Plot To Kill Sistani Adds Up

PJM links to this from CNN:

NAJAF, Iraq (CNN) -- Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and other top Shiite religious figures were the apparent targets of an insurgent plot thwarted in an intense battle near the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf, Iraqi officials said. U.S. forces took the lead role Monday in fighting against insurgents north of Najaf.

As I posted yesterday, Shi’ite political sources said the gunmen appeared to be both Sunni Arabs and Shi’ites loyal to a cleric called Ahmed Hassani. Hassani was affiliated with Sadr, who is, after all, a rival of Sistani. Removing Sistani would have cleared the way for Sadr to emerge at the top of the Shi'ite food chain. What remains to be seen is if Sistani buys this, or if he already did. That would likely cause him to revisit his previous decision to stay loyal to Sadr as key to a Shi'ite political majority. The coalition could be back on the table now, which would be a good thing for Iraq.

Ahmed Hassani, affiliated with the movement of radical Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr ...

BAGHDAD, Iraq Dec 23, 2006 (AP)— Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric withheld support Saturday for a U.S.-backed plan to build a coalition across sectarian lines, Shiite lawmakers said, jeopardizing hopes that such a show of political unity could help stem the country's deadly violence.

Comments

[Darth Malice]

Sistani better gets a clue that our military saved his bearded butt.

[warrenb]

OH wonderful. So now the war is winnable now.

LOL LOL LOL LOL

[Phoenix]

If Sadr's thugs didn't do this, our psy-ops guys did, and it was brilliant.
Confuse the enemy so badly they don't up from down. Gotta love it.

[Fred Beloit]

warrenb, the war was always winnable. What gives you the silly idea it wasn't?

[Artie]

Wow, looks like the surge is a huge success. The few deadenders are giving up! The natives will soon be greeting the liberators with roses. Let the cakewalk commence!!!