CNN SHOW: CNN WOLF BLITZER REPORTS 17:00 August 17, 2004
Critical Moment in Najaf Standoff Between Coatlition Troops and al Sadr
Transcript # 081700CN.V67
BYLINE: Wolf Blitzer, John Vause, Zain Verjee, Walter Rodgers, Ed Henry, Jeremy Desel, Gary Horcher, Brian Todd, Andrea Koppel, Bob Franken, Howard Kurtz
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Tuesday, August 17, 2004.
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BLITZER: They had vowed to defeat Muqtada Al Sadr. Now Iraqi leaders have sent peace envoys to the Shiite city of Najaf in a desperate bid to halt the fighting which has pitted U.S. and Iraqi forces against the rebel cleric's militia. CNN's Zain Verjee is standing by with a closer look at that militia. But we begin our coverage with CNN's John Vause. He's live in Baghdad -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf. Some late developments in this peace mission to Najaf. There are some things we know, there's a lot which is unclear at this hour. But let's start with what we know.
We know this eight-person delegation was flown to Najaf early today to try and convince Muqtada Al Sadr to lay down his weapons, to leave the Imam Ali Mosque. What we know at this state, this delegation has not met with Muqtada Al Sadr. We have heard from a spokesperson from Muqtada Al Sadr, blaming this on a deteriorating security situation in Najaf, saying the ongoing fighting in Najaf has made it too difficult for the Shiite cleric to meet with this eight- person delegation.
We know from our people on the ground that there have in fact been heavy clashes in Najaf throughout the day concentrated on that cemetery, that huge cemetery right next to the Imam Ali Mosque. What we know at this stage is that the governor of Najaf is saying that there were no security reasons why Muqtada Al Sadr could not meet with that delegation from Baghdad.
We know that Muqtada Al Sadr is inside the Imam Ali Mosque. It is a sprawling complex. Apparently the delegation was kept in one room, Muqtada Al Sadr stayed in another.
Right now we understand that the delegation is still in Najaf. We do not know if they plan to return to Baghdad within the next few hours. There is some talk that they may stay down in Najaf tonight. There are some reports that they may try again tomorrow to meet with Muqtada Al Sadr.
We are also hearing that they -- the talks which they held with Muqtada Al Sadr's aides are being described as positive but we're also hearing another conflicting report of frustration amongst the ranks of the delegation because they did not get to meet with the Shiite cleric.
This is a last-ditch effort, these eight delegates sent from the Iraqi National Conference which is being held here in Baghdad. It's been going for three days now. The issue of Najaf has dominated that conference. They put everything else to one side. This delegation was sent down there to try and convince Al Sadr to dissolve his Mehdi militia, join the political process. Many others have tried to do that. Many others have failed. This was really the last-ditch attempt.
It now remains to be seen what happens, how this plays out in the next couple of hours. Will this delegation try again or will they return to Baghdad, address the National Conference and say we tried but we failed? We have to wait and see what will be said. The story is still unfolding. A lot of uncertainties yet to be resolved -- Wolf.
BLITZER: With enormous stakes involved. Thank you, John Vause. We'll continue to follow this story in Iraq.
Is Iraq's interim government led by the Prime Minister Iyad Allawi backing down in the face of the challenge from these Shiite radicals? Earlier I put that question to the former CIA director, James Woolsey.
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JAMES WOOLSEY, FMR. CIA DIRECTOR: It looks like maybe they're starting to blink and it's a real shame because we blinked earlier in Fallujah against the Baathist and Sunni Islamist radicals, the marines didn't blink but I think their civilian overseers did and that has left the Sunni Triangle...
BLITZER: That's when Ambassador Bremer was still in charge.
WOOLSEY: Yes. I think that was a bad decision frankly. Now in the Shiite area, we're having a similar phenomenon. Muqtada Al Sadr, I think, is clearly bought and paid for by the bullies in Tehran. He's sort of like the head of Hezbollah for Iraq. And it's a very difficult situation. We really need an Iraqi government that is going to establish its authority country-wide with our help. And if Muqtada Al Sadr gets away with this, we could be on the verge of something like a civil war.
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BLITZER: So what are the American troops and the allies up against right now? CNN's Zain Verjee joining us with a closer look at Muqtada Al Sadr's Mehdi militia -- Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the al-Mehdi militia gets its name from Imam al-Mehdi, a revered figure Shias believe is in hiding and will one day return. Its name may be religiously inspired but the al-Mehdi militia poses a practical threat to U.S. forces in Najaf as well as to the government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
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VERJEE (voice-over): The sprawling valley of Peace (ph) Cemetery is one place where it wages war. The ancient and sacred Imam Ali Shrine has become its operational headquarters. Muqtada Al Sadr's al- Mehdi army may be a ragtag renegade militia force, but it's dangerous. It's armed to the teeth, say U.S. generals with rifles, mortars, hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenades.
The Mehdi army's military tactics have been described as both ruthless and clever.
WILLIAM COHEN, FMR. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Basically hit and run and very effective in doing that because they are basically wrapping themselves around the holy shrine.
VERJEE: And that's the real risk for U.S. marines in Najaf.
WOOLSEY: If American troops were right around this or we were firing into it, and it were destroyed in some substantial way, we would get the blame even if it had been done by Muqtada Al Sadr and his Mehdi army on purpose.
VERJEE: And the wrath of the entire Shia Muslim world.
COHEN: And it's a big group of a street gang or something like that.
VERJEE: U.S. experts say many members of the Mehdi army are young, unemployed men from Baghdad's Sadr City, considered home to the poorest of the poor Shias. John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org has studied the al-Mehdi army.
JOHN PIKE, GLOBALSECURITY.ORG: I think that it's a combination here of young men who otherwise face no employment opportunities, who are inspired by Al Sadr's religious message and who individually and their families are receiving financial compensation for the services that they're providing.
VERJEE: It's not clear how many men make up the Mehdi army. Estimates run from 3,000 to 20,000.
PIKE: It's organized informally and probably consists of a number of small units that are organized around kinship ties.
VERJEE: Most Shias in Iraq do not support Al Sadr, his militia or his message. Instead, many Iraqis see the Mehdi army as merely a movement of extremists, willing to die defending Al Sadr and the very shrine they are putting in the line of fire.
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VERJEE (on camera): And the standoff with Al Sadr and his Mehdi militia is a delicate and difficult situation as you all know, Wolf. U.S. military experts say, if there's any fighting to be done near the shrine of Imam Ali, it should be done by Iraqi forces and not by U.S. forces -- Wolf.
BLITZER: CNN's Zain Verjee reporting, thanks.
© Copyright 2004, Cable News Network
