Christ on a Cracker, I’m not sure what is worse –the stunning dishonesty or the jaw-dropping incompetence.
Iraq’s national security adviser has accused the US military of plotting to assassinate Shia militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr.
A senior member of Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition-backed government in Baghdad, Mowaffaq Rubaie, believes Mr al-Sadr was attacked while attending peace negotiations in August 2004.
According to the Independent newspaper Dr Rubaie acted as a mediator between US forces and Mr al-Sadr by arranging the meeting in the town of Najaf, south of Baghdad.
He claims the Mehdi Army militia leader wanted to arrange an agreement protecting the religious shrine in Najaf and was prepared to sign a document in his father’s house in the town. As Mr al-Sadr approached the house it was attacked by intense gunfire.
Dr Rubaie, describing Mr al-Sadr’s response to the attack, said: “I know him very well and I think his suspicion and distrust of the coalition and any foreigner is really deep-rooted.”
His claims suggest one reason for the Shia leader’s ongoing hostility to coalition forces’ ‘occupation’ of Iraq. Mr al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army is the largest homegrown military organisation in the unstable Middle Eastern country and is a major player shaping the fledgling state’s future.
[snip]
Dr Rubaie said he “went berserk” with senior US officials after the alleged assassination attempt but received only denials of the plot.
“When I came back to Baghdad I was really, really infuriated, I can tell you,” he added.
How many Americans have lost their lives in Iraq because of our military leaders’ obsession with one man?