Iraq: May 25, 2004

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In Najaf, al Sadr gunmen continue to be pinned down and killed by constant pressure from American troops. It is feared that the gunmen will do some serious damage to one of the Shia shrines there, and blame it on the Americans. The al Sadr militia have not got many options left. The people of Najaf want the al Sadr gang gone, but are unable to do it themselves, so they stand aside and let the coalition troops do it.

There are almost daily car bombings in Baghdad. These attacks show little skill, and do little damage. But they indicate an active terrorist organization. Not giving, or seeking, much publicity, are several new Iraqi police organizations working on counter-terrorism operations. Apparently, these new police operations are expected to show they have the right stuff by nailing one or more of these Islamic terrorist organizations in Baghdad. One problem with the new Iraqi investigation squads is their tendency to use the traditional interrogation methods. These are considered war crimes by many in the West, and coalition officials have had to step in and stop the roughness. The Iraqis complain that this is limiting their progress, and they have not got time to learn new interrogation methods.