A Soldiers Blog

Local Shiite clerics condemn tension in Najaf
Qabalan calls on leaders to unite for benefit of Iraq
Lebanon’s Shiite clerics on Monday condemned the current tension in Najaf, an important Shiite religious center, and called on the allied forces to protect it.
One of the leading religious leaders, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, had been under house arrest by 50 armed pro-Iranian Iraqis since Saturday, who had demanded that the cleric leave Iraq within 48 hours.
A Kuwaiti Shiite cleric said that several tribal chiefs from the Euphrates area had intervened and put an end to the ayatollah’s captivity.
The group of armed men were reportedly from the same group which had brutally killed pro-Western Shiite cleric Sayyed Abdel-Majid Khoei in Najaf on Thursday.
The vice-president of the Shiite Higher Council in Lebanon, Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, played down reports about tension in Najaf. FULL STORY
Increase in public and private transport results in chaos
System has descended into anarchy
The recent boom in public and private transportation has opened many new routes that were out of reach in the past.
The movement of people has increased between various areas, and the new shopping and residential areas have prospered from easy access and cheaper fares.
However, a social, economic and environmental price is being paid for the problem-ridden transportation solution; in brief, the situation today can be best described as complete chaos.
The Daily Star conducted a survey of taxi drivers and passengers and interviewed a specialist for potential remedies.
In light of the general economic hardships and complaints of service taxi drivers who are no longer satisfied with their incomes, The Daily Star asked whether they’d rather sell their red license plates and work...FULL STORY



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Daily Star Newspaper