A journey into the epicenter of the Sadr standoff...(Ali shrine=Alamo)

[RedEarth]

NAJAF, IRAQ - Technically speaking, what we were about to do was more than risky. It was foolish. But we told ourselves that it was a risk for a cause.

Thursday, several journalists and I began organizing a delegation to enter the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf.

We had two goals: First, to seek what may be the final comments of the top leadership of Moqtada al-Sadr's Shiite militia, the Mahdi Army, who were taking shelter in the holy site. Second, we wanted to help two colleagues, freelance photographer Thorne Anserson and freelance reporter Philip Robertson, get out of the shrine after they had spent a harrowing three days at the epicenter of this armed showdown.

...please note the following paragraph.....if the Shrine is destroyed by US troops, this will become the Shiites Alamo....

You realize that what you are doing is risky," said a US Army major, whose last name was Robertson. "That shrine might not be around much longer." We assured him that we did, and made our way back to the hotel to set up our convoy.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0820/p01s04-woiq.html

[stellanoir]

1. "(Ali shrine=Alamo)"

really apt analogy. That's what it feels like to me. By striking that wall we've just further enraged all of Islam.

It seems as though everytime *co. does something, he won't be able to do any worse. Though over the past 3+ years, he has consistantly out done himself in terms of ineptitude and idiocies.