But the core of the city around [the shrine], a destination of longing for millions of Shiite Muslims, is so mauled that American commanders debate which famously ruined wartime cityscape Najaf now resembles most.
“It’s like Stalingrad,” a senior 5th Cavalry officer said.
“Sarajevo,” Rainey maintained.
“Beirut,” a Marine commander said.
“Not Dresden,” an Army field officer said while standing watch at a panorama of blackened, half-destroyed buildings a few dozen yards north of the glittering shrine. “Not enough fire.”
The damage to Najaf is the consequence of an urban setting for battle, a woefully overmatched enemy and an American military doctrine that unites terrifying firepower with almost zero tolerance for casualties in its own ranks.
Have things really gotten that bad? → U.S. government is cruel, despotic, a threat to people → civilian casualties, urban bombardment, etc. → Najaf & Falluja
Today’s “Headline of the Day” award goes to the Los Angeles Times for their report on the Falluja aftermath:
