Al-Sadr threatens to destroy the Imam Ali mosque

As I write this, the outcome of the current battle for Najaf is uncertain. I don't think there's much of a chance that al-Sadr will prevail in any military sense, but it isn't clear whether the Imam Ali mosque will survive aerial or suicide bombing; what the carnage will be; and whether anything will be left of what supposedly is one of the world's largest graveyards.

But let's be clear here: al-Sadr has taken the mosque hostage. Maybe Shi'a leaders will get upset at the US if the mosque is harmed, but let's be clear that al-Sadr chose the battleground.

I wish newspaper and television editors, columnists, and maybe a few couragous Muslim leaders would point out that some if not most if not all the blame is al-Sadr's.