Sadr welcomes Vatican offer to solve Najaf crisis in Iraq

[Robbien]

Agence France-Presse
Najaf, Iraq, August 17

Radical Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr invited Pope John Paul II to solve the conflict between his militia and US-led Iraqi government forces in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, a spokesman said Tuesday.

"We welcome the offer from the pope at the Vatican and we invite him to solve the crisis," Sadr spokesman Ahmed al-Shaibani said.

On Monday, the Vatican offered to mediate to avoid further bloodshed and destruction in Najaf, where Sadr's militia are holed up in the centre of the city around the Imam Ali shrine, one of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam.

"If asked, John Paul II would gladly accept a mediation role," the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, told Italian public radio.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_952343,00050004.htm

[wtmusic]

1. This rocks

Another wedge between Junior and the Moral World around him.

[jayfish]

3. What Do You Think Will Happen...

when BushCo. spits in the Pope's face? Can we sink any lower in the opinion of the world?

Jay

[wtmusic]

4. A lot of Catholic swing voters here

he really can't afford to do that

[jayfish]

6. Heck, They Can't Afford...

to do half the crap they do but they keep on doing it. Why make a change now?

Jay

[Journeyman]

2. Well, *that's* an appeal to a really old Europe. . .

n/t

[Voice_of_Europe]

27. He thinks it's about religion? Poor fool..

Maybe somebody should tell Mr. Sadr that:

a) This war is about control and oil, not about religion.
b) That the US was populated mostly by people who fled from the Catholic Church and the Pope cannot control them.

[alittlelark]

5. B*sh 'turned the corner' and is face to face w/ the pope!!!

I Love It!!!

I am a VERY lapsed Catholic, but, damn, JPII ROCKS!


PS - at least on anti-war issues......

[Fone Book]

9. I totally agree with you...

I'm a lapsed catholic too- and he deff is cool

[happynewyear]

29. I'm a great fan of Pope John Paul II myself

Despite all of the negative crap you read about him HERE ON THE DU ... I really love and respect the pope!

It would be GREAT if he were able to help resolve this mess!

Three cheers for Pope John Paul II and LONG LIVE THE POPE!!

:loveya: Pope John Paul II!

My prayers for you are being heard! :D

:dem: :kick:

[TahitiNut]

7. This story might have "legs" ... but they're tiny as yet.

The only US media I see that's picked this up is Bloomberg, as a tiny filler article from the AFP wire. All the other media are foreign.

Hindustan Times, India
Tehran Times, Iran
Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia
CathNews, Australia
Utusan Malaysia Online, Malaysia
IAfrica South African News, South Africa
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain

[Robbien]

13. I do not see BushCo allowing this story to have bigger legs

BushCo is on a Christian crusade against Iraq. How can he keep his Crusade going if the Pope talks to the other side?

[DoYouEverWonder]

25. It won't make a difference to the fundies

they hate catholics, especially the pope.

[alittlelark]

15. This story has enough legs to GODZILLA the country

the ? is, who will see them first, and who will be stompled (my word).

[Robbien]

17. Yes, and the raid on the Christian Churches in Iraq

was perfect fodder for Bush's Fundie Cristian Crusade. The Iraqi bloggers are all upset the churches were harmed and were proud they sat side by side with their mosques.

The raid was good for Bush and bad for Iraqis. I wonder who was behind the raids.

And here is the Pope and Sadr both willing to work with each other. A good thing for Iraqis and a bad thing for Bush. Wonder if this is going to be allowed to happen.

[genius]

8. Now who are the bad guys? Sadr is asking for divine guidance

from the Christians. Oh, I forgot, the Pope considers Bush the anti-Christ. If Bush is the anti-Christ, what does that make his followers?

[jayfish]

11. * Doesn't Need To Ask For Any...

divine guidance. Dontch know? God's very own words are stove-piped right into his brain. God says that Pope guy doesn't know what he's talken about.

Jay

[alittlelark]

16. I firmly agree w/ you about the Pope's analysis of *

But I am a lapsed Catholic. Will I be received into the promised land if I am against the FAD religion of the day?

In all honesty, I believe in none of the religious after-life BS, but I hope that those that do re-read the Bible - w/o their pastors looking over their shoulders.


Jesus Christ was a SOCIALIST!!!!!

Prove me wrong.

[Occulus]

10. Oooh, wouldn't THAT be interesting?

One could almost think Kerry could sit it out and just watch Bush* destroy himself over and over. You just know if given a mediation role the Pope will try to remedy the damage rather than rape the nation.

Furthermore, Bush* would be screwed either way. If he disagrees and "stays the course" he will be seen to not be the "man of God" he claims to be, but if he does defer to a good portion of the Pope's decisions, he can easily be challenged on the whole issue of the war itself.

It's a catch-22 for Bush* if the Pope accepts such a role- Bush* must face the music in any case after that, at least to a degree. Whether it will be enough to sway those who still think Bush* causes the sun to rise and set remains to be seen.

[troublemaker]

12. Okay, what's the punch-line?

I can't quite get my head around this story unless Sadr is going to praise any possible mediation to appear reasonable.

[wtmusic]

14. But those Muslims just want to kill all the non-believers

don't they? I'll have to tune into Wolf tomorrow to find out what gives...

[roguevalley]

18. Good for the Pope. Given how badly he is off now, this might be a good

diversion for him. End war. End it now.

[0007]

23. Win one for the big gipper in the sky.

[allemand]

19. The Vatican understands the meaning of "holy city" and "holiest shrine"

When will the Pentagon?

[Disturbed]

20. The Pope met Dumbass.

I may not agree with the Pope's views on a whole lot of issues but on this one I sure am hoping that this come about. Al Sadr and his followers don't have a program that I would wish for Iraq but that is not my call nor is the call of the US Govt. Iraq needs to be free to follow it's own course and not be colonized by the USA. It is time to withdraw the Occupation.

[tlcandie]

21. Question is...

Will * stand by and let another person take away his 'Christ-like' aura/ spotlight?

I think not, so now I'm wondering exactly how they will try to stop this. Maybe scorched earth policy so there is nothing and/or no one left for the Pope to even think about helping?

[0007]

22. Yes, bring in the pope. And meanwhile have junior & Laura watch while the

Pope condemns the U.S. as blatant aggressors.

Some gunfire and the occasional mortar could be heard Tuesday as dozens of delegates from a key national conference in Baghdad were due to arrive here to meet Sadr and urge him to leave the shrine.

Bring the troops home NOW.

[PsychoDad]

24. The Uniter

First bush united Shia and Sunni against the american blitzkrieg, now he has managed to get the catholics onboard.

It's a shame JPII is in such a sad state physicly.

[chelaque liberal]

26. His health is a serious problem.

I believe though that he he lives long enough to impact the situation in Iraq I will seriously have to reconsider my opinion of divine intervention.

[happynewyear]

30. don't underestimate Pope John Paul II!

It wasn't too long ago that they were taking bets HERE ON THE DU re: the pope's health and hoping he'd be dead by last October. :( That did not happen. :)

Maybe his recent trip to Lourdes helped him I can only hope.

:dem: :kick:

[stickdog]

28. This is pretty cool.

To the Pope mobile!

[A_Possum]

31. * will offer Falwell to mediate

in a counter-proposal ;)