Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Posted here Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 8:25:18 PM     Juan Cole on the situation between the US and Najaf. http://www.juancole.com/2004_04_01_juancole_archive.html#108188631557107161  The report about Sistani's strongly-worded message to the US warning them against attacking Najaf is now available in English. I haven't seen an Arabic text. Some 2500 US troops surround Najaf, and Muqtada al-Sadr says he is willing to sacrifice himself for Iraq. CNN says that those clerics negotiating with Sadr have warned the US not to come into Najaf, and have darkly intimated that the ones who caused the crisis "must pay." It is not clear if they mean the Army of the Mahdi or Paul Bremer, or both. I put that first because it is so different from Bush's conference, with its bullheaded determination to be god's fist in an unwilling world. Bush, by being loser than normal (some think signs of drink or sedatives), actually revealed more of what and how he thinks, and for those who feels secure with him, he seemed determined and strong. "It is better to fight them over the than over here," said a few of the callers on c-span after the conference. One thing, with the 9/11 hearings and the conference tonight, we are seeing more about this government than usual, and just imagine if we had this kind of "dialog" every week, with the development of everyone's understanding that would follow. It might be a great place to live.   ********

Posted here Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 1:49:46 PM     Thinking about the President's press conference tonight, I would imagine a strategy of starting the event with anouncements of increased acvity and personnel for Iraq, and to answer all questions from that leveage point. Now, let's see if I am wrong, and how. ********