Moqtada al-Sadr: The man America has in its sights

The US wants to talk to Moqtada al-Sadr. He thinks they want to assassinate him. In this rare interview in Kufa, Iraq, the Shia cleric tells Nizar Latif why

Moqtada al-Sadr, the man Washington blames for its failure to gain control in Iraq, has rejected a call to open direct talks with the US military and has accused the Americans of plotting to assassinate him.

The Shia cleric told The Independent on Sunday in an exclusive interview: "The Americans have tried to kill me in the past, but have failed... It is certain that the Americans still want me dead and are still trying to assassinate me.

"I am an Iraqi, I am a Muslim, I am free and I reject all forms of occupation. I want to help the Iraqi people. This is everything the Americans hate."

(snip)
"There is nothing to talk about," he said angrily. "The Americans are occupiers and thieves, and they must set a timetable to leave this country. We must know that they are leaving, and we must know when." He has reason to be wary of US offers to negotiate. As revealed by The Independent last month, respected Iraqi political figures believe the US army tried to kill or capture Mr Sadr after luring him to peace talks in Najaf in 2004.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article2609310.ece

Even if the invitation's genuine, it's clear this Administration hasn't a clue what it's doing and can't hold its neocon jihadis to any policy, even their own.

US Iraq policy's been a joke from the start, with instructions from the Oval Office or State being reversed by Cheney or neocon Pentagon appointees. Only an idiot would trust anything come from Washington right now.

It;s quite a US achievement to make it safer for enemies to stay on the run & in revolt than be part of a peace process. He's right: let them show there are adults who can deliver a deal.

for their failure to gain control of Iraq. Illegal occupation is a bitch.

...all want him dead!