Fighting Moves Into Islam Holy Place in Najaf

'Cemetery Lost Its Holiness'
By Scott Wilson and Fred Barbash
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, May 14, 2004; 11:48 AM


BAGHDAD, May 14 -- U.S. forces battled insurgents loyal to rebel cleric Moqtada Sadr Friday morning in the vast ancient cemetery in the southern city of Najaf, one of Shiite Islam's most sacred places.

(snip)
The fight was one of several battles Friday in Najaf and in the city of Karbala as U.S. troops attempted to clear nests of militiamen firing at police or troops.

"The cemetery lost its holiness in the early hours of today when the U.S. forces started to attack," said Khalid Farhan, 55, who owns the Thulfiqar Hotel in downtown Najaf. "Many of the graves have been destroyed. But we can say that people are dying and nice buildings are being destroyed also today. Who cares right now about graves?"

The fighting represented some of the most aggressive tactics yet employed by U.S. forces against the Mahdi Army, as Sadr's Shiite militia is known.

It also appeared to signal the demise of talks to end the standoff by a negotiated agreement, something U.S. officials had hoped to accomplish through a group of mainstream Shiite leaders who appear equally incapable of corralling the young cleric.

rest at....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26296-2004May14.html

after shrubs idiotic statements about being god appointed and crusades we are now invading holy islamic sites
hang on to your seats folks - theres going to be some real fireworks which will beat any 4th of july celebration

after the first Gulf War.

Please post your link and update this previously posted thread. Thanks.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=554158&mesg_id=554158