U.S. Arrests Rebel Cleric's Supporters in North Iraq

U.S. Arrests Rebel Cleric's Supporters in North Iraq

May 21, 2004 — KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi forces stormed offices of rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the northern city of Kirkuk and detained 15 people suspected of a bomb attack there, the U.S. military said Friday.
Stepping up pressure on Sadr, U.S. forces also arrested one of his top aides near the city of Najaf, where fighters loyal to Sadr have dug in near shrines that are among the most sacred ground in Shi'ite Islam, Sadr's group said.

Maj. William Southard told reporters weapons including hand grenades and guns were seized in the raid, which he said aimed to capture Abdulfatah al-Mousawi, Sadr's Kirkuk representative. Mousawi was not in the building.

Hussein Ali, an office employee, said U.S. forces arrested religion students and a cleric in the raid late Thursday.

more: http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20040521_323.html

Right.

Sadr has many supporters among the Turkmen in Kirkuk.

I just don't believe this applies any pressure. If anything
it strengthens his hand, more recruits all the time.

When a convoy gets blown up do we hear about Iraqis
"stepping up the pressure" on the coalition? Nah,
wrong image.

That's kind of an obscure point, wasn't sure if it is mentioned much. "Sadr City" & the Turkmen were the aces up his fathers' sleeve when it came to reaching out, giving the son a more diverse base.

If anything, I'd say it's a bone thrown to the Kurds.. they might need some sign from the army to say "we still don't hate you yet".. :shrug:

It's best to humor me about it.
:-)