Sadr is Hiding out in the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf (SKYNEWS)

[JCMach1]

He isn't coming out anytime soon. There is virtually no way to remove him without destroying the holiest shrine of the Shia religion.

SKYnews said that because of the dense housing and the narrow streets it is IMPOSSIBLE to mount an effect raid without massive devastation.

This isn't ending anytime soon...

Hope that cheers you up :( .... err not.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/an-najaf-imam-ali.htm

[Mattforclark]

1. You mean a JDAM won't do the trick?

2000 pound bomb? No?

We're such idiots that we might actually bomb it.

[JCMach1]

3. GAME OVER if we did...

The ENTIRE Shiite population of the ME would rise against us.

Please someone tell Rumsfeld that... :scared:

[jenk]

2. well, IF they're correct

After all, didn't sky news say that Al-Zawahiri was captured?

he can sit inside that mosque and direct operations all he wants, no way can they raid that place. And I'm sure there are secret passage ways to get in and out as well

[SEAburb]

4. How can they say he is hiding, when everybody knows where he is? nt

<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>

[JCMach1]

5. He's trying hard not to be seen...

[Quetzal]

6. On top of that

there will be a pilgrimage of Shiites to the area this weekend. Will his influence spread to those who came to worship?

[orwell]

7. Divine Architecture

On another note. A lot of these Mosques are tremendously beautiful pieces of architecture-truly remarkable, uplifiting structures, not unlike the great cathedrals of Europe or the amazing wonders/temples of Egypt and Greece.

It is a remarkable example about how deep religious faith can inspire man/womankind to great creativity instead of horrendous destrution.

O

[JCMach1]

8. My university is built in the grand Arabic tradition

... the most architecturally beautiful University I have worked for...

[rumguy]

9. we have to let him hide out in there

to go in would be a disaster...

[crushbush04]

10. Isnt this the same Sky News....

that reported 130 marines dead yesterday.

It may be true but bear in mind, this is the Middle East equivalent of the WEEKLY WORLD NEWS!

[JCMach1]

11. SKYNEWS is British... and usually accurate

as accurate as anyone can be in a fluid situation.

[Ripley]

12. You posted they said a dead GI was stripped...

in another thread. Is that true? Where did that happen?

[JCMach1]

13. That was footage from Rimadi from yesterday...

once again... according to skynews.

The videofeed was from Al Jazeera though.

It was chilling watching them run off with the guy's bloody body armor...

[Ripley]

17. Just curious why the media isn't running with that one.

Since they had the 4 mercenaries on page 1 of NYT and all over CNN, I'm wondering why this one isn't shown (to stir up more outrage by Americans if you know what I mean).

[JCMach1]

20. Just wait for it

Plus I don't know how much folks like CNN are using Al Jazeera this time.

Please remember, I am also at the mercy of the sources I post... I cannot really factcheck until someone else runs with a story.

[crushbush04]

14. 130 dead?

and the official number turns out to be 12... thats quite a discrepancy.

The fact that they are British means nothing.

cant Brits lie too?

[htuttle]

15. 12?

No. Even by last night before I went to sleep, if you put the official counts together, you'd get 20. The 12 was just in Ramadi.

BTW, Sky News is owned by Murdoch, which means it's usually biased in a 'Fox-like' way. They were (and are) quite pro-war.

[crushbush04]

19. The report I read...

.. was about Ramadi. Even so how do you reconcile the discepancy between 20 and 130?

Point is, this was not the first time they have been so grossly wrong, and it wont be the last.

My impression of sky "news" is that they are a sensation driven irresponsible "news" outlet with very questionable sources and cannot be trusted.

Everything they put out should be checked verified and then checked again.

[JCMach1]

22. Read TABLOID editorial style

They do some very good stuff. They cover British politics far better than anyone else for example.

However, will they sometimes take a story and run with it...

???

only if there are $$$ or a scoop to be made.

[JCMach1]

16. SKYNEWS is the rightwing cable news of Britain

definitely RIGHT of the BBC anyway.

Somewhat tabloid in orientation though...

http://www.sky.com/skynews/home

[JCMach1]

18. I personally didn't see THAT report

I have BBC World, CNN International, SKYNEWS, Al Jazeera, all the other Arab Newschannels (including the new US propaganda one :puke: , and OBRBITZ news which carries ALL the major US network broadcasts and news shows (like having CBS/NBC/ABC/MSNBC as a single 24hr entity). When I want news, I can surf pretty easily.

[crushbush04]

21. This is all I could find about it today...

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1130577,00.html

[JCMach1]

23. To be fair, I don't think we have any REAL casualty figures yet

:(

by real I mean not a lie.

[DeepModem Mom]

24. Sky News and the "130" report --

First, I watch Sky News all the time in the UK, and see nothing right-wing about it -- which amazes me because it is owned by Murdoch. I've found its Iraq coverage superior to the BBC's, and it's correspondent in Baghdad, David Chater, excellent, and particularly concerned about Iraq's civilian population and the loss of innocent lives. I posted his report from this morning in LBN:


Chater quotes an Iraqi as calling the situation in his country a "mess," and says this is a "dangerous time for the Coalition," with "mounting casualties." He says a "small but effective" uprising has "innocent civilians caught in the middle." He says Sadr's army is "a very small faction," but U.S. tactics risk bringing moderates to his cause. Chater talks repeatedly about the poor Baghdad area of Sadr City, densely populated and full of families. He says that American helicopter raids in that neighborhood are seen by all there as a "strike against themselves."

He says Sadr has successfully "carried the fight" to all Coalition forces now, except the Japanese. He credits British and Italian forces with "getting successful peaceful solutions," while American "bullying tactics" are not having the same result. He says, "The generals have got to examine their strategy." He says the longer the uprising goes on, the more "peaceful Shia moderates" will support it. He says the goal of the uprising is to "derail the June 30 handover," and get American trooops out.

He mentioned recent fighting in Karbala, in which both Iraqis and Iranians were killed. He said Fallujah was thought to be coming under control, when another front opened up in nearby Ramadi, led by local tribesmen.


I also posted about Sky's report of 130 dead:


Sky News UK website, but not on-air, said UNCONFIRMED 130 "soldiers" dead yesterday. The number 130 is repeated in their reporting today, with the 130, I believe, referring to total deaths:

"A senior US general in Iraq has vowed to destroy the militia of a radical cleric behind a wave of attacks against Coalition forces.

But wanted man Moqtada al Sadr remained unbowed, demanding power be taken from the US and its collaborators.

His statement came after fighting between members of the militia and occupying troops intensified with 130 deaths in Shi'ite areas of Iraq since Sunday...."