Allawi Understands how to deal with these animals

In a clear sign that Iraq's interim government is ready to fight fire with fire, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi reportedly threatened to have rebel cleric Moqtada al Sadr beheaded earlier this year unless violence perpetrated by his Mahdi terrorist army in Najaf subsided.

On Friday NBC's Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklashevski recounted a meeting between Allawi and Grand Ayatollah al Husseini al Sistani in August, after al Sistani was brought back from London where he was being treated for a heart ailment.

Miklashevski told radio host Don Imus:
"I am told that Allawi sat down with Sistani and said, 'Look, you have 48 hours to resolve this peacefully - or I am going to have Moqtada al Sadr's head in a turban on a plate.'"

"And, guess what," the NBC Newser added. "It was resolved."

Concluded Miklashevski, "This guy is tough as the enemy insurgency that he faces."

Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 10:03 a.m. EDT
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/9/24/101033.shtml