Bombing of Shiite Holy Shrine Kills Powerful Cleric and Further Destabilizes U.S.-Occupied Iraq

Interview with Erik Gustafson, president of the Education for Peace in Iraq Center, conducted by Scott Harris

The car bomb which blew up outside Iraq's holiest Shiite shrine in the southern city of Najaf on Aug. 29 took the lives more than 100 worshippers, including that of Ayatollah Muhammad Bakr al-Hakim, one of Shiia's most powerful and moderate religious leaders. While the U.S. occupation force blamed Baathist party loyalists or al Qaeda-connected terrorist groups for the assassination, a tape recording purported to carry the voice of Saddam Hussein denied responsibility. Iraqi police arrested nine people in connection with the bombings, who they say have ties to al-Qaeda.

This was the third and most deadly bombing to have shattered the U.S. occupation since the American-British invasion force overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime in April. Those responsible for previous bombings of the Jordanian embassy and U.N. headquarters have not yet been identified or apprehended. Some observers believe that more militant sectors of the Shiite community may benefit from the assassination by opening up political space for their more directly hostile attitude toward the American occupation and growing public support for the formation of a religious militia to protect the Shiite population.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Erik Gustafson, a veteran of the 1991 Persian Gulf War and president of the Education for Peace in Iraq Center. He assesses the growing violence and instability in Iraq and his organization's call for a congressional investigation into White House manipulation of intelligence used to justify the war.

Contact the Education for Peace in Iraq Center by calling (202) 543-6176 or visit their website at www.epic-usa.org

Related links:

* "Facing the Truth About Iraq," by James Carroll, Boston Globe, Sept. 2, 2003

* "Calls for Vengeance as Iraq's Shias Mourn Their Dead," by Justin Huggler, Independent Digital, Aug, 30 2003

* "Killing of Ayatollah is Start of Iraqi Civil War,"by William O. Beeman, Pacific News Service, Aug. 29, 2003

* "Saudis in Iraq 'Preparing For a Holy War,'" The Financial Times, Aug. 18, 2003

* "U.S. Planners Surprised by Strength of Iraqi Shiites," by Glenn Kessler and Dana Priest, Washington Post, April 23, 2003

* Occupation Watch at www.occupationwatch.org

* Bring Them Home Now campaign at www.bringthemhomenow.org

* Military Families Speak Out at www.mfso.org

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