We killed him:
[Sahib] Al-Aamiri was a leader of the Sadr Movement in Najaf, which follows young nationalist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. KarbalaNews.net in Arabic quotes a leader of the Sadrist bloc in parliament, Nassar al-Ruba’i, expressing condolences for the death of this “martyr” who “was killed by the American forces,” after he had performed his dawn prayers, “in front of his wife and children.” He added, “This action is considered a clear violation of Iraqi sovereignty, especially coming only days after the security file in Najaf was surrendered last week.” He demanded that the Iraqi government open an urgent inquiry into the killing. Family members said that US troops assaulted his home in the wee hours and killed him, accusing him of resisting capture. Al-Ruba’i accused the US of trying to bring down the government of Nuri al-Maliki, whose Da’wa Party is allied politically with the Sadrists.
Another Sadrist MP, Baha’ al-A`raji, said, “We demand that political forces take a united stand against the Occupation forces and in favor of a timetable for their withdrawal, because silence will lead to a timetable for the expulsion of Iraqis from their own country by the Occupation, and to the Americans remaining in Iraq.”
The one thing that we really cannot afford in Iraq is for the Shi’ites to rise up and start demanding that we leave Iraq. Nothing is simple when it comes to the Shi’ites, and for all I know Ayatollah Sistani (who dominates Najaf) is pleased with this U.S. action. We better hope so. But even if this assassination doesn’t cause us serious problems, our troops are already in an untenable position trying to work with police that are under the sway of different militias. We’ve passed the point of turning this effort around. Now we are just wasting lives and money.
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (WaPo) Dec. 28 — A top deputy of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was killed Wednesday during a raid by U.S. and Iraqi troops in the southern holy city of Najaf, sparking protests from Sadr’s followers and complicating an already tense relationship with the powerful anti-American leader.
Hurling rocks and shouting expletives, thousands of angry Sadr loyalists marched through the streets of Najaf after Sahib al-Amiri was shot and killed by a U.S. soldier during an early morning raid. “Agents and stooges!” protesters shouted at Iraqi soldiers and local authorities.
Angry mourners follow the coffin of Sahib al-Amiri, a top aide to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, to a cemetery in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, Iraq. (Alaa Al-marjani -- AP)
Shi’ites reject U.S. plan to isolate Sadr
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
The United States is copying Israeli policy in its Occupied Territories. It didn’t work for them, and it won’t work for us.
Cole’s next graph down:
I agree with your analysis and conclusions (usually do), but don’t believe the allegation. Too easy in these times in that place to propagate rumor as fact.
The one thing that we really cannot afford in Iraq is for the Shi’ites to rise up and start demanding that we leave Iraq.
Actually, that is exactly what we need. If the Iraqis demand that we go, Bush will have to withdraw our troops.