Your source is interesting.
Specifically note that the Coalition has had an arrest warrant out for him since November at least. (Footnote 15) So it isn't something they simply drummed up as you have intimated, once he decided to start killing people.
I had note it and initmated this because they disclosed the warrant when it became convenient. I'd rather not take them at their "say-so".
It may well be that they didn't go out and bag him just to prevent a bloody uprising.
A valid claim. That said, Sadr ahs claimed that he is willing to stand trial before an Iraqi court that represents a democratically elected govt.
Also note that he does not have the appropriate status to issue a Fatwa but has still done so in the region he controls anyway.
I could not find any sources to the contrary or to corroborate (only those which carried the same articles) so I'll admit that Sadr is incoherent and inconsistent (at least as seen in the media).
As per my claim (it was reported in the (Wwestern) mainstream media) that Sistani issued a fatwa, urging Iraqis to cooperate with the coalition:
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2003-04/04/article02.shtml
This article states that Sistani denied this fatwa and the fatwa was disclosed by the Al-Khoiy Organization (as in Abdel Majid al-Khoei, the cleric who Sadr is accused of ordering murdered) as a 'propaganda tool' - I have my doubts about this.
But before you think again that Sistani is a cipher:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/21/60II/main579155.shtml
(Edit: Sorry, the link above is wrong, this is correct one)http://msnbc.com/news/998188.asp
I'll leave the other address up, anyway
This message last edited by Monotonous Mantra on 4/16/2004 at 8:24:35 PM.
