August 11, 2004

Good news From Iraq

The NYT has some good news from Iraq: Lots of fighters allied with rebel "cleric" Muqtada al Sadr are approaching the end of their shelf life.

NAJAF, Iraq, Aug. 11 - American forces here moved very close today to a major attack on rebels loyal to Moktada al-Sadr, the radical Shiite cleric. Thousands of marines and soldiers prepared to attack the entire city, including Najaf's old city, a warren of narrow streets and alleys where most of Mr. Sadr's loyalists are hidden, officers said.

Until now, the old city has been off-limits to American troops. Since Tuesday, American patrols have warned most residents of Najaf to evacuate, and have warned Mr. Sadr's guerrillas to leave the city or be killed. The attack must still be approved by Ayad Allawi, Iraq's prime minister, and could still be called off, officers said.

UPDATE: Douglas Hanson has some interesting perspective and details on the battle for Najaf. [Via Instapundit]

UPDATE: The BBC has a round-up of expert opinion on the strategy of the U.S. and the Iraqi interim government in Najaf. Dr. Mustafa Alana, Royal United Services Institute,UK:

The US strategy is probably going to work, as Mr Sadr enjoys very limited or no support and sympathy among ordinary Iraqis and among the Shia community in Iraq at large, and he has been engaged in bloody conflict with almost all other Iraqi Shia religious and political leaderships.

Bats flapped out of crypts, startling soldiers creeping through the cemetery with guns up. Graves opened beneath their combat boots. And an old enemy displayed a new professionalism, darting in clearly practised moves between tombstone and mausoleum to stalk the Americans from above ground and below.