Mahdis vs Marines in Najaf

okay, serious question:

Who is really desecrating the holy sites in Najaf?

the mahdis are occupying mosques and attacking troops from their positions inside holy sites and cemetaries, counting on the 'cultural sensitivity' of the US not to attack back. this is the same bs that hamas pulled at the holy church of the nativity in bathleham. of course, in that instance, hamas did not care one way or the other about the christian site and were only looking for a way seek cover from the IDF.

anyways, it seems the US has gotten over the 'taboo' of entering Najaf. the noose gets tighter. just like it did for saddam and friends.

sadr has to know that the US could decimate the town in one second if it wanted to. they all must know that..and that only 'sensitivity' is keeping them from doing so.

of course, that is assuming that sadr is smarter than he is reported to be....apparently, the imam is illiterate. no surprise there.

Battle rages in Iraq's holy city


The militia have vowed to resist the American troops

There is fierce fighting in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, where US forces are clashing with militants loyal to Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.

US tanks backed by helicopters have for the first time been sent into the city's ancient cemetery to foil a spate of hit-and-run attacks by militiamen.

There is also fighting in the southern city of Nasariya where Shia militia have attacked coalition headquarters.

A number of foreign troops and workers are believed trapped in the building.

Nasariya is controlled by Italian troops, and the BBC's Frances Kennedy in Rome says the authorities there have confirmed that five Italian officials, a platoon of Italian soldiers, 30 Filipino security guards and four Italian journalists are inside the headquarters.

The building has been hit by gunfire and rocket propelled grenades fired by militia also loyal to Mr Sadr.

Earlier, they attacked the governor's offices and a city police station, freeing a number of detainees.

Dome dispute

In Najaf there are reports that the golden dome of the Imam Ali mosque, one of Shia Islam's holiest sites, has been damaged in the fighting.

Supporters of Mr Sadr showed journalists four holes in the dome and blamed American shellfire for the damage.

However, Brig Gen Mark Kimmit, the coalition's deputy operations director, suggested that the cleric's own militia may have been responsible for the holes.


"I can just tell you by the looks of where we were firing and where Moqtada's militia was firing, I would put my money that Moqtada caused it," he said.

The BBC's David Willis in Baghdad says the Americans have consistently said they will not encroach on the Imam Ali Shrine, but in recent days they have said their patience is wearing thin.

Mr Sadr, who is wanted by the US in connection with the assassination of a rival Shia cleric, launched an uprising against coalition forces last month.