Shiite Negotiators Warn US
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.
Head’s up: I’ll be on the Lehrer Newshour today, Tuesday 4/13.