Article

2004-08-21 Iraq-Jordan

Sadr wants to hand over Najaf shrine to Sistani - aide

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Posted by tipper 2004-08-21 5:21:59 AM|| || Front Page|| [11133 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Allawiâs government should pursue a peaceful solution, not a military one for the benefit of the Americans," Sheibani [a Sadar aide] said.

It used to be only that we couldn't believe what Reuters was saying - with this piece, it looks as if their new policy is to assure that we can't understand what they are saying.

It's a good spin policy. Just print jibberish and then it can mean whatever your readers want it to.

Posted by B 2004-08-21 5:55:17 AM|| 2004-08-21 5:55:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Typical Reuters: always quote the underdog
(no matter how deranged they are) as if the words coming out of their mouths are gospel.

If I were editing this piece (what a fate) I would add a comma after 'one'. That would throw their spin right back at them by giving the sentence an unambiguous, pro-American meaning.

Posted by Bryan 2004-08-21 6:09:05 AM|| 2004-08-21 6:09:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 bryan...right you are!

Posted by B 2004-08-21 6:21:40 AM|| 2004-08-21 6:21:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Reuters should adopt this old saying as their motto:

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story

Posted by Bryan 2004-08-21 6:36:58 AM|| 2004-08-21 6:36:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 As OldSpook has mentioned here before, much of controlling the shrine pivots upon material gain and not religious piety. Here is a little gem I stumbled across today that sheds new light upon the matter.

Mr Sadr was asking for Ayatollah Sistani to send a delegation to take an inventory of precious items in the mosque, said the aide, Ali ~~Baba~~ Smeisim.

He said Mr Sadr wanted to make sure his men could not be accused of taking anything.

It is extremely difficult to imagine Sadr resisting temptation when it comes to jewelled or gilt offerings left at the shrine by pilgrims. Knowing the regional distaste for accurate paperwork and transparent accounting, one must speculate as to the phenomenal wealth contained in the shrine.

However obvious it is that they want to get Sistani inside their fire perimeter, this represents another significant high level issue that will need to be resolved. Let us all hope Sadr has succumbed to temptation so that his credibility will null out for once and all.

Posted by Zenster 2004-08-21 11:45:17 PM|| 2004-08-21 11:45:17 PM|| Front Page Top

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