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At the very least, "it is starting to look as if the americans are being chumped by allawi on najaf" is a pretty inflammatory statement and an editorialization of the situation, on your part. The link from al-Jazeera was an ironic touch, as well.
I don't see the situation as the Americans being 'chumped'. I see it as them going out of their way to respect the shrine, and follow the Iraqi's lead. Its a tough enough situation as it is - they are damned if they do or don't. The "Fallujah Brigade" that the Americans set up in that city as a show of respect and deference has blown up in their face, and is now being disbanded due to Iraqi corruption and the kidnapping and murder (by insurgents) of a respected police chief. Expect renewed fighting there soon.
The fact that the shrine in Najaf is being violated by a group of lying, cowardly, power-seeking, pseudo-religious scumbags - who hide behind and defile their own religious structures - says much about what they are. The fact that the Americans haven't already levelled the place says something, as well.
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