New York Times photographer Joao Silva was right there in the room as a member of Muqtada al-Sadr’s “Mahdi Army” tried to kill American troops: The New York Times - New York Region - Slide Show - Slide Show: Memorable Photographs.

Assistant Managing Editor for Photography Michele McNally comments on this one:

A sniper loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al Sadr fires towards U.S. positions in the cemetery in Najaf, Iraq.

Michele McNally: “Right there with the Mahdi army. Incredible courage.”

UPDATE at 7/15/06 8:11:33 pm:

Here’s a site where New York Times photographer Joao Silva is hawking a book about his uncomfortably close friendships with people who want to kill your neighbors, your sons, and your daughters: In the Company of God by award-winning New York Times photographer, Joao Silva. (Hat tip: Michelle Malkin.)

In the Company of God is a photographic compilation that portrays Iraqi Shi’a Muslims in a period of occupation and transition. This photographic body of work, recorded over twelve months, richly captures the Shi’as’ intense commitment to their faith and their indomitable spirit of sacrifice.

About the pictures

The pictures in this book are not displayed in a chronological order but rather in a manner that best illustrates a narrative about faith, sacrifice, war and martyrdom. They were taken while on assignment for The New York Times, from July 30 to November 3, 2003, from January 16 till April 1, 2004, from June16 until August 30, 2004, and again from January 18, 2005 until March 31, 2005.

UPDATE at 7/15/06 9:02:08 pm:

Jeff Goldstein comments: Sleeping with the Enemy.

Incredible courage?  Well, far be it for me to question such self-congratulatory enthusiasm, but it seems to me that actual “incredible courage” would have entailed, say, Joao Silva getting word to US troops, or his bumrushing the sniper and beating him unconscious with a heavy telephoto lens.

Whereas what we’ve witnessed here is the product of dangerous opportunism in the service of plaudits and cocktail party invites.