Do you mean to say that this information regarding the warrant was public knowledge before the protests? AFAIK, the warrant seems to have been made public only upon the protests (though the allegation is that it is several months old).

Reread the Memri site. The one that I linked and check the note I mentioned. It references the arrest warrant and similar stuff to an article from an Arabic Newspaper dated NOVEMBER 2003.

In other words - someone was writing an article on it (the warrant) back in November. The reason you haven't heard about it is that it wasn't "sexy" (newsworthy) until now.

That's why I was rather annoyed at your continued assertion that the thing was trumped up and lied about. There was no evidence of that and plenty to indicate the contrary. It's not DIRECT evidence because the new services didn't consider it terribly newsworthy or important until now.

Indeed, that was very likely intentional. Making a big stink about it could also set off that riot. So it was done quietly. Not hidden, but not touted either would be my guess. Remember, at one point Sadr tried to start a riot by releasing the information he had been arrested and then trucking people into Najaf for his "arrest riot" when, in fact, he was sitting in his office making the entire thing up to try and create an incident.

It is not so much what he says but what he represents in a fashion, he is yet another indicator of how the CPA and IGC are not doing the best job they can. As to Sadr himself, I think he also indicates a very radical version of a belief that may slip into the mainstream if the CPA screws up what it started.

What he represents is the Iranian extremist brand of the Shi'a religion. He's nothing but another yuk trying to turn Iraq into a theocracy by any means he can. Indeed, much of his rhetoric (and more importantly his actions) are decidely 'Taliban-like'.


Silver Warder

Warder to Rebelaessedai

Risk everything - or gain nothing.
Geoffrey de Charney - 1356

Deeds - Not words

Remembering Joe (CrazedWeasel)