Loud Blasts Heard Near Shrine in Iraq's Najaf

[Bhaisahab]

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - At least five loud explosions on Thursday echoed from near holy sites in the Iraqi city of Najaf where a radical Shi'ite cleric has remained holed up despite earlier agreeing to leave a sacred shrine.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6014281

[Erika]

1. And We're there Why?

What does any of this has to do with us? Bush is killing our kids and draining our taxes. For what?

[northstar]

2. We're over there winning 'hearts and minds'

...both Iraqi and Amurikan, haven' you received the 'memo'???

[northstar]

3. Seriously, whatever this (mal) administration is after is long, long term.

...and it's 'values' I question 'very, very much'.

[Tight_rope]

9. Welcome to DU northstar!

[0rganism]

4. Hey, isn't this where alSadr's militia keeps surrendering?

I think I've read at least three accounts of the dissolution and surrender of these guys over the last two weeks. :crazy:

[w13rd0]

5. And that's just the last two weeks...

...go back to April, and he was surrendering and dispersing a couple times back then too. Somehow I'm thinking he's reading history books on the white mans treaties with the native americans.

[demoman123]

6. They report "loud blasts" because they are too chicken to look.

So all you learn is what they HEAR. They are afraid Allawi's death squad guys will off them.

[jadedcherub]

7. need to keep on this. I'll float around and see if I can find more.

Hopefully it doesn't develop into something bad, but there is an article that is saying Sadr is facing his "final hours" to begin actions stated in the agreement.

I hope this isn't the start of serious fighting.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6016587

.jc.

[leftchick]

8. all hell will break loose....

If the US makes a martyr out of him. This is a lose lose for the US. Too bad no one in "authority" recognizes it.

[jadedcherub]

10. looks like they are about to move in...

AP via cbc

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/040819/w081914.html

An Iraqi cabinet minister said Thursday that Iraqi forces could begin an offensive against Muqtada al-Sadr within hours, despite the firebrand cleric's acceptance of a ceasefire proposal.

[leftchick]

11. "Iraqi Cabinet ministers" =

....and average Iraqis know it. That is why this is soooo bad... :(

[OnceUponATime]

12. That photo...

of the "Iraqi Cabinet Ministers" cracks me up! :)

Thanks for making me laugh, I needed it. This situation is truly upsetting. What happens in Najaf this week could leave a permanent stain on the reputation of our country.

I know it's been discussed a lot on DU, but this is exactly the kind of situation Kerry is talking about when he mentions a "more sensitive war on terror." As in, not creating an entire generation of young Iraqi men who have no hope and blame us.

My inner conspiracy theorist tells me the administration really wants al-Sadr dealt with before the start of the convention. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this "strategy" doesn't result in tragedy.

[acmavm]

13. It's really hard to understand how anyone would truly believe that

al Sadr would be allowed to live long enough to become part of this 'government' regardless of what propaganda comes out of Baghdad. Allawi wants to deal with al Sadr, and he has decided that there's only two acceptable solutions. Dead or imprisoned.

Allawi is just a thug, not at all unlike Chalabi, but he's the new, improved, accepted thug supported by the bush* administration.

[OnceUponATime]

14. If the shrine...

receives any signifcant damage from an assault by Iraqi forces, it seems to me Allawi will be be in big trouble with a large portion of his country's populace. Of course, the US will be blamed too, and for years to come. It remains to be seen just how volatile the current situation will be, but both Allawi and Bush are playing with fire and the long-term risks are huge.

Lose-lose situation, payed for with our tax dollars. :(

[Disturbed]

16. All out war.

It seems that al Sadr wants this and so do the US Neo Fascists. Of course they both would want this for different reasons. Al Sadr seems to want most of the Shi'ites and Sunnis to overthrow the US Puppet Govt. and make the US Occupution forces leave Iraq. The Neo Fascists want to stamp out the resistance to US colinializtion and subdue the Iraqi people, so that 14 US Military bases can be permanent and the US will control that region and the oil flow, probably build a pipeline to Israel. Strange isn't it that we have not heard one word from Negroponte?

[Zhade]

21. On the plus side, maybe the Iraqis will hang Allawi.

Yeah, I said it. He deserves it. He's the new Saddam.

[bemildred]

23. Barbecue. nt

[newyawker99]

17. Hi OnceUponATime!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[0007]

15. Everyone in authority wants the world to know that this man

al Sadr is a radical hot head that is stopping Iraqis from enjoying freedom with the freedom loving U.S.A. - The real story they dare not tell, for fear of being hated even more.

[demgrrrll]

18. The way I understand this issue is that the Shrine is the third most holy

following Medina and Mecca. Ali was buried there around 600 but the burial place was kept secret until around 977. The shrine was rebuilt for some reason around 1500. I may be off a little on the dates I am doing this from memory, something I read quickly. An attack on this shrine is an attack on the heart of Islam, per Indy Media. Could not be any worse and the problem is we will not hear about the full impact because no one will report the truth.

[Aidoneus]

19. indeed...(more)

the dates are a slight bit off (though I do not know the exacts myself off hand), but the main points are correct, thanks.

Haz.Imam Ali(pbuh) was murdered by traitors at the height of his struggle against the usurper Muawiya(la), who was the son of an enemy of Mohammed(pbuhahf). The family line of these leaders would consistantly fight against Islam even while at the head it: the father Abu Sufyan against Mohammed(pbuhahf), with the son Yazid eventually murdering `Ali's son Husayn(AS) and many descendents of the Prophet(S)'s family at Karbala`--the other 'big' revered site in Iraq.

It may be interesting to note that there is much more Quranic signifigance to the location than just the site of Ali's resting place and the university founded upon him (founded a few hundred years later, after Baghdad was made an unsuitable site after the Mongol invasion). According to the traditions, the prophet Abraham had rested at the site of "Nay-jaff" (dry river, where the modern form Najaf takes its name from) and purchased the land now known as the Wadi as-Salaam.

The site of Ali(AS)'s grave was kept a secret, due to the fact that it would have been defiled by the ruling tyrants of the age, descendents of the Sufyani in the Ummayad dynasty. One of the Imams that succeeded him had made known the site of it to the believers and it was a local secret. Here I find established accounts in dispute as to when the great Masjid and its golden dome were built. By some traditions, the `Abbasid khilfah Harun al-Rashid had taken a hunting party to the area, where his animals began acting most strangely upon a particular site; upon some inquiries, it came out from the locals that this was the site of Ali(AS)'s burial. The khilafah had the great building placed on the site and it openly took its place in reverence for Shias and other Muslims everywhere. The trouble I find with this story is the dates:--the date given for the initial building (it was re-built twice after taking damage in fires) is 977, while Harun ar-Rashid reigned as khilafah a hundred years before this. :shrug:

[Aidoneus]

20. as far as an order of reverence for the various sites,

It is more or less accepted that the various sites in Makkah and Madinah hold greater reverence over Najaf universally: for example the Ka`ba in Makkah and the Jannat al-Baqi in Madinah.

The latter is site of the burial of Mohammed(pbuhahf), many of his relatives and early companions, and also many of the early Shia Imams--Ali's son and successor Hassan, Husayn's son and successor Ali Zayn al-Abidin, his son Mohammed al-Baqir, and Baqir's son Jafar as-Sadiq. The site was desecrated by "Wahhabi" invaders on several occasions and destroyed at last decades ago by the Saudi King.

The Masjid al-Aqsa complex in al-Quds--in Occupied Palestine--is greatly revered as well and is generally considered as 3rd beyond Makkah and Madinah for its connection to Mohammed(SWT), with the Masjid of Imam Ali after this.

Other important sites exist in Iraq, though not as greatly placed in importance as the 3, with relation to the 11 Imams that had followed `Ali. In Karbala` lay the great Masjids of `Ali(RA)'s son Husayn(AS) and his half-brother Abbas, martyred at Karbala` by the army of Muawiya(la)'s son Yazid(la). In the north of Baghdad, Kazimiyah neighborhood, there is the masjid of Imam Musa al-Kazim and Imam Mohammed Jawad at-Taqi. Further north in Samarra` is the site of Imam Hasan al-Askari's burial and nearby to that is the site where the 12th Imam had disappeared into a period of concealment.

There has been some confusion as to what makes for a "holy city", so here was an explanation.

[demgrrrll]

22. Than you for all the information. eom

.