| I thought his sudden need to see the doctor sounded funny. |
As fierce fighting continued Saturday, August 7, for the third day running between US troops and fighters loyal to firebrand Shiite scholar Moqtada Al-Sadr, Iraq's highest-ranking Shiite scholar, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, headed to London for "heart treatment".
| We commented on this last week. |
| Fairly effective way to avoid being taken hostage or "accidentally" bumped off. Or boomed by "persons unknown." |
London-based daily Al-Hayat quoted Saturday an unnamed Iraqi official as implying that the US forces were seeking to eradicate Sadr forces in Najaf once and for all, in the absence of Sistani. "Sistani flew to London on a short notice as he wanted to be away from Najaf at this time that witnesses decisive fighting between the US troops and the Iraqi police on one hand, and the Shiite Muslim militiamen on the other hand. Sistani holds Sadr and his supporters accountable for the chaos plaguing Najaf and preferred to leave the city during this period."
| "Plausible deniability" was mentioned |
| Either that, or "I can't bear to watch!" And probably a combination of both, along with a determination not to go the same way Ayatollah Khoei did... |
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