The link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5685031/
At this point, all I can say is “told you so.” To the entire nation of Iraq, that's what I say. Sadly, I don't think they're in any position to understand (or hear for that matter).
“Iraq’s top Shiite cleric made a dramatic return to Najaf at the head of a massive convoy hoping to end three weeks of fighting in the holy city, but a spate of violent incidents — including attacks that killed scores of his supporters on Thursday — immediately threatened his peace mission.”
So, al-Sistani has returned, and al-Sadr's people can no longer even pretend to be sane. They're just directly attacking al-Sistani now.
“At least 10 of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani's followers were shot dead when gunmen opened fire at police who were trying to control the crowd in Najaf, prompting the police to return fire, witnesses said. Hours earlier a mortar barrage slammed into a mosque in nearby Kufa filled with Iraqis preparing to join his march, killing 27 people and wounding 63.”
They're just slaughtering al-Sistani's followers now. It doesn't get any more fucking obvious than this, Iraq. You've got a guy, Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, who argues for peace and rationality, he won't sink to al-Sadr's level, so all that's left is to just blow him up. What's al-Sadr say? “Following the mortar attack in Kufa, al-Sadr's aide, Hussam al-Husseini, blamed the American forces backing Iraqi troops in the city.” Yeah, sure. That's how we operate. We just shell mosques with mortars for fun. How come you've been able to hide in a mosque for months now, like a fucking coward? Is it cause we're so quick to shell them? No. You're full of shit, and your boss is a petty warlord. Die.
I can't believe that the people of Iraq don't see what's going on here. Muqtada al-Sadr is a warlord. He's using violence and terror to control people, and keep himself in the spotlight. He's a purely destructive force in the nation of Iraq, and he should be a reviled outcast, not a hero. It's just bizzare to watch. Some guy is walking down the street with his kid, a guy in sandals and an Addidas track suit runs up, screams “for Muqtada!” and stabs his daughter in the face. What's the guy's response? “Damn you American military!” Dude. Clue the fuck up. It's not hurting me, it's hurting you. I know you want your nation to be a nation of heros, but let me remind you: Saddam was an Iraqi. The only real hero you've got, al-Sistani, can't drive around without getting fired upon. Think on it, and when the obvious becomes unavoidable, let's have a nice peaceful oil producing democracy, mmmmkay?