Iraqi PM Promises A Fight "Until The End"

Amid Deadly Shiite Clashes, Iraqi Military Imposes Curfew, U.S. Diplomats Ordered To Stay Inside

(CBS/AP)  Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pledged "no retreat" Thursday in the fight against Shiite militias in the southern city of Basra, as thousands of protesters demanded he resign over the crackdown and extremists fired rockets into the U.S.-protected Green Zone.

Shiite militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr called Thursday for a political solution to the burgeoning crisis and an end to the "shedding of Iraqi blood." But the statement, released by a close aide, stopped short of ordering his Mahdi Army militia to halt attacks on the Green Zone or stop fighting in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city.

In a sign of the deteriorating security, gunmen in Baghdad seized a high-profile government spokesman from his home in a Shiite neighborhood, killing three of his bodyguards and torching his house. In a bid to curb the violence, Iraq's military ordered vehicles and pedestrians off the streets of the capital until Sunday morning.

As Americans and Iraqis scrambled to cope with a newly violent Iraq, the State Department ordered all personnel at the U.S. Embassy not to leave reinforced structures because of continued incoming rocket or mortar fire from suspected Shiite extremists angry over the Basra crackdown.

There's no sign in Basra of the soldiers or police that Iraq's Prime Minister sent to reclaim this important oil-rich city, and residents told CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan by phone that Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia now controls several districts.

The campaign to rid Basra of lawless gangs and Shiite militias - some believed tied to nearby Iran - is a major test for al-Maliki, a Shiite, and for the Iraqi military. The ability of Iraqi leaders and security forces to control situations like this one is key to U.S. hopes of withdrawing its forces from the country.

The prime minister put his credibility on the line by flying down to Basra and issuing a weekend deadline for the surrender of Mahdi Army militiamen loyal to al-Sadr. But the militiamen were still controlling Basra's streets Thursday, and the security operation has triggered a violent response among al-Sadr's followers in Baghdad and cities throughout the Shiite heartland of southern Iraq.

In the Baghdad neighborhood of Kazimiyah, thousands of al-Sadr's followers denounced al-Maliki as a "new dictator" as they carried a coffin bearing a crossed-out picture of the U.S.-backed prime minister. Thousands more also rallied in Sadr City, Baghdad's main Shiite district.

"We call on our brothers in the Iraqi army and the brave national police not to be tools of death in the hands of the new dictatorship," a Sadrist member of parliament, Falah Shanshal, said.

However, al-Maliki showed no sign of wavering.

"We have made up our minds to enter this battle, and we will continue until the end. No retreat," al-Maliki told Basra area tribal leaders in a speech broadcast nationwide on Iraqi state TV.

Al-Maliki said Iraq had become a "nation of gangs, militias and outlaws" and he was undertaking a "historic mission" in Basra to restore "the law of the land."

But the Sadrists have been angry over recent raids and detentions, saying U.S. and Iraqi forces have taken advantage of their 7-month-old cease-fire to crack down on the movement.

They have accused rival Shiite parties, which control Iraqi security forces, of engineering the arrests to prevent them from mounting an effective campaign for provincial elections expected this fall. The Sadrists expect to make major electoral gains at the expense of rival parties, including those that maintain close ties to the United States.

American officials have acknowledged that the unilateral cease-fire declared by al-Sadr last August played a major role in reducing violence in Baghdad. U.S. and Iraqi officials have insisted that they are not targeting al-Sadr's movement but simply going after renegades, criminals and extremists with ties to Iran.

What U.S. officials won't admit to publicly but say in private, is that this fight has been long in coming because their British allies who had controlled the south, failed to stop Iran themselves, reports Logan.

Fighting raged for a third straight day in Basra, where Iraqis have been of control of security since the British withdrew last December.

Heavy gunfire and explosions resounded across the city while helicopters and jet fighters buzzed overhead. The city's police chief escaped an assassination attempt late Wednesday but three of his guards were killed in the roadside bombing.

Residents contacted by telephone in Basra, the country's oil capital 340 miles southeast of Baghdad, spoke of militiamen using mortar shells, sniper fire, roadside bombs and rocket-propelled grenades to fight off security forces.

Some complained that thousands of civilians were trapped by the fighting and running short of food, medicine and clean drinking water.

At least 56 people have been killed since Wednesday in Basra, according to police and hospital reports, although a complete and accurate count was impossible to obtain because of the fighting.

In an escalation of the crisis, saboteurs bombed one of Iraq's two main oil export pipelines that carries crude oil from Basra to the country's oil terminal on the Persian Gulf. The attack briefly sent prices rising on international petroleum markets.

In Baghdad, suspected Shiite extremists continued to hammer the U.S.-protected Green Zone on Thursday, firing several rounds of rockets or mortars that sent a huge plume of smoke above the heavily fortified area in central Baghdad.

Also Thursday, a U.S. soldier was killed by a roadside bombing in mostly Shiite eastern Baghdad, the U.S. command said. No further details were released.

One American, a government employee, died in Thursday's attacks on the Green Zone, four days after an American financial analyst was mortally wounded there.

A memo sent to embassy staff and obtained by The Associated Press says employees are required to wear helmets and other protective gear if they must venture outside and strongly advises them to sleep in blast-resistant locations instead of trailers that most occupy.

Pentagon officials said Thursday that weapons used in recent Green Zone attacks included 107mm rockets made in Iran. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, said some rockets were stamped with 2007 Iranian manufacture dates.

With security in Baghdad rapidly deteriorating, gunmen kidnapped the Iraqi civilian spokesman for the Baghdad security operation and killed three of his bodyguards after torching his house in a Shiite neighborhood.

The spokesman, Tahseen Sheikhly, is a Sunni who often appeared with U.S. military and embassy officials at news conferences to tout the successes of the security operation, which began last year when President Bush sent 30,000 U.S. reinforcements to Baghdad.

[skyk-2009]

I''m afraid we have a full blown civil war on our hands folks. Things like this normally happen to people like Bush, people who are so arrogant and think they are superior to everyone else.

Iraqi troops are fleeing from their own bases, allowing them to fall into the hands of the Mahdi Army.

And we consider this to be a success?

[sistatee-2009]

When gasoline hits six bucks a gallon, Americans will tell the president to just go take the oil and kill anybody who gets in the way.

[pumaespiritu]

It''s a good thing John McCain is all about this war and staying there forever. Although political fodder for him it is also his demise in the general election. Unlike in the past most Americans know that our forceful takeover of Iraq and feverish brand of militant morality is a great burden to this country. Moreover, it is generally acknowledged that we are no longer in a genuine war with Iraq, that Iraqis are not our true enemies. Taking sides has detrimental consequences that we will soon have to face. Hopefully, the UN and middle-eastern nations will join in the cause for stability although it is unlikely to happen for a long time considering our flawed international policy and hallow geopolitical motives.

[mcvet]

When gasoline hits six bucks a gallon, Americans will tell the president to just go take the oil and kill anybody who gets in the way.


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Posted by SistaTee at 06:26 AM : Mar 27, 2008
+ report abuse

So just take it huh? Greed and selfish arrogance is NOT the American Way or at least not the America I grew up in. We need a new source of Energy since the criminal we have now as President has left us few options. Sieg Heil Bush

[rafterman1]

===So just take it huh? Greed and selfish arrogance is NOT the American Way or at least not the America I grew up in. We need a new source of Energy since the criminal we have now as President has left us few options.===
Posted by MCVet

You are right, but unfortunately, so is SistaTee. If gas keeps going up, Americans will be a lot more tolerant of oil wars. And implementing an infrastructure for alternate fuels could take years. It seems that "Mad Max" times, where oil and water are the new gold, are coming soon.

[underdogus]

When gasoline hits six bucks a gallon, Americans will tell the president to just go take the oil and kill anybody who gets in the way.
Posted by SistaTee ...that''s right!! also when a loaf of bread hits five bucks....watch your head ....

[jesterbelle]

What now?Surge II,the insanity continues?

[olebd]

The surge is workin.

Stay the course.

Shock and awe.

You''re doin'' a heck of a job.

Mission accomplished.

[singingrick]

Looks like the surge was just another escalation. Too many of Bu$h''s friends are making too much money for us to leave any time soon. Their was never an exit plan.

There is however a little recognized exit plan that Al Qaeda designed into this whole booby trap. It''s called total economic collapse. Under Republicon rule, we''ve already borrowed so much money that we have to keep borrowing just to pay the interest.

The U.S. will leave Iraq and the middle east with it''s tail between it''s legs after we''ve spent ourselves into third world status.

[closethippy1]

Goodness. The more I read about Iraq the clearer it is that place is a complete mess.
Oil money, man. How are we going to get these people to share oil money in a reasonable way?
This has become a conflict exactly like the ones Africa has been suffering for decades where rival groups fight each other for control of natural resources.
If it''s OK to stay in the middle of this conflict in Iraq why not go ahead and send US troops to Africa and see if we can get them to stop fighting between themselves?
It doesn''t make sense, does it? Well, staying in Iraq one more day makes as much sense.
Iraq, in any event, has already fallen on the "wrong hands". Compare how the president of Iran wa received recently with a red carpet and all kinds of parties and celebrations to how Bush has to hide from everyone and travel in the middle of the night protected by thousands of US troops when he goes there.
How can Americans keep fooling themselves like this???

[crater7]

THE BUSH WAR MACHINE IS JUST TRYING TO JUSTIFY THE INCREASE COST OF GAS/OIL.

HEY ! HAVE YOU HEARD?

BARACK HUSSEIN "BARRY" OBAMA, IS RELATED TO BUSH.

NOW WE KNOW HOW THE BUSH CLAN (OOPS SHOULDN''T SAY CLAN) PLANS TO HAVE A THIRD TERM OF BUSH POLICIES. THEY HAVE THEIR CUS, BARRY READY AND WAITING.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT " G D AMERICA."

[singingrick]

crater7

I''m sorry that you are a moron.

[jesterbelle]

Sick of this?Did you know that you actually have a say in how your taxes are spent?You can file a form with your return telling the I.R.S. that you do not want it going to the war,and can actually designate it for social programs,or any one of several other options.You have the power to stop funding the war,if congress won''t.Research it,you will find that what I''m saying is true.Google "Tax protestors" and go from there.Do I do it?No.I have stopped paying them all together in protest.Consequeneces?Somebody''s got to take a stand.I don''t work "on the books" anymore.I''ve lost my fear of them.I no longer care what my worst enemy wants.They are just men,and they bleed too.

[fstop100]

I heard its not about the oil, its about the oil!

[trishab4]

Meanwhile, television video showed black smoke rising from inside the Green Zone, a large sectioned-off area of central Baghdad where the U.S. Embassy and many other key buildings are located. The al-Arabiya television network reported rockets had landed inside the Green Zone for a fourth day Thursday.

-that means they could touch the HUGE Ambassy we built in Baghdad?

[grim56z]

Hey sleepyric, save your idiot and paranoid remarks.

[grim56z]

Hey andrew, save your fruit cake remarks. Try steroids.

[omnibus66]

If you voted for Bush/Chenry in either 2000 or 2004, you already have the blood of our finest young troops on your hands. If you want to totally bathe in it, vote for McSame in November.

[underdogus]

i am tired of you whiners!! there are setbacks in everything!! in life Posted by jamesm12341 ...yep they whine, and whine, while driving SUV''s,and expect cheap gasoline at the pump...friggin cowards...

[singingrick]

underdogus


Maybe one day you''ll turn from the darkside and defend your countries interests rather than the failed policies of a failed President.

[demslie]

If you voted for Bush/Chenry in either 2000 or 2004, you already have the blood of our finest young troops on your hands. If you want to totally bathe in it, vote for McSame in November.

Posted by omnibus66

Isn''t that just like a Democrat. Not a word of anger toward their friends the Al Aqeda terrorists doing the murdering. Just excuses and hate for Bush and anything America does. And when OBAMA was asked why so many troops want to finish the job in IRAQ, he said they were just mis-guided, (i.e stupid). The troops just love the Democrat support like recruiters getting kicked off College Campuses all over America and Marines in California being banned from entering towns. Yes, Democrats support the troops alright. IRAN, Al Qaeda and Democrats support the The Mahdi Army.

[singingrick]

underdogus

I sold my SUV when we invaded Iraq. I knew then that the invasion and ensuing chaos in the middle east would cause the price of gas would skyrocket.


You find those WMD''s yet?

No?

Keep looking.


lol!

[mcvet]

i am tired of you whiners!! there are setbacks in everything!! in life Posted by jamesm12341 ...yep they whine, and whine, while driving SUV''''s,and expect cheap gasoline at the pump...friggin cowards...


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Posted by underdogus at 08:19 AM : Mar 27, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL Yep and then there are Bootlickers, who swallow 935 LIES taking us into a war we did NOT have to fight, killing 4000 of our finest. A War that we were told would take 6 months and is now entering it''s SIXTH year. A war costing us 28 BILLION Dollars a month when we were told it would cost us NOTHING. Now that I look at this mess and the results of it, where do YOU freaky Nazi''s find ANY success. There MUST be success for any set backs to take place you know! Sieg Heil Bush! Come on now let people know you care more for your Party than you do your Country! Sing it out!! SIEG HEIL MEIN FUHRER!! Good Bootlickers!! ROFLMAO

[singingrick]

demslie

We believe that Bush should be held responsible for his lies, incompetence and total failures. You spend all of your energy making excuses for him. Maybe one day you''ll defend the interests of your country rather than the failed policies of a failed President.

I''m sorry that you are a moron.


lol!

[TWBBug]

And this will cause the gas prices to go up no doubt...why isn''t this being reported on the "propaganda" stations (news)?

What a joke!

[mcvet]

Isn''''t that just like a Democrat. Not a word of anger toward their friends the Al Aqeda terrorists doing the murdering. Just excuses and hate for Bush and anything America does. And when OBAMA was asked why so many troops want to finish the job in IRAQ, he said they were just mis-guided, (i.e stupid). The troops just love the Democrat support like recruiters getting kicked off College Campuses all over America and Marines in California being banned from entering towns. Yes, Democrats support the troops alright. IRAN, Al Qaeda and Democrats support the The Mahdi Army.


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Posted by demslie at 08:28 AM : Mar 27, 2008
+ report abuse

Duh?? Typical Fascist.... can''t read and understand the story let alone who is fighting who! IT''s A CIVIL WAR YOU PATHETIC BOOTLICKER. There are different factions of the PEOPLE of IRAQ fighting each other. The rest of it like the war itself is a LIE! God but you nazi''s are stupid!! Sieg Heil Bush

[formrusmcsgt]

Isn''''t that just like a Democrat. Not a word of anger toward their friends the Al Aqeda terrorists doing the murdering. Just excuses and hate for Bush and anything America does. And when OBAMA was asked why so many troops want to finish the job in IRAQ, he said they were just mis-guided, (i.e stupid).

Posted by demslie at 08:28 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Obama understands as much as you obviously do not, that demonization of the enemy is part and parcel of the military experience. Daily psychological conditioning hardly makes one objective. It has nothing to do with stupidity.

[johnpatrick9]

I hope the Iraqi people win. Does that bother you? Which "side" do you think one is referring to? Those Iraqis who will ''OBEY'' us or those who want to run their own nation without our interference? Do you think the IRAQI People have the ''RIGHT'' to do that?
If you dont then please send your children and yourself to Baghdad and kill those Iraqiis who will not obey or go along. Put your body where your right wing mouth is and stop playing the safe at home patriot willing to send other American''s sons and now even our daughters to die in a war built on a lie. How does it feel to know that the world views bush supporters as stupid and fascist as does an awakened 65% of America. Enough of this stupid war and the waste in blood and treasure. BUSH WAS A MISTAKE AND SO IS THIS BLOODY PHONY WAR.

jamesm12341 wrote:

"you know what? i am tired of you whiners!! there are setbacks in everything!! in life you are going to take some hits once in awhile!! you either take the hits and move on or cower down and *** and moan like you losers do!! grow a pair ken you are the biggest baby on here!! in a war you have to take some hits, thats all this is....it is a matter of how our great country responds to it!! hopefully we dont respond like the whiny losers on here like you!!!"

So, let me guess this right.

You''re sick of people whining, so, you come on here and have a whine.

Hmmm - do you know what irony is?

Regardless, how long do you think it''s going to take for GW Bush to get it right?

1 year? Sorry, that''s passed.

2 years? Nope, that''s passed as well.

3 years? Gee, I wish I had some better news for you.

4 years? Gee whiz, still not there yet.

5 years? Not looking good, I''m afraid.

50 years? It''s looking that way.

100 years? Is my name John McCain?

[tulcak]

you republicans want to see what happens if we pull out now? what you are seeing happen right now... if we stay or if we go, the outcome is going to be the same: FAILURE. failure by bush, cheney and his loyal followers... what a FAILURE bush and the GOP have been and continue to be. you people just don''t get it, and you su*ck at governing

[crater7]

singingrick,wrote; Crater7, i''m sorry you are a moron.

HEY ! SING(ME-A-SONG)INGRICK, THANKS FOR YOUR ENDORSEMENT. COMMING FROM YOU, THIS RINGING ENDORSEMENT IS LIKE ALL YOUR, (LET''S SAY,) REFRESHING COMMENTS. IT''S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO RECIEVE. THANKS AGAIN.

BY THE WAY, WHICH PART OF MY COMMENT DO YOU LIKE BEST? I BET IT''S THE ONE ABOUT YOUR HERO''S CUS, BARACK HUSSEIN BARRY OBAMA.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[patriotic9]

Wasn''t it better to capture OSAMA BEEN FORGOTTEN from Afghanistan then to send more then 10,000 troops to Iraq which had nothing to do with 9/11?

Why did Republicans do that?

[tulcak]

jamesm12341 wrote:

"you know what? i am tired of you whiners!! there are setbacks in everything!! in life you are going to take some hits once in awhile!! you either take the hits and move on or cower down and *** and moan like you losers do!! grow a pair ken you are the biggest baby on here!!
------------------------------
talk about sounding like a baby... listen here you moron, your man bush has caused this failure and you support him. HOW DARE YOU GET ANGRY! 4000 troops have died and millions of Iraqis, and YOU get pis*sed?! the he*ll with you and everyone like you. you and your party scr*ew things up and then get angry when people give you sh*t for it.

[underdogus]

barrel of oil hit 107$....what''s in your wallet?

[patriotic9]

jamesm12341 wrote:

"you know what? i am tired of you whiners!! there are setbacks in everything!! in life you are going to take some hits once in awhile!! you either take the hits and move on or cower down and *** and moan like you losers do!! grow a pair ken you are the biggest baby on here!!


I am tired of Republicans making US policies based on book of revelation!
I am sick and tired of Republicans sacrifising GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICAN MONEY, AMERICAN LIVES and UNHOLY LAND "UNITED STATES" for a NON-AMERICAN CAUSE, NON-AMERICAN GOD-CHOSEN PEOPLE and a NON-AMERICAN HOLY LAND!

Why didn''t bush send enough troops in Afghanistan to capture OSMA BEEN FORGOTTEN?

Because Afghanistan is not one of those regions called "PROMISED LAND" in the book of lies and contradictions named "BIBLE"!!

[tulcak]

barrel of oil hit 107$....what''''s in your wallet?
____________________

i hope its alternative energy. we really don''t need oil or coal. the technology is here right now for us to switch to other sources of energy (green sources) that will not only get us off our dependence on middle-eastern countries, but help reverse global warming AND boost our economy.

[patriotic9]

i hope its alternative energy. we really don''''t need oil or coal. the technology is here right now for us to switch to other sources of energy (green sources) that will not only get us off our dependence on middle-eastern countries, but help reverse global warming AND boost our economy.

Posted by tulcak at 08:55 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Whatever technology we use, won''t be equivalent to OIL for our SUVs and trucks on the long distance highways of America!!!

Why shouldn''t we help Arabs in the destruction of Israel of Palestinian map, far away from the CONCENTRATION CAMPS in Germany to enjoy oil in cheaper prices?

Why should we protect a NON-AMERICAN LAND, for NON-AMERICAN PEOPLE to buy HATRED, TERRORISM and 9/11 against our nation?

Because CHRISTIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS!!!

We need separation of CHURCH and STATE, and kicking all the RELIGIONS out of our politics for the survival of the United States.

[emelder]

Let''s get out! Obama''s plan makes the most sense to me. For those that think we should stay, how about putting Iraqi democracy (that Bush talks so much about) to the test ... and let them vote up or down whether or not they want the Americans in their country any longer?

[patriotic9]

Entire reason for war with Iraq was for OIL...what a failure. To use the American (& international) Arm Forces for greed. No bid contracts prove that; Halliburton. Incompetent Bush and, Cheney/Rumsfeld from the Nixon administration with their corrupt neocon Republicons have abused (outsourcing, i.e., Airbus, passports) and bankrupted this country-

Posted by zoe2006 at 09:02 AM : Mar 27, 2008

You should watch the speeches of Bush and McCain''s supporter "John Hagee".
After watching his and other Evangelist christians'' speeches, I came to the conclusion that it wasn''t oil but the 2nd coming of Christ and the Battle of Armagaddon, the main reasons for Iraq invasion.
For people like Cheney, it wasn''t the reason though. Cheney cared of making as much money as possible by *** America and Americans.

[underdogus]

Why should we protect a NON-AMERICAN LAND, for NON-AMERICAN PEOPLE to buy HATRED, TERRORISM and 9/11 against our nation Posted by patriotic9 ...ISRAEL is the only democracy in the middle east,we will defend Israel at all cost,patriotic9 you''re a traitor and a coward!

[patriotic9]

ABSOLUTELY, and that includes education; the "un-intelligently designed" idiots.


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Posted by zoe2006 at 09:06 AM : Mar 27, 2008


Totally agree with you. That''s why we have more Radical Religious fanatics in those states where people have lesser understanding of cultures outside their farms.

[liberalme]

Isn''''t that just like a Democrat. Not a word of anger toward their friends the Al Aqeda terrorists doing the murdering. Just excuses and hate for Bush and anything America does. And when OBAMA was asked why so many troops want to finish the job in IRAQ, he said they were just mis-guided, (i.e stupid). The troops just love the Democrat support like recruiters getting kicked off College Campuses all over America and Marines in California being banned from entering towns. Yes, Democrats support the troops alright. IRAN, Al Qaeda and Democrats support the The Mahdi Army.
Posted by demslie at 08:28 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Lets see--we have 31,000 troops in Afganistan and over 100,000 in Iraq and we''re currently bombing Pakistan--what the heII are we doing bombing Pakistan?? What''s next? The world?

Sorry--we have become the terrorists we''re fighting!!

[tulcak]

jamesm12341, you are saying "stay the course". it is obvious you support bush and the war. quit dodging and denying and take "personal responsibility" for what you support of bush has done... your political views are a failure, bush is a failure, the GOP is a failure... and our country and the rest of the world are paying the cost of you and bush''s STUPIDITY...

[underdogus]

We need separation of CHURCH and STATE Posted by patriotic9 ..go for it SEPARATE, move to an ISLAMIC STATE B.ASTARD!!

[rowdytexan2]

It''s ALLLLLLLL about the oil!

[patriotic9]

ISRAEL is the only democracy in the middle east,we will defend Israel at all cost,patriotic9 you''''re a traitor and a coward!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by underdogus at 09:10 AM : Mar 27, 2008
Hamas is democratically elected. Should we support Hamas too. On all cost? You mean on the cost of American money and American lives?
If you want to sacrifise American money and American lives for a NON-AMERICAN CAUSE, NON-AMERICAN LAND, and NON-AMERICAN PEOPLE CHOSEN by a RACIST, UNJUST ANTI-AMERICAN GOD, you are a traitor just like that god who racially discriminated against Americans by not promising them a single penny while promising NON-AMERICANS a land in the Middle East.

[tulcak]

and jamesm12341, i will grow a pair, IF you grow a brain and actually use it.

[venkata4--2008]

Wow surge is working, I mean crude oil price vise.

[tulcak]

underdogarse said:
We need separation of CHURCH and STATE Posted by patriotic9 ..go for it SEPARATE, move to an ISLAMIC STATE B.ASTARD!!
___________________________________

NO, YOU move. This is America where freedom and democracy mean something, and you can only have these with separation of church and state... let''s see.... Iran and Saudi Arabia both have governments where there is no separation of church and state... so, in effect, you are saying we should be like them?