Baghdad readies for Najaf

Mohammed writes:

Update: Ali went to the hospital today and told me that the bridge near the ministry of health was blocked by American Humvees and armored vehicles and that there were many American soldiers, IP and ING members there. Cars are prevented from crossing the bridge on either side but people are crossing the bridge on foot and the soldiers are searching those who pass. He knew from his colleagues who live in different areas of Baghdad that all bridges except the Al Sinak bridge and Al Jumhooryiah bridge are blocked. Some people think it’s because some fights that took place in Haifa street yesterday, but my guess is that this has nothing to do with it, as there were many fights in Haifa street but the bridges leading to the area were never blocked. Besides some of those bridges are far away from Haifa street. I think that blocking the bridges come along with the preparations to launch the final attack in Najaf to avoid any unpleasant reactions that may come from his followers in Baghdad or any other party that may try to take advantage of this critical situation to inflame it furthermore.

Everyone here is waiting for the final attack and the end of this crisis. Most people I met are waiting for the moment when they can see Muqtada and his deputies in handcuffs, those criminals have been given a chance they didn't deserve in the 1st place.

Snip from the Comments

Janet in Venice writes:

the US soldiers are reporting in their own voices that it is creepy to wage war in the cemetery, with bats flying out of crypts, and graves sinking under their feet, but they are discovering weapons caches hidden in mausoleums, with photos of the madhi taken while training in the graveyard, so creepy or not, the enemy decided to desecrate the city of the dead by thier own choice, and wherever they hide, then that's where they'll be taken.
and every media organ in iraq ought to be broadasting loud and clear that the americans are going to refuse to harm the shrine of Ali, no matter how they are provoked, so if there's damage, they want the world to know now-- in advance-- that it will not be by their hand.