Najaf, Scarred by Urban Warfare, Prepares for More

[Barrett808]

Najaf, Scarred by Urban Warfare, Prepares for More
By Michael Georgy

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - If U.S. and Iraqi troops launch a major assault on radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's militants, they will have to pass through sniper-infested streets to root them out of a mosque they can't afford to harm.

...

When strangers appear anywhere near the shrine, dozens of militants with AK-47 assault rifles or rocket-propelled grenades suddenly appear from nowhere.

One man walked down the street with two grenades in his hand, cursing interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and discussing U.S.-backed government troops.

"They are a joke. Let them come here. We are waiting for the fight and we all want to be martyrs anyway so we have nothing to lose," said the Mehdi Army fighter, Ibrahim.

...

"Let's go. We don't take the government seriously. We are not worried," he said as young militants posed for a picture against the backdrop of mortar shells crashing down.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040819/wl_nm/iraq_najaf_warfare_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

[hadrons]

1. "Bring It On!!!!"

shout the keyboard patriots