Article

2004-08-19 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by TomAnon 2004-08-19 8:27:06 AM|| || Front Page|| [11131 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Fierce fighting was reported around Najafâs holy shrine today after a rebel clericâs aide rejected a government ultimatum for Muqtada al-Sadrâs militia to disarm or risk a massive offensive.
Sheik Aws al-Khafaji, the head of al-Sadrâs office in the southern city of Nasiriyah, said the ultimatum proved the government âwants only war.â Al-Khafaji appeared to be speaking on his own behalf and not in al-Sadrâs name. Other aides holed up with the cleric in the holy city of Najaf appealed to the government to negotiate and end to the violence there.
Al-Khafaji also said that al-Sadr did not have the authority to disband his Mahdi Army militia or to force his followers to give up their arms.

"That word has to come from Mahdi Army HQ, in Tehran."

Posted by Steve 2004-08-19 9:16:04 AM|| 2004-08-19 9:16:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Ready to join Saddam, Sadr?

Posted by Steve from Relto 2004-08-19 10:12:37 AM|| 2004-08-19 10:12:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Al-Khafaji also said that al-Sadr did not have the authority to disband his Mahdi Army militia or to force his followers to give up their arms.

Not a problem. If a bullet to the head of each and every member is required to put an end to this group's reign of terror, then by all means, get a move on. There's work to be done, and the sooner it's started, the sooner it'll be finished.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-08-19 11:44:19 AM|| 2004-08-19 11:44:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Relto Steve - Probably to join Saddam's demon seeds in "VIRGIN COUNTRY" is more likely. . .

Posted by BigEd 2004-08-19 12:03:06 PM|| 2004-08-19 12:03:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Tear Gas?

Posted by 3dc 2004-08-19 12:18:28 PM|| 2004-08-19 12:18:28 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 We need to borrow some of that Russian sleepy gas they used on the theater. I'm surprised we haven't used something similar yet...

Posted by Fred 2004-08-19 12:25:11 PM|| 2004-08-19 12:25:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 AFAICR, our forces couldn't use tear gas -- or any other gas -- because it could be taken as a war crime.

Iraqi forces could, however, since those agents are perfectly OK for law-enforcement use.

(No, it doesn't make sense to me, either. I just remember reading that the rules are different.)

Posted by Robert Crawford 2004-08-19 12:27:44 PM|| [http://www.kloognome.com] 2004-08-19 12:27:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Just like hollow point bullets are legal for police but banned under the Geneva Convention for military. However, CS gas has been used regularly by militaries for tunnel clearing : urban zone clearing if a "riot situation" is formally declared by the civilan authorites should provide sufficient legal cover for military forces to use CS. I would personally prefer the use of phosgene in this case.

Posted by Anonymous6115 2004-08-19 12:36:14 PM|| 2004-08-19 12:36:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 We need to borrow some of that Russian sleepy gas they used on the theater. I'm surprised we haven't used something similar yet...

I'm with you 100%, Fred. Screw the negative publicity and get the job done. We have damaged ourselves much more with all this dithering.

Posted by Zenster 2004-08-19 6:47:47 PM|| 2004-08-19 6:47:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Sleepy gas? Let's just drop 12 professors of Flemish economic history on 'em.

Posted by Dr Irving Fleet speaking from the hereafter 2004-08-19 8:26:26 PM|| 2004-08-19 8:26:26 PM|| Front Page Top

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