that you'll be doing this. Another problem sorts itself out.
Posted by: Iblis   2008-04-11 13:51  

#6  As soon as they serve al-Sadr with the arrest warrant; the Iraqi Government should really consider changing the name of that city.

Hows the name...Point Liberty?
Posted by: MB   2008-04-11 13:24  

#5  Y'know, there hasn't been a lot of reporting lately on Crossfire activities of the RAB, maybe they are out on 'Field Maneuvers?' What time did this occur?
Posted by: USN,Ret.   2008-04-11 13:24  

#4  It's a message: The Nine are not amused.
Posted by: Chief Running Gag   2008-04-11 13:16  

#3  Yes, the response to this is going to be interesting to see. We are seeing a whole lot of change in both targets and who is doing the fighting (see article above). It makes me think/want to believe we've entered a final phase cleaning out the remaining trash.
Posted by: remoteman   2008-04-11 12:46  

#2  Will this bring the Sadr's militia back out in force?

One can hope.
Posted by: Omusosh the Scantily Clad7177   2008-04-11 12:00  

#1  Hmm. Infighting, or is SIIC less domesticated than recent reports have claimed?
Posted by: Mitch H.   2008-04-11 10:46  

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