More death cult rhetoric from Muqtada al-Sadr: Iraq’s Sadr Says Ready to Die for Anti-U.S. Drive.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Shi’ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, wanted by U.S.-led forces in Iraq, said Tuesday he was willing to die for his campaign to end their occupation.

But the radical preacher also appeared to leave the door open to negotiation, saying his only demand was to keep foreign troops out of the holy city of Najaf, where he himself is based.

“I am ready to sacrifice (myself) and I call on the people not to allow my death to cause the collapse of the fight for freedom and an end to the occupation,” Sadr told Lebanon’s al-Manar television, run by the Shi’ite Hizbollah group.

Sadr, whose Mehdi Army militia has confronted occupation forces including Polish, British and Italian troops, urged non-American soldiers to distance themselves from U.S. leadership “and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Iraqi people.”

“Fight for freedom.” “End to the occupation.” These statements are not intended for the mujahideen, who are clued in to the code words. They’re intended to evoke the usual Pavlovian reaction of the Western left and Western media. (What? There’s a difference?) Reuters obliges with this article, characterizing al-Sadr’s violent attempt to seize power, with no quotes or any other indication of skepticism, as a “campaign to end [the] occupation.”

If we do succeed in taking out this thug, how long before we see protesters marching through San Francisco with signs reading, “Avenge Al-Sadr?”

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